One of the most common surgical procedures for atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the MAZE procedure. During MAZE, your cardiac surgeon will make tiny cuts on the outside of the upper chambers of your heart. These scars create a maze-like pattern that blocks abnormal electrical signals.
At UPMC, you will receive expert MAZE care from some of the region's most experienced cardiovascular surgeons. Our surgeons treat all types of irregular heart rhythms and perform hundreds of MAZE procedures each year using the latest technology and techniques.
Benefits of MAZE procedures for AFib include:
MAZE and ablation are both minimally invasive procedures to treat AFib. However, the two procedures are different.
The MAZE procedure creates scarring on the outside of the heart and is performed through small incisions in the chest. An ablation creates scarring on the inside of the heart and is performed through a small incision in the groin using a catheter.
A procedure called a hybrid ablation combines parts of MAZE and ablation. During a hybrid ablation, and electrophysiologist and cardiac surgeon will:
There are three types of MAZE procedures for AFib:
If you have severe AFib that hasn’t responded to other treatments, the experts at UPMC may suggest MAZE surgery.
You may be a candidate for MAZE if:
The MAZE procedure is safe and effective, but as with any surgical procedure, rare complications can occur. Risks include:
On the day of your MAZE procedure, be sure to bring your photo ID and health insurance card(s). Leave valuables such as cash and jewelry at home.
Your doctor will tell you how long you need to stay in the hospital after your MAZE procedure. You should bring toiletries, a robe, slippers, a cell phone and charger, medications, and a change of clothes.
MAZE procedures take 2-4 hours, depending on whether you are having a minimally invasive MAZE or an open MAZE procedure. If you are having another cardiac surgery procedure at the same time, your MAZE procedure may take longer.
Your MAZE procedure will be performed under general anesthesia. You will receive medications through an IV to put you to sleep.
During the procedure, your cardiac surgeon will make one or more incisions in your chest. Your surgeon will then make small cuts on the surface of the left and right atriums of your heart. When these small cuts heal, they will form scar tissue.
Because the scar tissue does not conduct electricity, it will disrupt the path of the electrical signals that cause your abnormal heart rhythm. The scar tissue also prevents abnormal electrical signals from recurring.
After the incisions are made, your atrium is sewn together to allow it to hold blood and contract to push blood into your ventricle.
You will be taken to the recovery room for observation or returned to your hospital room where a nurse will monitor your vital signs. The length of your hospital stay will depend on whether you had an open or concomitant MAZE or a minimally invasive MAZE.
Because minimally invasive MAZE procedures are less invasive than concomitant or open MAZE procedures, patients who have minimally invasive MAZE procedures usually have a shorter hospital stay.
You may feel sore and tired for several weeks after your MAZE procedure. The length of your recovery will depend on whether you had a minimally invasive MAZE procedure or an open/concomitant MAZE procedure. Recovery time is generally shorter for patients who have had a minimally invasive MAZE procedure.
If you had an open or concomitant MAZE procedure, complete recovery may take 6-8 weeks. Minimally invasive MAZE procedure recovery time is around 4-6 weeks. Your doctor will let you know when you can return to your normal activities and will schedule you for a follow-up appointment after your procedure.
You should call your doctor if you are experiencing any unusual symptoms, including:
After a MAZE procedure, most patients experience a complete resolution of AFib symptoms. However, some patients need to continue taking medications to control their heart rhythm. In some people, AFib symptoms may return in the future.
MAZE is a safe procedure when performed by cardiac surgery experts. The survival rate for MAZE procedures is greater than 98 percent, even for patients who are having other high-risk cardiac procedures at the same time.
MAZE has been shown to be 90 percent effective at maintaining a normal heartbeat without the use of any anti-arrhythmic medications a full year after the surgery for all types of AFib.
UPMC cardiac surgeons are at the forefront of developing MAZE techniques that can improve patient outcomes and shorten recovery time. Our surgeons can perform MAZE procedures during other complex open surgical procedures.
UPMC is one of only a few medical centers in the nation to offer minimally invasive total thoracoscopic MAZE, which combines the MAZE procedure with advanced mapping techniques to provide increased surgical precision and improved patient outcomes.
Last reviewed by a UPMC medical professional on 2024-10-01.
