Linda

Huntington Health, a Cedars‑Sinai affiliate, is highlighting a groundbreaking approach to treating complex atrial fibrillation (AF) through the story of a patient who regained her health after undergoing the Totally Thoracoscopic Maze (“TT Maze”) procedure performed at Huntington by Cedars-Sinai cardiac surgeon, Armin Kiankhooy, MD.

For more than two decades, 60-year-old Linda Pine, from San Diego, lived with persistent AF, undergoing three prior endocardial catheter ablations without achieving a lasting normal rhythm. Her symptoms—fatigue, limited endurance, and inability to exercise—progressively impacted her daily life. After consulting physicians across the country, Linda was repeatedly advised to undergo yet another catheter ablation.

That changed when she was referred to Dr. Kiankhooy for a surgical consultation. For the first time, Linda was presented with an alternative: the TT Maze, a state-of-the-art closed-chest, off-pump surgical ablation combined with placement of a left atrial appendage clip.

“For patients with longstanding or complex atrial fibrillation, TT Maze can be a powerful option—especially when prior catheter ablations haven’t produced durable results,” said Dr. Kiankhooy. “This minimally invasive approach, paired with close collaboration between electrophysiology and surgical teams, allows us to offer patients a path back to normal rhythm and improved quality of life.”

TT Maze is often used to complement prior catheter ablations, and growing clinical evidence supports its effectiveness for patients with persistent and long-standing AF. Studies such as HARTCAP-AF (Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Clinical Electrophysiology, 2023) and CEASE-AF (eClinicalMedicine) demonstrate the superior outcomes of hybrid epicardial–endocardial strategies compared to catheter ablation alone.

Linda says she knew immediately the TT Maze was the right choice.

“I had met with so many specialists around the country, and everyone recommended the same procedure I had already tried multiple times,” Linda shared. “Dr. Kiankhooy explained TT Maze in a way that made me feel understood and hopeful. I trusted him, and I knew I had to try this procedure.”

Nearly two years after surgery, Linda has remained in normal rhythm and has been able to discontinue her anti-arrhythmic medications. With restored energy, she has resumed travel, exercise, and daily activities once limited by her condition.

“Life has completely changed,” Linda said. “For the first time in decades, I feel like myself again.”

To learn more about cardiac surgery at Huntington Health, go to: Cardiac Services | Huntington Hospital