Cleveland, Ohio · United States
cardiac surgeon
A. Marc Gillinov →
Gillinov’s practice combines surgical atrial-fibrillation treatment and mitral repair, relevant when AF and valve leakage coexist.
Heart rhythm surgery specialists · Decision guide
Heart rhythm surgery specialists
3 specialists with linked profiles, clinical focus and attributable evidence.
At a glance
Heart rhythm surgery specialists differ in the anatomy they treat, techniques they offer and evidence they publish. Rhythm surgery and stroke-prevention procedures have different purposes. Maze or surgical ablation targets abnormal electrical pathways; left-atrial-appendage closure targets a source of blood clots.
3 named specialists
A. Marc Gillinov, Husam H. Balkhy, Ali J. Khiabani.
Sources: A. Marc Gillinov, MD | Cleveland Clinic · Husam H. Balkhy, MD · Ali J. Khiabani, MD, MHA — physician profile
Appendage closure adds stroke protection
LAAOS III found benefit in patients with AF and elevated stroke risk already having cardiac surgery, on top of usual care including anticoagulation.
Sources: LAAOS III trial · ACC
A pacemaker has a different job
Rate support or protection against dangerous rhythms is distinct from ablation or appendage closure.
Sources: Conditions treated by heart surgery
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Your diagnosis, relevant expertise and treatment priorities.
Heart rhythm surgery specialists
3 specialists shown
How we find specialists and where coverage is still growing →
Chicago · United States
cardiac surgeon
Husam H. Balkhy →
Balkhy’s UChicago practice includes robotic surgery for atrial fibrillation.
Sources: Husam H. Balkhy, MD
St. Louis, Missouri · United States
cardiac surgeon
Ali J. Khiabani →
Khiabani’s current WashU profile includes minimally invasive AF surgery and valve surgery.
Sources: Ali J. Khiabani, MD, MHA — physician profile · The long-term outcomes and durability of the Cox-Maze IV procedure for atrial fibrillation.
No specialist in this selection matches both filters. Broaden the search to see the available specialists.
Clinical benefits and trade-offs
Potential advantages
- An already planned operation can provide an opportunity to address AF and stroke risk in the same treatment course.
Sources: STS: AF during cardiac surgery · LAAOS III trial · ACC
Trade-offs and limits
- Appendage closure does not automatically replace blood thinners, and freedom from AF depends on the rhythm type, treatment and monitoring used.
Sources: LAAOS III trial · ACC
How these specialists were selected
This list contains 3 specialists with a documented heart rhythm surgery focus in our source-linked directory. It is an editorial shortlist, not a census or an outcome ranking.
Institutional expertise and published study results are identified separately. An individual doctor may participate in several treatment pathways; a study of one procedure does not establish outcomes for another.
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