Twin Cities Heart and Lung: Before and After the MAZE procedure

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Heart Procedures

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Glossary of Medical Terms

The surgeons at Twin Cities Heart and Lung believe in patient education. We've designed our site to help you learn about procedures so you can understand them and proceed with your treatment with the knowledge to put your fears to rest.

Before and After the MAZE procedure:

Before Surgery Instructions

After Surgery Instructions

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Before Surgery Instructions:

Most patients are admitted to the hospital the morning of or the day before surgery. The night before surgery, you will be asked to bathe to reduce the amount of germs on your skin. After you are admitted to the hospital, the area to be operated on will be washed, scrubbed with antiseptic, and, if needed, shaved.

The MAZE procedure is performed with general anesthesia, meaning you will be unconscious during the surgery. Because anesthesia is safest on an empty stomach, you will be asked not to eat or drink after midnight the night before surgery. If you do eat or drink anything after midnight, it is important that you tell your anesthesiologist and surgeon. If you smoke, you should stop at least two weeks before your surgery. Smoking before surgery can lead to problems with blood clotting and breathing.

Before surgery, you may have an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), blood tests, urine tests, and a chest x-ray to give your surgeon the latest information about your health. You will be given something to help you relax (a mild tranquilizer) before you are taken into the operating room.

After Surgery Instructions:

As with most major heart procedures, you can expect to stay in the hospital for four to five days or longer in some cases, including at least one or two days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). You will be started on a rehabilitation program while in the hospital to build up your strength. You will be given medicines called diuretics, which help to control any fluid buildup after surgery. You may also need to take aspirin for the first six weeks after surgery to stop any blood clots from forming.

Immediately after surgery, recurrent AF is a common outcome. Therefore, the procedure's success is not determined until six months post-op. This means a number of things: first, you will need follow-up appointments after one, three, and six months. Second, you may be maintained on rhythm or rate control medications through this period. Third, if AF persists, anticoagulation (blood thinning) medication will be continued, and fourth, since extended time spent in AF may contribute to an unsuccessful outcome, cardioversion (electric shock) may be performed at timely intervals. Fifth, after six months, if the regular rhythm is maintained, rhythm control and blood thinning medications may be stopped.