Mini Maze Procedure

A Cure for Atrial Fibrillation

A woman who has helped spread the word about women's cardiac health is now singing the praises of a procedure that helped reset her own heart rhythm.

The Mini Maze procedure performed at Scott & White was the answer to Mellanie True Hills' problems with Atrial Fibrillation. Hills discovered her condition after a frightening discovery of her own heart disease and included information about it in her recent book titled, "A Woman's Guide to Saving Her Own Life." Hills cardiac problems erupted in 2003 when she stepped off a plane in San Jose, Calif. She could barely breathe and had a pain in her left shoulder. She thought it could be allergies, but upon her return to Central Texas, doctors discovered a 95 percent blockage in a coronary artery.

The procedure to clear the blockage was difficult and Hills said she was given a second chance at life. "I needed to do something with my second chance," she said.

Taking Control and Sharing the Message with Other Women

At the same time, Hills and her doctors remained perplexed over the cause of her trouble. Besides being overweight, at 51, she didn't have the traditional risk factors. "I left the hospital determined to figure out how to get this heart disease under control."

She already ate healthfully, but lowered the fats in her diet and increased her exercise. Hills zeroed in on stress and its contribution to her condition. "A typical week for me was multiple cities, marathon meetings, constant conference calls - working around the clock." she said. "It was like jumping from an airplane with my hair on fire."

Hills began sharing her message, discovering that helping other women would be her life's new calling. She already wrote two best-selling books about the Internet, and turned her talent to writing a book geared at overstressed women. "I wanted to help them avoid the same train wreck I had."

Atrial Fibrillation

Once her life was back on track, Hills made another startling discovery. Like two million Americans, she suffered from Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial Fibrillation is a condition where the two upper chambers of the heart quiver, rather than beat effectively. The consequences may lead to blood clots and stroke.

Hills, who once took several flights a week to keep pace with her high tech job, was grounded by the condition because of the potential for blood clots.

To make matters worse, the medication regimen prescribed to treat her atrial fibrillation had a devastating impact on her quality of life. So when she heard Scott & White doctors were performing a procedure that would cure her condition, Hills began her own research. Once she had the facts, Hills said the decision was easy. "It was a no-brainer."

Minimally Invasive Procedure

Hills was among the first patients at Scott & White to undergo the minimally invasive Mini Maze procedure. After her surgery, Hills was back to her regular activities. For the first time in two years, Hills boarded a plane. She also was able to stop taking the medications that had complicated her life. "Now, I only take an aspirin a day [and one of the cholesterol medications recommended for most heart patients]," she said.

During the Mini Maze procedure, surgeons place a clamp-like tool on the left atrium near the pulmonary veins. Ablation is performed on the tissue between the clamp, as well as on the overactive nerves that cause atrial fibrillation.

An Improvement on the Original Maze procedure

Part of the left atrium, where most clots form, also is removed. The procedure is completed through three small incisions in the breast area in about four hours. The procedure is an improvement on the original Maze procedure which required a chest-opening incision.

"This marks a new direction in the therapy for atrial fibrillation," said Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Erik Beyer. "We hope more patients like Mrs. Hills will benefit from this new and improved non-invasive procedure."

For the patient, the procedure was life-changing. "I feel so much better," Hills said, seven months post surgery. "I got my life back!"

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