Type of Surgery

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Last updated: 11/24/2009

Risks

The Maze procedure is major surgery and patients may experience any of the normal complications associated with major surgery and anesthesia, such as the risk of bleeding, pneumonia, or infection. The risk of stroke is 1%. One common complication that...

has occurred early after surgery is fluid retention. However, diuretics are now prescribed to reduce the risk of this complication. To date, minimal long-term adverse effects have been reported in patients undergoing the Maze procedure.



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Atrial fibrillation is disease caused when electrical tissues in the atrium of the heart fire inappropriately and cause ineffective and chaotic heart contraction. This narrated animation shows one surgical treatment for atrial fibrillation called the mini-maze procedure. The mini-maze procedure lesions part of the heart to break the "circuit" of improper electrical firing in the heart.

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Other Information

Definition

The Maze procedure, also known as the Cox-Maze procedure, is a surgical treatment for chronic atrial fibrillation. The procedure restores the heart's normal rhythm by surgically interrupting the conduction of abnormal impulses.

Purpose

When the heart beats too fast, blood no longer circulates effectively in the body. The Maze procedure is used to stop this abnormal beating so that the heart can begin its normal rhythm and pump more efficiently. The procedure is also intended to control heart rate and prevent blood clots and strokes.


From http://www.answers.com/topic/maze-procedure-for-atrial-fibrillation

Other Information

In 2006, 2,192 heart transplantations were performed in the United States. There are 257 transplant hospitals in the United States, 135 of which perform heart transplantations. (http://www.unos.org/)


From: Unos.org

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