Cardiovascular Center

Atrial Fibrillation - MAZE Procedure

Atrial Fibrillation is a fast, irregular heart rhythm where the upper chambers of the heart contract in an uncoordinated fashion. Normally the heartbeat is triggered by an electrical impulse starting in the SA or Sinoatrial Node located in the right atrium and it travels across the atria, triggering it to contract all at once. The impulse then travels across the AV or Atrioventricular Node to the ventricles (the main pumping chambers of the heart) triggering them to contract. This is called sinus rhythm.  Atrial fibrillation occurs when this electrical impulse no longer travels from SA node to the AV node in the normal manner. Instead the impulse is diverted or scattered such that the atrium is no longer firing in a synchronous fashion, but is being activated one small section at a time. This lack of coordination results in a chaotic “fibrillation” that is very irregular. The electrical signal to the ventricle through the AV node then becomes irregular and therefore the heartbeat is irregular. Atrial Fibrillation is dangerous because it may cause blood to pool in these chambers. The pooled blood can lead to clumps of blood called blood clots. A stroke can occur if a blood clot travels from the heart and blocks a small artery in the brain.

There are numerous ways to control and treat atrial fibrillation including medicines and interventions done by your cardiologist with a catheter.  There is also surgery.

The surgical intervention to treat atrial fibrillation is called the MAZE procedure. Through the strategic placement of incisions in both atria, the circular electrical patterns that are responsible for this arrhythmia are interrupted and consequently the formation and conduction of errant electrical impulses is stopped. Scar tissue generated by the incisions permanently blocks the travel routes of the erroneous electrical impulses that cause atrial fibrillation, thus eliminating the arrhythmia. The heart's natural pacemaker originating in the SA node will resume with the normal electrical impulse.

The goal of the Maze procedure is to:

  • Wear away the arrhythmia

  • Restore synchrony between the atria and the ventricles

  • Preserve organized atrial contraction

Here at University of Utah Health Care this procedure is performed in conjunction with another cardiac surgery procedure such as a CABG or heart valve surgery.

Jonathan S. Allan, PA-C, M.S.

Locations
Huntsman Cancer Hospital
University Hospital (801) 581-5311

Specialties: Cardiothoracic Surgery, Physician Assistant

David A. Bull, M.D.

Locations
University Hospital (801) 581-5311

Specialties: Cardiac Mechanical Support, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Coronary Revascularization, Esophageal Surgery, Heart Transplant, Lung Cancer, Lung Transplant, Valvular Heart Disease

Phillip T. Burch, M.D.

Locations
Primary Children's Medical Center (801) 662-5577

Specialties: Cardiothoracic Surgery, Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery

Shamus R. Carr, M.D., FACS

Locations
Huntsman Cancer Hospital (801) 587-4470
University Hospital (801) 581-5311

Specialties: Barrett's Esophagus, Bronchoscopy surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Esophageal Diseases, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Lung Cancer, Minimally Invasive Gastrointestinal Surgery, Therapeutic Endoscopy

Jessica M. De St Jeor, B.S.

Specialties: Cardiothoracic Surgery

Aaron W. Eckhauser, M.D., M.S.C.I

Specialties: Cardiac Mechanical Support, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart Transplant, Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery

Peter J. Gruber, M.D., Ph.D.

Locations
Primary Children's Medical Center (801) 662-5566

Specialties: Cardiac Mechanical Support, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart Transplant, Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery

Kyle Gubler, PA-C

Specialties: Cardiothoracic Surgery, Physician Assistant

Terri M. Hancock, DNP, ACNP-BC

Locations
University Hospital (801) 581-5311

Specialties: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Cardiothoracic Surgery

Aditya K. Kaza, M.D.

Locations
Primary Children's Medical Center (801) 662-5566

Specialties: Cardiac Mechanical Support, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart Transplant, Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery

Antigoni Koliopoulou, M.D.

Specialties: Cardiothoracic Surgery

Ganesh S. Kumpati, M.D.

Locations
University Hospital (801) 581-5311
Veterans Administration Medical Center (801) 582-1565

Specialties: Cardiothoracic Surgery

Thomas Lewis, PA-C

Locations
University Hospital (801) 231-2200

Specialties: Cardiothoracic Surgery, Physician Assistant

Stephen McKellar, M.D., M.Sc.

Specialties: Cardiac Mechanical Support, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Coronary Revascularization, Heart Failure, Heart Transplant, Lung Transplant, Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery, Minimally Invasive Lung & Esophageal Surgery, Valvular Heart Disease

Amit N. Patel, M.D., B.S., M.S.

Locations
University Hospital (801) 587-7946

Specialties: Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart Failure, Heart Stem Cell Therapy, Heart Transplant, Lung Transplant, Valvular Heart Disease

Craig H. Selzman, M.D.

Locations
University Hospital (801) 587-9348

Specialties: Adult Congenital Heart Disease, Cardiac Mechanical Support, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Coronary Revascularization, Heart Failure, Heart Stem Cell Therapy, Heart Transplant, Lung Transplant, Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery, Surgical Ventricular Restoration, Valvular Heart Disease

Nathan C. Sontum, PA-C, M.H.S.

Specialties: Cardiothoracic Surgery

Scott A. Tatum, PA-C

Locations
University Hospital (801) 581-2121

Specialties: Cardiothoracic Surgery, Physician Assistant

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