Minimaze

Minimaze procedure is a surgical intervention aimed at treating atrial fibrillation, a common type of arrhythmia that affects the heart's ability to pump blood effectively. This procedure is considered when less invasive treatments, such as medication or catheter ablation, have failed to control the symptoms or when the patient is undergoing other cardiac surgeries, such as mitral valve repair.

Overview

The minimaze procedure is a form of cardiac surgery that involves creating lesions or scars on the heart's tissue to block abnormal electrical signals that cause atrial fibrillation. The procedure is performed by a cardiac surgeon and can be done using various techniques, including radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, or surgical incisions. The goal is to isolate the pulmonary veins, which are often the source of erratic electrical signals, and to restore normal heart rhythm.

Indications

Candidates for the minimaze procedure typically include patients with symptomatic, persistent atrial fibrillation who have not responded to conventional treatments, or those who are already undergoing open-heart surgery for other reasons. It is also considered for patients at high risk of stroke or those who cannot tolerate long-term anticoagulation therapy.

Procedure

The minimaze procedure can be performed through a minimally invasive approach or during an open-heart surgery. The minimally invasive approach involves small incisions and the use of endoscopic tools, which results in shorter recovery time and less post-operative pain compared to the traditional open-heart method.

During the procedure, the surgeon creates lesions around the pulmonary veins and possibly other areas of the heart where abnormal electrical signals are detected. These lesions form scar tissue once healed, which does not conduct electricity and thus interrupts the path of the abnormal signals.

Risks and Complications

As with any surgical procedure, the minimaze procedure carries risks, including bleeding, infection, and damage to the heart or surrounding structures. There is also a risk of developing pericarditis (inflammation of the heart's outer layer) or pneumothorax (collapsed lung). However, the risk of serious complications is relatively low.

Recovery

Recovery from the minimaze procedure varies depending on the surgical approach used. Patients undergoing the minimally invasive technique may experience a quicker recovery, often returning to normal activities within a few weeks. Those who undergo the procedure as part of open-heart surgery may require a longer recovery period.

Effectiveness

Studies have shown that the minimaze procedure is effective in restoring normal heart rhythm in a significant number of patients with atrial fibrillation, especially when performed in conjunction with other cardiac surgeries. However, some patients may require additional treatments or interventions to maintain sinus rhythm.

Conclusion

The minimaze procedure offers a surgical alternative for managing atrial fibrillation in patients who are not candidates for or have failed less invasive treatments. While it involves certain risks, the potential benefits in terms of symptom relief and reduced stroke risk make it a valuable option for suitable candidates.

Cardiovascular disease A-Z

Most common cardiac diseases

• Cardiac arrhythmia‎
• Cardiogenetic disorders‎
• Cardiomegaly‎
• Cardiomyopathy‎
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation‎
• Chronic rheumatic heart diseases‎
• Congenital heart defects‎
• Heart neoplasia‎
• Ischemic heart diseases‎
• Pericardial disorders
• Syndromes affecting the heart‎
• Valvular heart disease‎

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

• Accelerated idioventricular rhythm
• Acute decompensated heart failure
• Arteriosclerotic heart disease
• Athletic heart syndrome
• Atrial flutter
• Atrioventricular fistula
• Cardiovascular disease in Australia
• Autoimmune heart disease

B

• Brown atrophy of the heart

C

• Ebb Cade
• Cardiac allograft vasculopathy
• Cardiac amyloidosis
• Cardiac asthma
• Cardiac tamponade
• Cardiogenic shock
• Cardiogeriatrics
• Cardiorenal syndrome
• Cardiotoxicity
• Carditis
• Coronary artery aneurysm
• Coronary artery anomaly
• Coronary artery disease
• Spontaneous coronary artery dissection
• Coronary artery ectasia
• Coronary occlusion
• Coronary steal
• Coronary thrombosis
• Coronary vasospasm
• Cœur en sabot
• Coxsackievirus-induced cardiomyopathy

D

• Duke Treadmill Score
• Duroziez's disease

E

• Eisenmenger's syndrome
• Embryocardia
• Endocardial fibroelastosis
• Eosinophilic myocarditis

H

• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
• Heart to Heart (1949 film)
• High-output heart failure
• Hyperdynamic precordium

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

I

• Idiopathic giant-cell myocarditis
• Interventricular dyssynchrony
• Intraventricular dyssynchrony
• Isolated atrial amyloidosis

K

• Keshan disease

L

• Loeffler endocarditis

M

• Mydicar
• Myocardial bridge
• Myocardial disarray
• Myocardial rupture
• Myocardial scarring
• Myocardial stunning
• Myocarditis

N

• Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis

O

• OLR1
• Ostial disease

P

• Papillary fibroelastoma
• Pathophysiology of heart failure
• Postpericardiotomy syndrome
• Pulmonary vein stenosis

R

• Right axis deviation
• Roemheld syndrome

S

• Saturated fat and cardiovascular disease
• SCAR-Fc
• Shone's syndrome
• Strain pattern
• Subacute bacterial endocarditis
• Sudden cardiac death of athletes

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

T

• Traumatic cardiac arrest

V

• Ventricular aneurysm
• Vibroacoustic disease
• Viral cardiomyopathy

W

• Waon therapy