Glenn Barnhart, MD – The Cox-Maze IV and Surgical Ablation Evolution

https://www.afibsurgeons.org - Dr. Glenn Barnhart discusses the evolution of the Cox Maze procedure. The Cox Maze II procedure moved a bit more posteriorly and the upper end of the septal lesion terminated at the SVC. The Cox Maze III procedure took that line even further back. With the Cox Maze IV procedure, that lesion was taken out completely. It is impossible for the Cox Maze IV procedure to have any heart block. Heart block occurs because of damage to the AV node or the His bundle, and the surgeon is nowhere near the AV node or His bundle on a Maze IV procedure. There are many patterns to the Maze procedure, but only one principle. The Maze procedure should not be used as a generic label for anything done in the atrium.