mini-maze procedure

A procedure used to manage atrial fibrillation; the term maze refers to the maze-like incisions made in the atria, which eliminate AF as the resulting scars block abnormal (atrial macroreentry) electrical circuits. The procedure prevents AF in 90% of patients and preserves sinus rhythm; post-surgical morbidity and mortality of the classic procedure is relatively high.

Method
All of the maze procedures consist of creating long and complex linear lesions in both atria to channel impulses along narrow pathways. Traditionally, maze and smaller mini-maze procedures require cutting and an endocardial approach; more recently, some permutations have included epicardial approach, beating heart procedures and microwave or radiofrequency ablation (RFA). The current gold standard is epicardial, RFA and beating heart, all of which reduce operative time, mortality and morbidity, and time to patient discharge.

maze procedure

Cox procedure Heart surgery A procedure used to manage A Fib. See Atrial fibrillation. Cf Corridor procedure.

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References in periodicals archive

The reading-aloud or maze procedures might prove to be more appropriate for this purpose.

Validity of general outcome measures for predicting secondary students' performance on content-area tasks

Repetitive atrial flutter as a complication of the left-sided simple maze procedure. Ann Thorac Surg 2002; 73: 1457-9.

The radiofrequency modified maze procedure. A less invasive surgical approach to atrial fibrillation during open heart surgery.

Saline irrigated cooled tip radiofrequency ablation is an effective technique to perform the maze procedure. Ann Thorac Surg 2001; 72: S1090-5.

The surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation/Atriyal fibrilasyonun cerrahi tedavisi

Performance of goldfish trained in allocentric and egocentric maze procedures suggests the presence of a cognitive mapping system in fishes.

Spatial learning and memory deficits after telencephalic ablation in goldfish trained in place and turn maze procedures. Behavioral Neuroscience, 110, 965-980.

Experimental analysis of spatial learning in goldfish

Equivalence of working memory performance for rats and humans was shown in radial maze procedures such as 17-arm paper-pencil tasks (O'Connor & Glassman, 1993) and in 7-, 13-and 8-arm walkabout mazes (Glassman, Garvey, Elkins, Kasal, & Couillard, 1994; Glasman, Leniek, & Haegerich, 1998).

The results show that it has been possible to assess spatial orientation within locomotor space experimentally by means of tasks that are based on famous Radial Maze and Water Maze procedures. In contrast to previous attempts addressing the investigation of human spatial behaviour, intra-maze and extra-maze cues were completely controlled, and measurements of different types of spatial memory errors, response times and route strategies were recorded automatically.

Navigational place learning in children and young adults as assessed with a standardized locomotor search task

GABAmimeitc agents display anxiolytic-like effects in the social interaction and elevated plus maze procedures. Psychopharmacology 104, 312-316.

Effects of methyl-eugenol administration on behavioral models related to depression and anxiety, in rats