Is this enough Maze Procedures from a Doctor I know it's critical to know how many (similar or identical to your) procedure a doctor has done. From my understanding, many hundreds is ideal and really in the thousands is far better. Someone like Dr. Natale whose done thousands of ablations is one of the most referred here because of his track record on that number. With that said I have mitral valve repair surgery as well as a Maze Procedure and Want to ensure I get the best surgeon for bOTH procedures. My Surgeon has done over 500 successful Mitral Valve Repairs similar to mine. However, they have done only 100 or so Maze procedures. It seems to me like that is a low number but I also know there are a lot less maze procedures as opposed to ablations as a doctor isn't going to do a maze procedure unless there is another underlying condition to correct as there is in my case with the Mitral Valve. With this said, does the number of 100 Maze Procedures seem low? https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194267#msg-194267 Sun, 09 Aug 2026 22:50:42 +0000 Phorum 5.2.23 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194287#msg-194287 Re: Is this enough Maze Procedures from a Doctor https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194287#msg-194287
thank you. I always appreciate your kind words. The surgery is scheduled for beginning of June, I will update in a few months as it gets closer. Thanks, Mark.


@ Jim,

I agree that is the silver lining is that the Thoracic Surgeon is right there to do the Maze Procedure. I'm definitely not jumping for joy on having this surgery, I'm sure nobody does. The reality though is without the surgery sooner vs. later is that I'll have all kinds of complications and can likely get to the point of no return. If my Left Ventricle starts to enlarge and/or EF drops too low, the reality would be potential instant death. This is just a reality of Life and in my case, I have to get it done for my son and my family. Thanks for all the helpful info, it's very much appreciated.]]> cornerbax AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 23 Jan 2024 21:19:22 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194281#msg-194281 Re: Is this enough Maze Procedures from a Doctor https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194281#msg-194281
Jim]]> mjamesone AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 23 Jan 2024 15:12:21 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194279#msg-194279 Re: Is this enough Maze Procedures from a Doctor https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194279#msg-194279 Mark AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 23 Jan 2024 04:30:19 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194278#msg-194278 Re: Is this enough Maze Procedures from a Doctor https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194278#msg-194278
makes perfect sense. At the end of the day hopefully i'll be in the success rate stats, but if not, as you said, an ablation afterwards, at some point to hopefully get close to the 100% would be the next move.]]> cornerbax AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 23 Jan 2024 01:20:20 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194277#msg-194277 Re: Is this enough Maze Procedures from a Doctor https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194277#msg-194277
Remember, too, that a second stab at it, in case the first procedure fails, is going to be in the 80% range because often the mistakes from the first round are more easily determined and spotted. So, if you are in the minority of cases where the first procedure fails, a second is going to have a higher rate of success, and that's across the board, or more so. Obviously, the very best EPs are going to do somewhat better due to their skill and experience.]]> gloaming AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 23 Jan 2024 00:43:43 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194276#msg-194276 Re: Is this enough Maze Procedures from a Doctor https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194276#msg-194276
Quote
I think 100 is sufficient. A Maze procedure is vastly different than an ablation and doesn't require the same delicate nuance of art and science that an ablation does, which is why having done thousands of afib ablations is important when choosing an EP.

Thank you. I'm just hearing and reading different things regarding the chances of being completely free of AFIB after
the Mitral Repair, closing off the LAA and the Maze. I was told it's as high as 85% I wouldn't have any more AFIB
or AFLUTTER after the surgery is complete, at least long-term after the healing process. I'm reading some stats as
low as 60-65%. Either way, I guess those are good enough numbers to definitely have this done and hope that
I need nothing more after.]]> cornerbax AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 23 Jan 2024 00:37:11 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194275#msg-194275 Re: Is this enough Maze Procedures from a Doctor https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194275#msg-194275 Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 22 Jan 2024 23:44:12 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194274#msg-194274 Re: Is this enough Maze Procedures from a Doctor https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194274#msg-194274
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Ep's do not do Maze or mini maze. You need a cardiothoracic surgeon.

This now makes sense. I guess I kind of considered ablations a level of surgery, but apparently they are not and certainly not open heart surgery. At this point, I have done my due diligence and spoken with the Thoracic Surgeon on a couple of occasions. I am very big on going with my instincts (even over my research) and both in this case were excellent. I feel like I am in the best hands and I'm not calling anybody else at
Cleveland Clinic, or Mayo, etc, as I feel my Thoracic Surgeon would be the best option for me. I was extremely comfortable meeting them the first time and their level of patience in answering each of my questions very thoroughly. I just didn't know if ~100 Maze Procedures seemed on the higher or lower side, but it definitely isn't like 5 or 10, right? lol]]> cornerbax AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 22 Jan 2024 22:53:06 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194273#msg-194273 Re: Is this enough Maze Procedures from a Doctor https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194273#msg-194273
Jim]]> mjamesone AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 22 Jan 2024 22:19:08 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194272#msg-194272 Re: Is this enough Maze Procedures from a Doctor https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194272#msg-194272
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cornerbax
I was under the impression an electrophysiologist would be best suited for a Maze
procedure or anything to do with the "electrical" aspects of the heart. I do have an
EP from the same Hospital (Cedars-Sinai) who basically didn't seem to be too concerned
with the Thoracic Surgeon also conducting the Maze Procedure.

A maze requires a surgeon, which the EP is not. EP procedures are vastly different than actual heart surgery. A thoracic surgeon makes sense for a maze procedure.]]> GeorgeN AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 22 Jan 2024 22:11:25 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194271#msg-194271 Re: Is this enough Maze Procedures from a Doctor https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194271#msg-194271
I was under the impression an electrophysiologist would be best suited for a Maze Procedure or anything to do with the "electrical" aspects of the heart. I do have an EP from the same Hospital (Cedars-Sinai) who basically didn't seem to be too concerned with the Thoracic Surgeon also conducting the Maze Procedure. Again, I was still a little perplexed as I thought you'd want a specialist on every aspect of your heart. Anyone have any thoughts on this?]]> cornerbax AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 22 Jan 2024 21:17:54 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194270#msg-194270 Re: Is this enough Maze Procedures from a Doctor https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194270#msg-194270
Jim]]> mjamesone AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 22 Jan 2024 18:21:55 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194268#msg-194268 Re: Is this enough Maze Procedures from a Doctor https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194268#msg-194268 cornerbax AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 22 Jan 2024 17:07:50 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194267#msg-194267 Is this enough Maze Procedures from a Doctor https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,194267,194267#msg-194267 100 or so Maze procedures. It seems to me like that is a low number but I also know there are a lot less maze procedures as opposed to ablations as a doctor isn't going to do a maze procedure unless there is another underlying condition to correct as there is in my case with the Mitral Valve.

With this said, does the number of 100 Maze Procedures seem low?]]> cornerbax AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 22 Jan 2024 16:47:33 +0000