How long is recovery from a Mini-Maze procedure?
-
Johns Hopkins Medicine answered:Classified as an ablation procedure, Mini-maze procedures involve using hot or cold energy sent through a catheter to destroy malfunctioning tissue. Traditional sternotomies open up the chest and require sawing open the breastbone to access the heart. In contrast, Mini-maze procedures use small incisions made between the ribs on each side of the chest and don't require a heart-lung bypass machine - meaning the procedure is performed on a beating heart. It also means that mini-maze postoperative stays are relatively short, averaging three to four days.
However, precautions still need to be taken after a mini-maze procedure. It can often take several months for the procedure to take full effect, so if you have a Mini-Maze procedure, you will be placed on a short course of anti-arrhythmic drugs and a blood thinner. You should be able to resume normal activity, including work, in about two to four weeks after surgery.
Classified as an ablation procedure, Mini-maze procedures involve using hot or cold energy sent through a catheter to destroy malfunctioning tissue. Traditional sternotomies open up the chest and require sawing open the breastbone to access the... More -
Dr. Steven Scott of Riverside Heart and Vascular Center answered:The usual hospital stay for a mini-maze procedure is three to four days, including the day of surgery. Our patients could probably go home sooner, but we often will want to observe the heart rhythm on a monitor for several days after surgery. It is quite common for patients to revert to atrial fibrillation after the surgery, as it takes some time for the surgery to become fully effective at preventing episodes of atrial fibrillation. Once home, there will be some soreness, but it should not be severe. Most people will require some prescription pain medication for two to four weeks, and we tell our patients not to lift over 10 pounds for four weeks. People who have jobs requiring physical labor usually will stay out four to six weeks. People with desk jobs or those who do light physical work generally can return whenever they feel up to it, often in about 2 to 3 weeks.
The usual hospital stay for a mini-maze procedure is three to four days, including the day of surgery. Our patients could probably go home sooner, but we often will want to observe the heart rhythm on a monitor for several days... More
