Operation mini-maze – minimally invasive surgery
Activity description “mini-maze”
Labyrinth – surgical procedure, heart surgery. The maze is made specially scars in the upper chambers of the heart – predserdiyah.
Traditional maze surgery It requires opening the chest and heart failure. Unlike traditional surgery, mini-maze is done through small incisions using special surgical instruments. This reduces recovery time and the risk of infection.
Reasons for the operation “mini-maze”
Maze is done to treat Atrial Fibrillation. Fibrillation (atrial fibrillation) – abnormal beating of the heart muscle. This is due to the instability of nerve impulses, which pass through the heart muscle. These pulses can cause too rapid reduction of cameras, which may reduce the blood flow to the heart.
Atrial fibrillation can also cause formation of blood clots in the heart, which can enter the brain and cause strokes.
Maze is used to treat severe cases, which can not be treated with medication or other treatments. Electrical impulses can not pass through the scar tissue. After creating scar nerve impulses pass through the normal path, Created in unstable blocked sections.
Possible complications of surgery “mini-maze”
Complications are rare, but no procedure does not guarantee the absence of risk. Before, how to perform the operation, you need to know about possible complications, which may include:
- Infection;
- Bleeding;
- Reaction to anesthesia;
- The need for conversion to open surgery;
- Damage to other organs;
- Stroke;
- Death.
Some factors, that may increase the risk of complications include:
- Obesity;
- Diabetes;
- Previous breast surgery;
- The use of some drugs.
How is the operation of mini-maze?
Preparation for the procedure
Your doctor may order the following:
- Physical examination, including blood and urine tests;
- Chest X-ray – photographing structures inside the thorax with a small amount of radiation;
- Electrocardiogram – test, which detects heart activity by measurement of electrical current through the heart muscle.
A few days before the procedure:
- You may be asked to stop taking certain medicines a week before the procedure,:
- Anti-inflammatory drugs (eg, aspirin);
- Blood thinners, such as clopidogrel, warfarin, or ticlopidine;
- It is necessary to organize the return home from the hospital. Besides, need to organize assistance at home after surgery;
- In the evening before surgery you can eat a light meal. You can not eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of the procedure;
- We need to stop smoking.
Anesthesia
Used general anesthesia. During the operation, the patient is asleep. Also, before the operation can be given a sedative, to help the patient relax.
Description of the procedure “mini-maze”
With minimally invasive procedure is required to make only small incisions in the chest. Two small incisions are made in the area of the heart, between the ribs. Through one of the incisions to be inserted into a small camera. The doctor will be able to use this camera to see the heart. After the second cut are special tools, which will be used to create small areas of scar tissue. The tip of the tool is strongly cooled or use radio waves, to destroy small areas of tissue. This process is called ablation.
After, How should the area to be processed, Instruments removed. Skin sealed seams or clasps.
Immediately after treatment
Recovery will be in an intensive care unit. The activity of the heart will be monitored with an electrocardiogram. To ensure a comfortable recovery, It will be given pain medication.
How long will the surgery?
About 3-4 hours.
Will it hurt?
Anesthesia prevents pain during surgery. After the operation the doctor prescribes pain medication, to reduce discomfort.
The average hospital stay
About 3 days.
Patient care after surgery mini-maze
Care in a hospital
During recovery in the hospital, you can get the following help:
- It will be administered through the IV fluid and painkillers. You may be given medication, to control fluid accumulation in the body;
- Efforts will be made, the patient was able to climb out of bed and began to walk as soon as possible;
- You will be asked to breathe deeply and cough frequently. This will help reduce the risk of fluid accumulation in the lungs.
Home Care
Full recovery may take 4-6 weeks. Be sure to follow your doctor's instructions, which may include:
- If necessary, the need to rest. During the recovery period, you may feel more tired, than usual;
- Physical activity (walks, light exercise) help recover faster;
- Analgesics should be taken on the appointment. Some pain medications cause constipation. To avoid this:
- Drink plenty of fluids;
- Eat foods high in fiber, such as:
- Whole grains, cereals and breads;
- Fruits and vegetables;
- Legumes (eg, beans, lentil)
- Keep the incision site clean and dry;
- Until full recovery need to stop doing certain activities (driving, Job, Active exercise);
- We need to ask your doctor about, when it is safe to shower, bathe, or to expose the surgical site to water.
Contact your doctor after surgery mini-maze
After discharge from the hospital need to see a doctor, If the following symptoms:
- Cough or shortness of breath;
- Chest pain, not associated with the operation;
- Signs of infection, including fever and chills;
- Fluttering or palpitations;
- Redness, edema, increased pain, bleeding, or any discharge from the incision;
- Nausea and / or vomiting, which do not disappear after taking the prescribed medicines, and persist for more than two days after discharge from the hospital;
- Pain, which does not pass after taking pain medication appointed;
- Coughing up blood;
- Headache or a feeling of weakness;
- Inability to urinate;
- Pain, burning, frequent urination or persistent bleeding in the urine;
- Pain and / or swelling of the legs, calves and feet;
- Other worrisome symptoms.
We need to call an ambulance, if there was any of the following symptoms of:
- Sudden chest pain;
- Sudden shortness of breath;
- Problems with vision or speech;
- Numbness or weakness on one side of the body.
