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Convergent Procedure (MAZE)

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Creating scar tissue to disrupt faulty electrical signals in the heart

Expert Heart & Vascular Care

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A convergent procedure, also known as a Maze procedure, aggressively treats atrial fibrillation (AFib), a frequently frustrating heart rhythm disorder. Maze procedures use two types of cardiac ablation to create a pattern, or Maze, of scar tissue in the heart to disrupt misfiring electrical signals causing your abnormal heart rhythm. A convergent procedure is a less invasive option than a surgical Maze procedure.

Your doctor may recommend this procedure if your atrial fibrillation is not well controlled with medication or you’ve had a previous traditional cardiac ablation that did not solve the problem. Our cardiac surgeons collaborate with our electrophysiologists to perform this complex procedure.

What to expect from a convergent Maze procedure

You will be given general anesthesia to put you to sleep during the surgery. A cardiac surgeon will make a small incision in the chest and place a scope beneath the breastbone, allowing the team to see the heart during the procedure. The electrophysiologist will insert an ablation device to send a mild, painless burst of heat or cold in order to create a pattern of scar tissue on the epicardium, the protective outer layer of the heart.

Once the epicardial ablation is completed, the incision will be closed. The electrophysiologist will then perform a traditional catheter ablation, in which they will thread an ablation catheter through a blood vessel in the arm or groin to the heart to scar the endocardium, or inside layer of the heart. You’ll likely need to stay in the hospital for two to three days after the procedure for recovery and monitoring.

Electrophysiology Program

We are leaders in developing and using the latest procedures and technologies to treat heart rhythm disorders, and our cardiac electrophysiology laboratory is one of the most sophisticated in North America.

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Tests

Chest X-ray

Chest X-rays use a small dose of radiation to create pictures of the structures inside the chest, including the lungs, heart and chest wall.

Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your heart.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

An electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, measures the heart’s electrical activity.

Event Monitors

An event monitor is a small device that records the heart’s electrical activity. It’s similar to an electrocardiogram, but where an electrocardiogram takes place over a few minutes, an event monitor measures heart rhythms over a much longer time.

Holter Monitors

A Holter monitor is a small device that records the heart’s electrical activity. It’s similar to an electrocardiogram, but whereas an electrocardiogram records over a few minutes, a Holter monitor records over the course of a day or two.

Stress Tests

Stress tests are used to assess how your heart works during physical activity. There are several types of stress tests, including treadmill or bike stress tests, nuclear stress tests, stress echocardiograms and chemically induced stress tests.

