Convergent Maze Procedure
The convergent maze procedure is a minimally invasive surgical treatment which combines the best of electrophysiology (EP) and cardiac surgery treatments to help restore a normal heart rhythm for longtime arrhythmia sufferers, including patients with structural heart disease who may have previously failed one or more other treatments.
Doylestown Health's AFib Center is one of the few around the country to perform the convergent maze procedure for patients whose AFib is resistant to current therapies.
The procedure uses radiofrequency ablation (focused heat) to create scar tissue in problem areas of your heart. A cardiothoracic surgeon reaches your heart via a 1-inch incision in your upper abdomen, using a video-assisted scope. This blocks the abnormal electrical signals and restores your heart's regular rhythm. The EP threads a catheter through your femoral vein, in the groin area, to reach your heart and fills in any gaps in the ablation pattern and utilize diagnostic techniques to confirm all abnormal electrical signals have been interrupted.