In March 2004, surgeons
of Phoenix Cardiac Surgery performed the first minimally invasive
(Micro) Maze procedure at Banner Good Samaritan Hospital. This
procedure was performed on a patient with lone AF. This means that he
had no other indications for heart surgery other than AF.
The procedure is
always done under general anesthesia, but instead of utilizing a typical
sternotomy approach (incision in the middle of the chest that fractures
the breast bone in half), it is performed through very small (less than
1 inch) incisions on the side of the chest. The technique uses a
thoracoscope (camera) to help with visualization of the internal
organs. The operation typically requires 3-4 hours. Post op hospital
stays vary from 2-4 days. Patients can quite often return to work in
1-2 weeks.
Surgeons affiliated
with Phoenix Cardiac Surgery are regional leaders in this new approach
for the treatment of AF and help with the training of other heart
surgeons in the Southwest of America on this new approach. The
procedure is typically performed with minimal discomfort compared to the
traditional approach, and has a very high success rate. |
