mini-maze

[ddzeke]

I have been seeing an EP for my AF, meds are no longer working to control the AF. Is anybody familiar with the mini-maze operation? My EP thinks this will fix the problem. Any info is welcome, thank you.

[MaryLL]

Thank you!! I'll post during my home recovery so I can tell you how it was. I'm nervous, excited, and cautiously optimistic!
My EP as well as thoracic surgeon have both said that my experiences with ablations are atypical. I would do it again because all we can do is keep trying to get our a-fib better. My goal used to be going off meds. Then it was having no episodes with meds. Now my goal is having fewer episodes, with or without meds.
I'm so grateful for this board. It gives me courage to keep moving forward when I just want to climb in bed and pull the covers over my head.
Bless you all!

[DeltaDawn23]

Best of luck to you Mary.  Will be thinking about you and sending prayers and good thoughts your way.  This disease is such a life-changer.  I will be interested to hear how it goes for you, as Afib is an on-going issue for me. I am starting to think an ablation might be for me.  I am tired of not being able to plan anything.  Keep us posted on your procedure and your progress.

[MaryLL]

Yes, the mini-maze is considered to be minimally invasive while the standard maze requires open heart surgery and is generally done with another type of heart surgery.
I've had 3 ablations, over a dozen cardioversions, am on the big hammer med amiodarone and am scheduled for a mini-maze on 11/13/12. I am cautiously optimistic.
My doctor recently told me that about 2-3% of a-fib is in the "resistant" category and is harder to heal. I hate to say this on here but while my heart rate doesn't go as high now during an episode, episodes are much more frequent. Before any ablations, I was having intense episodes about every 6 months. Now, 2.5 years and 2 ablations later, I am having them 2-3 times a month.
I am hopeful the mini-maze will help those of us who have not been responsive to meds and/or ablations. My thoracic surgeon said between a 70-75% success rate with the mini-maze.
Wishing you the best!

[itdood]

Not sure about this, could be wrong, but I thought there was a big difference between a Maze III and a mini maze in terms of compexity?  The Maze III requires heart bypass so yep that's extensive.  The mini maze is done through small incisions through the ribs and is less traumatic on the heart then the Maz III.  maybe you were thinking of the maze III?

minimaze.org has some great info on it.

[ddzeke]

Thanks, had an ablation 09/09, didn't work, my EP says mini-maze has a lot better success rate than the ablation.

[BobRBob]

I don't know much about the success rate with this procedure but it is major surgery as I understand it so it's usually only performed when surgery is required for some other reason. Any talk of ablation as an alternative?