Physicians

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26 Doctors & Specialists
Dr. Ammar S. Bafi, MD
Dr. Ammar S. Bafi, MD
Valvular Disease Cardiology | Structural Heart Disease Cardiology | Cardiac Surgery
(199)
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite NW Washington, DC 20010
202-877-7464
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Dr. Edward V. Platia, MD
Dr. Edward V. Platia, MD
Electrophysiology
(169)
110 Irving Street Northwest 5th Floor Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7685
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Dr. Rafique Ahmed, MD
Dr. Rafique Ahmed, MD
Electrophysiology
(156)
9105 Franklin Square Drive WHITE SQUARE PROF BLDG Rosedale, MD 21237
410-554-6727
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Dr. Margaret B. Fischer, MD
Dr. Margaret B. Fischer, MD
Electrophysiology | Adult Congenital Cardiac Disease
(326)
3020 Hamaker Court Suite 502 Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 208-7257
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Dr. Zayd Adnan Eldadah, MD, PhD
Dr. Zayd Adnan Eldadah, MD, PhD
Electrophysiology
(411)
3800 Reservoir Road Northwest Washington, DC 20007
(202) 877-7685
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Dr. Michael Fiocco, MD
Dr. Michael Fiocco, MD
Valvular Disease Cardiology | Structural Heart Disease Cardiology | Cardiac Surgery
(158)
3333 North Calvert Street Johnston Professional Building Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 554-6550
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Dr. Sarfraz A. Durrani, MD
Dr. Sarfraz A. Durrani, MD
Electrophysiology
(380)
3020 Hamaker Court Suite 502 Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 208-7257
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Dr. Sunjeet Singh Sidhu, MD
Dr. Sunjeet Singh Sidhu, MD
Electrophysiology | Internal Medicine
3001 South Hanover Street Gruehn Bldg Ste 301 Baltimore, MD 21225
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Dr. David A. Strouse, MD
Dr. David A. Strouse, MD
Electrophysiology
(404)
3020 Hamaker Court Suite 502 Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 208-7257
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Dr. Brian Thomas Bethea, MD
Dr. Brian Thomas Bethea, MD
Cardiac Surgery
3333 North Calvert Street Johnston Professional Building Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 554-6550
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Dr. Christian Charles Shults, MD
Dr. Christian Charles Shults, MD
Valvular Disease Cardiology | Structural Heart Disease Cardiology | Cardiac Surgery
(248)
1830 SUITE 405 Reston, VA 20190
(202) 877-7464
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Dr. Cyrus A. Hadadi, MD
Dr. Cyrus A. Hadadi, MD
Electrophysiology
505 Bryn Street Cambridge, MD 21613
(202) 877-7685
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Dr. Ezequiel J. Molina, MD
Dr. Ezequiel J. Molina, MD
Cardiac Surgery
(133)
1830 SUITE 405 Reston, VA 20190
(202) 877-7464
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Dr. Walter L. Atiga, MD
Dr. Walter L. Atiga, MD
Electrophysiology
8640 Sudley Road Suite 302 Manassas, VA 20110
(703) 208-7257
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Dr. Michael S. Goldstein, MD
Dr. Michael S. Goldstein, MD
Electrophysiology
(424)
2002 Medical Parkway Suite 500 Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 573-6480
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Dr. Manish H. Shah, MD
Dr. Manish H. Shah, MD
Electrophysiology
(307)
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 5A-14 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7685
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Dr. Jay Aaron Mazel, MD
Dr. Jay Aaron Mazel, MD
Electrophysiology
(349)
18101 Prince Philip Drive Suite 4100 Olney, MD 20832
(202) 416-2000
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Dr. Athanasios Thomaides, MD
Dr. Athanasios Thomaides, MD
Electrophysiology
(309)
3800 Reservoir Road Northwest 5th Floor Washington, DC 20007
(301) 877-5677
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Dr. Glenn Robert Meininger, MD
Dr. Glenn Robert Meininger, MD
Electrophysiology
(182)
3333 North Calvert Street Johnston Professional Building Baltimore, MD 21218
410-554-6727
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Dr. Ricardo Orlando Quarrie, MD, MS
Dr. Ricardo Orlando Quarrie, MD, MS
Cardiac Surgery
3333 North Calvert Street Johnston Professional Building Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 554-6550
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Dr. Seth J. Worley, MD
Dr. Seth J. Worley, MD
Electrophysiology
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 5A-12 Washington, DC 20010
202-877-7685
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Dr. Sung W. Lee, MD
Dr. Sung W. Lee, MD
Electrophysiology
7501 Surratts Road Suite 304 Clinton, MD 20735
301-877-5677
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Dr. Susan O'Donoghue, MD
Dr. Susan O'Donoghue, MD
Electrophysiology
(263)
110 Irving Street Northwest Room 5A-12 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7685
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Dr. Jeffrey E. Cohen, MD
Dr. Jeffrey E. Cohen, MD
Cardiac Surgery
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite NW Washington, DC 20010
202-877-7464
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Dr. Hiroto Kitahara, MD
Dr. Hiroto Kitahara, MD
Cardiac Surgery
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite NW Washington, DC 20010
202-877-7464
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Dr. David J. Schamp, MD
Dr. David J. Schamp, MD
Electrophysiology
(151)
3333 North Calvert Street Johnston Professional Building Baltimore, MD 21218
410-554-6727
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Locations

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2 locations found
MedStar Union Memorial Hospital
201 East University Parkway Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 554-2266
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MedStar Washington Hospital Center
110 Irving Street Northwest Washington, DC 20010
202-877-7464
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