The Maze procedure: a surgical intervention for ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation may be considered by some to be innocuous; however, the impact of atrial fibrillation can be substantial. Thromboembolic events and strokes are the number one cause of mortality and morbidity. For patients who do not respond to medical therapy for rate and rhythm control or are unable to take medication to decrease the risk of a stroke or thromboembolic event, the Maze procedure offers an alternative treatment intervention. The goal of this surgical procedure is to return the patient's heart rhythm to normal sinus rhythm while ceasing all antiarrhythmic medication. This article discusses the past and present state of the Maze procedure and briefly addresses the postoperative care of the patient who has undergone the Maze procedure.