Why Treat Atrial Fibrillation Using Surgical Ablation?

Over 33 million people are struggling with AFib.
It's undertreated. And, it's getting worse.

Why Treat AFib Using
Surgical Ablation?

Over 33 million people are struggling with
AFib. It's undertreated. And, it's getting worse.

Top 7 Reasons
to Treat AFib

Top 7 Reasons to Treat AFib

During the past 10 years, over 2,000 surgeons have been trained to use the Maze procedure for concomitant CABG, valve and aneurysm cases.

However, the disease remains undertreated. In fact, up to 70% of patients who undergo open heart procedures do not get their AFib treated. It’s only going to get worse as studies indicate that the burden of AFib will surge as the number of new patients diagnosed with AFib jumps 300% by 2030 in United States alone.

To learn 7 important reasons why AFib should be treated during concomitant procedures, click here.

Top 7 Reasons to Treat AFib

Top 7 Reasons
to Treat AFib

Top 7 Reasons to Treat AFib

During the past 10 years, over 2,000 surgeons have been trained to use the Maze procedure for concomitant CABG, valve and aneurysm cases.

However, the disease remains undertreated. In fact, up to 70% of patients who undergo open heart procedures do not get their AFib treated. It’s only going to get worse as studies that the burden of AFib will surge 300% by 2030 in the United States alone.

To learn 7 important reasons why afib should be treated during concomitant procedures, click here.

During the past 10 years, over 2,000 surgeons have been trained to use the Maze procedure for concomitant CABG, valve and aneurysm cases.

However, the disease remains undertreated. In fact, up to 70% of patients who undergo open heart procedures do not get their AFib treated. It’s only going to get worse as studies that the burden of AFib will surge 300% by 2030 in the United States alone.

To learn 7 important reasons why afib should be treated during concomitant procedures, click here.

Top 7 Reasons to Treat AFib

Dr. James Cox Lecture:
The Surgical AFib Treatment Rationale

Dr. James Cox Lecture:
The Surgical AFib Treatment Rationale

Dr. James Cox Lecture:
The Surgical AFib Treatment Rationale

“4 out of 5 patients who already have AFib and are already having open heart surgery for coronary, aortic or mitral valve surgery leave the operating room without their AFib getting treated. This lecture explains the reasons why I believe surgeons should treat atrial fibrillation when it occurs in patients who are undergoing cardiac surgery.”

-- Dr. James Cox, Inventor of the Cox-Maze Procedure,
Professor of Surgery, Northwestern Medicine

What Are Surgeons Saying About Concomitant AFib Treatment?

What Are Surgeons Saying About
Concomitant AFib Treatment?

What Are Surgeons Saying About
Concomitant AFib Treatment?

“I developed a passion for surgical ablation because patients with AFib are miserable. My success rate for getting patients off blood thinners hovers in the high 80s
and low 90s. Plus, the data in my state shows a survival benefits for
AFib patients with mitral valve disease. For me, this is rewarding.”

- Dr. Matthew Romano, Michigan Medicine

“I developed a passion for surgical ablation because patients with AFib are miserable. My success rate for getting patients off blood thinners hovers in the high 80s
and low 90s. Plus, the data in my state shows a survival benefits for
AFib patients with mitral valve disease. For me, this is rewarding.”

- Dr. Matthew Romano, Michigan Medicine

“I developed a passion for surgical ablation because patients with AFib are miserable. My success rate for getting patients off blood thinners hovers in the high 80s
and low 90s. Plus, the data in my state shows a survival benefits for
AFib patients with mitral valve disease. For me, this is rewarding.”

- Dr. Matthew Romano, Michigan Medicine

“There is no greater joy than enhancing the life of my patients. That said, the impact of using the Maze procedure during concomitant cases can not be understated. Being without symptoms like shortness of breath and heart palpitations is a new way of life for my patients.”

- Dr. Husam Balkhy, University of Chicago Medicine

More Surgeons Say

New AFib Surgical
Ablation Guidelines

New AFib Surgical Ablation Guidelines

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the Heart Rhythm Society recently issued new guidelines that recommend AFib surgical ablation during concomitant open procedures for mitral valve, aortic valve and coronary artery bypass graft operations.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Promotes Surgical Ablation to Class 1 Recommendation

“As a result of the growing body of literature over the course of the last five years, we now have enough evidence to support guideline statements. The STS has established institutive medicine endorsed guidelines to look at surgical ablation. We have a Class 1 indication at the time of concomitant mitral surgery and high level of evidence as well as increasing class recommendation at the 2A Category for bypass surgery and aortic valve replacement.”

-- Dr. Vinay Badhwar, WVU Heart & Vascular Institute

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Promotes Surgical Ablation to Class 1 Recommendation

“As a result of the growing body of literature over the course of the last five years, we now have enough evidence to support guideline statements. The STS has established institutive medicine endorsed guidelines to look at surgical ablation. We have a Class 1 indication at the time of concomitant mitral surgery and high level of evidence as well as increasing class recommendation at the 2A Category for bypass surgery and aortic valve replacement.”

-- Dr. Vinay Badhwar, WVU Heart & Vascular Institute

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Promotes
Surgical Ablation to Class 1 Recommendation

“As a result of the growing body of literature over the course of the last five years, we now have enough evidence to support guideline statements. The STS has established institutive medicine endorsed guidelines to look at surgical ablation. We have a Class 1 indication at the time of concomitant mitral surgery and high level of evidence as well as increasing class recommendation at the 2A Category for bypass surgery and aortic valve replacement.”

-- Dr. Vinay Badhwar, WVU Heart & Vascular Institute

Research Supporting
AFib Treatment

New AFib Surgical Ablation Guidelines

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the Heart Rhythm Society recently issued new guidelines
that recommend AFib surgical ablation during concomitant open procedures for
mitral valve, aortic valve and coronary artery bypass graft operations.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the Heart Rhythm Society recently issued new guidelines
that recommend AFib surgical ablation during concomitant open procedures for
mitral valve, aortic valve and coronary artery bypass graft operations.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Promotes Surgical Ablation to Class 1 Recommendation

“As a result of the growing body of literature over the course of the last five years, we now have enough evidence to support guideline statements. The STS has established institutive medicine endorsed guidelines to look at surgical ablation. We have a Class 1 indication at the time of concomitant mitral surgery and high level of evidence as well as increasing class recommendation at the 2A Category for bypass surgery and aortic valve replacement.”

-- Dr. Vinay Badhwar, WVU Heart & Vascular Institute

See New Guidelines

See New Guidelines

Related Articles

Top 7 Reasons to Treat Atrial Fibrillation

Medical & Economic Burden of AFib

Why Surgeons Treat AFib

New STS / HRS Surgical Ablation Treatment Guidelines

Foundation Articles Supporting AFib Treatment

Page last updated: July 1, 2019

Surgical Ablation Heart Surgical Class 1 A Surgical ablation uses radiofreqyency or cryo energy to ablate the heart and restore normal sinus rhythm