• Niv Ad and James L Cox.
• Cardiothoracic Department, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. nivadmd@hotmail.com
• J Card Surg. 2004 May 1;19(3):196-200.

ObjectivesThe standard Maze procedure has proven to be extremely effective in curing atrial fibrillation in thousands of patients worldwide. Until now it has required a median sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass. In order to simplify the standard approach, a minimally invasive technique was developed. We have recently applied this minimally invasive Maze procedure in 72 patients.MethodsThe technique is dependent on the use of cryosurgery and the total number of atriotomies has been decreased from twelve to four. In addition to performing the Maze procedure, 32% of patients have had concomitant surgery via the minimally invasive approach including mitral valve repair/replacement and tricuspid valve repair.ResultsPerioperative morbidity is improved following the minimally invasive approach in comparison to the standard approach with the incidence of temporary perioperative arrhythmias being decreased by 50%. The long-term recurrence of atrial fibrillation is 2.4% following the minimally invasive Maze procedure and 2.2% following the standard Maze procedure. The incidence of pacemaker requirements following the standard Maze procedure is 20% but only 6% following the minimally invasive Maze procedure. Both right atrial and left atrial transport function have been documented in 100% of patients following the minimally invasive Maze procedure.ConclusionsWe believe that the minimally invasive Maze procedure is a substantial improvement over the standard approach in terms of patient morbidity while preserving the effectiveness of the Maze procedure in curing atrial fibrillation.

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