Atrial Fibrillation & Arrhythmia Surgery

Atrial Fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat that begins in the upper part of the heart, the atria. It is a problem with the hearts electrical conduction system, causing the heart to quiver or fibrillate. Atrial fibrillation is dangerous because it increases a person’s risk for stroke.

Very often mitral valve disease is associated with atrial fibrillation, which is a disturbance of the cardiac rhythm that occurs when the atria do not contract synchronously but fibrillate without contributing to the filling of the ventricles.

New technology now available has made it possible to treat this condition surgically by creating a pathway that allows for resynchronization of the heartbeat with a contraction of the atria that contributes to the filling of the ventricles and maintains a regular rhythm.

Dr. Bell-Thomson’s preference for this procedure is to use the MAZE procedure. A maze or pathway of scar tissue is created, which blocks the abnormal electrical activity. This procedure stops atrial fibrillation and allows for resynchronization of the heartbeat. The MAZE procedure is frequently done in conjunction with another open heart procedure, though Dr. Bell-Thomson is certified to perform a minimally invasive MAZE procedure for those patients who do not need to undergo open heart surgery.