Scar from Cox-maze procedure

[BeeBee79]

Hi all,

I might be having the above procedure and have been reading up on it. One thing I can't find is, what the scar will look like on my chest post-procedure. I already have a scar from my ICD implant and being young (ish) at 44, I'd like to have an idea of what it will look like. Not that it would affect my decision, I'm just curious.

Thanks,

B

[Hidden]

Hello BeeBee, as you probably know Cox Maze procedures are not overly common in the UK although there are members who are more clued up about it and I have made MummyLuv who is our resident expert aware of your post. Normally, we would send a link so that you could quickly see some relevant information but at the moment that will involve a lot of rigmarole by which time you will have had the treatment. I did make a YouTube search on the subject and there were some interesting videos but not recommended before eating! From what little I saw, the scars didn’t look too bad and one of our members had pictures of his scars after a Wolf MiniMaze type procedure and it almost a case of “what scars”!

Hope all goes well and please let us know how you get on…..

[BeeBee79 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much. It’s not definite that I’m having it but it’s certainly looking like it given my complex history. As you say, there’s not much info available on the UK side.

I’ll certainly keep you posted 😁

[Buzby62 in reply to BeeBee79]

The member post of scars that Hidden mentions is in the related posts. Top right of this page or down the bottom if on a mobile.

healthunlocked.com/afassoci....

Or use the above internal link

[Hidden in reply to Buzby62]

Your brave, peddling obscene photos on the forum. 😂

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Given the current climate, I wouldn’t automatically assume that links to members posts are not subject to the new rules, perhaps Admin could offer some guidance. 🤨

[MummyLuv]

hi Beebee, thanks for tag flapjack.

I’m assuming you are long term persistent afib?

Do you know how they are doing the cox maze? Traditionally this is an open heart surgery so they open the rib cage and your scar is quite big down the front of your chest. In the UK this is only done when you are having open heart surgery anyway.

Cox Maze IV is a minimally invasive version of this done from ports on either side of the rib cage and from under the rib cage: I’m not aware of anyone in the UK doing this. It is done in the US by those working closely with Dr Cox himself, portholes on either side of rib cage and few cm slash under your rib cage above stomach.

Then there are two main types of minimally invasive maze surgeries. Thoroscopic and Hybrid.

Thoroscopic is where your pulmonary veins are isolated, left appendage removed and most of the cox maze lines on back of the left atrium created (ismus lines for example can’t be reached). You are left with 3 small scars on either side of the rib cage like shared above.

Hybrid. This can be a combination of catheter ablation and thoroscopic where the EP does the bits the surgeon can’t reach. So small scare either side of rib cage and tiny scar on top of thigh. Or it can be done using the convergent method - surgeon goes in below rib cage and scars the black wall of the left atrium and EP does the rest by catheter ablation, this way you’ll have a few cm scar line below rib cage above stomach and tiny scar at top of your thigh,

Out of interest who is doing your surgery? There are not many hospitals offer this outside of Open Heart Surgery, happy to answer any queries you have just PM me and I can send you more info too by PM if you want it.

It’s a very effective treatment for af, lots of research available, again I can send you if you want.