title: History of surgery for atrial fibrillation.
abstract: There is a rich history of surgery for atrial fibrillation. Initial procedures were aimed at controlling the ventricular response rate. Later procedures were directed at converting atrial fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm. These culminated in the Cox Maze III procedure. While highly effective, the complexity and morbidity of the cut and sew Maze III limited its adoption. Enabling technology has developed alternate energy sources designed to produce a transmural atrial scar without cutting and sewing. Termed the Maze IV, this lessened the morbidity of the procedure and widened the applicability. Further advances in minimal access techniques are now being developed to allow totally thorascopic placement of all the left atrial lesions on the full, beating heart, using alternate energy sources.
authors: Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, Cardiopulmonary Research, Science, and Technology Institute, Plano, Texas, USA. edgertonjr@aol.com
authors: Zachary J
authors: ZJ
authors: Edgerton
authors: James R
authors: JR
authors: Edgerton
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques / Q000266:history / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D058606:Accessory Atrioventricular Bundle / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002036:Bundle of His / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000266:history; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000266:history*; D004869:Equipment Safety; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006339:Heart Rate; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000266:history / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome