{"schema_version":"bookimed.page-context.v1","id":"heart-rhythm-surgery-clinics","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/heart-rhythm-surgery-clinics/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/heart-rhythm-surgery-clinics.json","index_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/index.json","full_dataset_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/content.json","content_revision":"source-driven-rankings-20261008","date_modified":"2026-10-08","language":"en","kind":"clinic-directory","title":"Heart rhythm surgery clinics and specialist centres","summary":"Heart rhythm surgery clinics and specialist centres 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.","research_credit":{"name":"Yevhenii Kozlov","role":"Co-Founder of Bookimed","url":"https://us-uk.bookimed.com/ceo/kozlov/","contribution":"Research personally prepared and reviewed","assistance":"AI tools assisted source research."},"editorial_scope":"Source-based patient information; an individual treatment plan requires clinical review.","research_method":"How this guide is researched and compared Research project led by Yevhenii Kozlov . We link clinical guidance, primary studies and named hospital or offer sources beside the relevant statements. Comparisons distinguish individual operators from programme results and preserve the study population, follow-up and limitations. Prices are dated examples with their stated scope. Research and editorial preparation are separate from clinical review; no named clinician has medically reviewed this edition. Bookimed provides care coordination. Partner and reference programmes are identified from their sources; paid ordering is not used in our published-cohort comparison. Read the editorial policy .","key_takeaways":[{"label":"3 named clinics and specialist centres","text":"Cleveland Clinic, UChicago Medicine, WashU Medicine / Barnes-Jewish Hospital.","sources":["cleveland-hcm1559","pd-adult-balkhy-official","SP10"]},{"label":"Appendage closure adds stroke protection","text":"LAAOS III found benefit in patients with AF and elevated stroke risk already having cardiac surgery, on top of usual care including anticoagulation.","sources":["C18"]},{"label":"A pacemaker has a different job","text":"Rate support or protection against dangerous rhythms is distinct from ablation or appendage closure.","sources":["D01"]}],"benefits":[{"text":"An already planned operation can provide an opportunity to address AF and stroke risk in the same treatment course.","sources":["C17","C18"]}],"limitations":[{"text":"Appendage closure does not automatically replace blood thinners, and freedom from AF depends on the rhythm type, treatment and monitoring used.","sources":["C18"]}],"sections":[{"id":"directory","title":"Heart rhythm surgery clinics and specialist centres","text":"Heart rhythm surgery clinics and specialist centres 3 programmes shown Select up to 3 hospitals to compare their reported services and teams. View selected hospitals ↓ Miller Family Pavilion at Cleveland Clinic’s main campus, home to the Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. · Photo source United States · Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland Clinic Heart rhythm surgery clinical focus Cleveland’s Gillinov-led surgical AF service connects rhythm treatment with mitral-repair expertise when AF and valve leakage coexist. Procedures and specialists mitral valve repair robotic mitral surgery aortic valve replacement minimally invasive cardiac surgery HCM / septal myectomy transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVI/TAVR) A. Marc Gillinov → Read the clinic profile ↗ What this means for your choice The linked specialist profiles distinguish clinical practice, published cohorts and treatment methods. Heart rhythm surgery guide ↗ Clinic, specialists and research → Compare this hospital Sources: A. Marc Gillinov, MD | Cleveland Clinic Husam Balkhy performing robotic heart surgery, as identified on UChicago Medicine’s official programme page. · Photo source United States · Chicago UChicago Medicine Heart rhythm surgery clinical focus UChicago’s robotic cardiac service includes atrial-fibrillation surgery with Balkhy’s team. Procedures and specialists robotic totally endoscopic CABG (TECAB) robotic mitral valve surgery robotic atrial fibrillation surgery Husam H. Balkhy → Read the clinic profile ↗ What this means for your choice The linked specialist profiles distinguish clinical practice, published cohorts and treatment methods. Heart rhythm surgery guide ↗ Clinic, specialists and research → Compare this hospital Sources: Husam H. Balkhy, MD Plaza West Tower at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, published by WashU Medicine in September 2025. Photo courtesy of Barnes-Jewish Hospital. · Photo source United States · St. Louis, Missouri WashU Medicine / Barnes-Jewish Hospital Heart rhythm surgery clinical focus WashU’s current Khiabani profile documents minimally invasive AF surgery alongside valve surgery. Procedures and specialists surgical atrial fibrillation treatment minimally invasive AF surgery valve surgery Ali J. Khiabani → Read the clinic profile ↗ What this means for your choice The linked specialist profiles distinguish clinical practice, published cohorts and treatment methods. Heart rhythm surgery guide ↗ Clinic, specialists and research → Compare this hospital Sources: Ali J. Khiabani, MD, MHA — physician profile · The long-term outcomes and durability of the Cox-Maze IV procedure for atrial fibrillation. Your hospital comparison Compare the treatment each team would propose for the same scan, anatomy and recovery goals.","links":[{"label":"Photo source","url":"https://my.clevelandclinic.org/mobile-apps/diet"},{"label":"Cleveland Clinic","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/clinic-cleveland/"},{"label":"A. Marc Gillinov →","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/doctor-marc-gillinov/"},{"label":"Read the clinic profile ↗","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/clinic-cleveland/"},{"label":"Heart rhythm surgery guide ↗","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/heart-rhythm-surgery/"},{"label":"Clinic, specialists and research →","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/clinic-cleveland/"},{"label":"A. Marc Gillinov, MD | Cleveland Clinic","url":"https://providers.clevelandclinic.org/provider/a-marc-gillinov/4268438"},{"label":"Photo source","url":"https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/landing-pages/robotic-heart-surgery"},{"label":"UChicago Medicine","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/clinic-uchicago/"},{"label":"Husam H. Balkhy →","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/doctor-husam-balkhy/"},{"label":"Read the clinic profile ↗","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/clinic-uchicago/"},{"label":"Heart rhythm surgery guide ↗","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/heart-rhythm-surgery/"},{"label":"Clinic, specialists and research →","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/clinic-uchicago/"},{"label":"Husam H. Balkhy, MD","url":"https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/find-a-physician/physician/husam-h-balkhy"},{"label":"Photo source","url":"https://medicine.washu.edu/news/barnes-jewish-hospital-unveils-state-of-the-art-patient-care-tower/"},{"label":"WashU Medicine / Barnes-Jewish Hospital","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/clinic-washu-barnes-jewish/"},{"label":"Ali J. Khiabani →","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/doctor-ali-khiabani/"},{"label":"Read the clinic profile ↗","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/clinic-washu-barnes-jewish/"},{"label":"Heart rhythm surgery guide ↗","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/heart-rhythm-surgery/"},{"label":"Clinic, specialists and research →","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/clinic-washu-barnes-jewish/"},{"label":"Ali J. Khiabani, MD, MHA — physician profile","url":"https://physicians.wustl.edu/people/ali-j-khiabani-md-mha/"},{"label":"The long-term outcomes and durability of the Cox-Maze IV procedure for atrial fibrillation.","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32563577/"}],"tables":[[]]},{"id":"benefit-balance","title":"Clinical benefits and trade-offs","text":"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","links":[{"label":"STS: AF during cardiac surgery","url":"https://www.sts.org/sites/default/files/Database%20Webinar%20Handouts/ACSD%20Monthly%20Webinar%2005062026.pdf"},{"label":"LAAOS III trial · ACC","url":"https://www.acc.org/Latest-in-Cardiology/Clinical-Trials/2021/05/14/01/52/LAAOS-III"},{"label":"LAAOS III trial · ACC","url":"https://www.acc.org/Latest-in-Cardiology/Clinical-Trials/2021/05/14/01/52/LAAOS-III"}]},{"id":"selection","title":"How these clinics and specialist centres were selected","text":"How these clinics and specialist centres were selected This list contains 3 clinics and specialist centres 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. How we find specialists ↗ Rhythm & Maze surgery ↗","links":[{"label":"How we find specialists ↗","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/specialist-research-method/"},{"label":"Rhythm & Maze surgery ↗","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/heart-rhythm-surgery/"}]}],"introduction":"Heart surgery guide / Compare clinics / Heart rhythm surgery clinics and specialist centres Heart rhythm surgery clinics and specialist centres · Decision guide Heart rhythm surgery clinics and specialist centres 3 clinics and specialist centres with linked profiles, clinical focus and attributable evidence. Research by Yevhenii Kozlov · Co-Founder of Bookimed Updated 8 October 2026 Sources linked throughout At a glance Heart rhythm surgery clinics and specialist centres 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 clinics and specialist centres Cleveland Clinic, UChicago Medicine, WashU Medicine / Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Sources: Surgical management of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in a specialized hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy center · 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","related_documents":[{"id":"heart-surgery","title":"Heart surgery abroad: treatments, clinics and costs","kind":"home","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/heart-surgery.json"},{"id":"clinics","title":"Heart surgery clinics: compare techniques and specialist teams","kind":"directory","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/clinics/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/clinics.json"},{"id":"heart-rhythm-surgery","title":"Atrial fibrillation surgery: Maze, ablation and appendage closure","kind":"guide","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/heart-rhythm-surgery/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/heart-rhythm-surgery.json"},{"id":"doctor-marc-gillinov","title":"A. Marc Gillinov: Mitral repair specialist","kind":"doctor-profile","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/doctor-marc-gillinov/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/doctor-marc-gillinov.json"},{"id":"doctor-husam-balkhy","title":"Husam H. Balkhy: robotic coronary bypass surgery","kind":"doctor-profile","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/doctor-husam-balkhy/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/doctor-husam-balkhy.json"},{"id":"doctor-ali-khiabani","title":"Ali J. Khiabani: Maze and surgical atrial fibrillation treatment","kind":"doctor-profile","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/doctor-ali-khiabani/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/doctor-ali-khiabani.json"},{"id":"clinic-cleveland","title":"Cleveland Clinic: heart surgery expertise","kind":"clinic-profile","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/clinic-cleveland/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/clinic-cleveland.json"},{"id":"clinic-uchicago","title":"UChicago Medicine: heart surgery expertise","kind":"clinic-profile","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/clinic-uchicago/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/clinic-uchicago.json"},{"id":"clinic-washu-barnes-jewish","title":"WashU Medicine / Barnes-Jewish Hospital: heart surgery expertise","kind":"clinic-profile","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/clinic-washu-barnes-jewish/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/clinic-washu-barnes-jewish.json"},{"id":"specialist-research-method","title":"How we research heart surgery specialists","kind":"guide","url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/heart-surgery/specialist-research-method/","json_url":"https://hub.bookimed.com/wp-content/uploads/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/pages/specialist-research-method.json"}],"sources":{"C17":{"id":"C17","title":"STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database Monthly Webinar, May 6, 2026 — Treatment of Preoperative Atrial Fibrillation","url":"https://www.sts.org/sites/default/files/Database%20Webinar%20Handouts/ACSD%20Monthly%20Webinar%2005062026.pdf","publisher":"Society of Thoracic Surgeons","published":"2026-05-06","read_at":"2026-10-07","source_type":"Official society teaching slides reproducing guideline recommendations"},"C18":{"id":"C18","title":"Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Study III — LAAOS III","url":"https://www.acc.org/Latest-in-Cardiology/Clinical-Trials/2021/05/14/01/52/LAAOS-III","publisher":"American College of Cardiology","published":"2023-10-19 (updated)","read_at":"2026-10-07","source_type":"Professional society summary of randomized trial"},"cleveland-profile":{"id":"cleveland-profile","title":"A. Marc Gillinov, MD | Cleveland Clinic","url":"https://providers.clevelandclinic.org/provider/a-marc-gillinov/4268438","read_at":"2026-10-07","source_type":"official_hospital"},"D01":{"id":"D01","title":"Conditions treated by heart surgery","url":"https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/heart-surgery/conditions","publisher":"NHLBI","read_at":"2026-10-07","source_type":"Official medical information or guideline"},"rank-cleveland1559":{"id":"rank-cleveland1559","title":"Surgical management of LVOT obstruction in a specialized HOCM center","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2018.11.148","read_at":"2026-10-07","source_kind":"primary_study","body_access":"primary_abstract_read_full_text_subscription","support_location":"PubMed30782406; Methods/Results","short_excerpt":"1559 consecutive operations for left ventricular outflow tract obstruction","source_type":"primary_study"},"cabg-balkhy-current":{"id":"cabg-balkhy-current","title":"Husam H. Balkhy, MD — UChicago Medicine","url":"https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/find-a-physician/physician/husam-h-balkhy","source_kind":"official_current_hospital_profile","body_access":"search_returned_substantial_page_body_read","support_location":"Title, current role, About, Specialties and Areas of Expertise","short_excerpt":"Director, Robotic and Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery","read_at":"2026-10-07","source_type":"official_current_hospital_profile"},"cleveland-hcm1559":{"url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2018.11.148","title":"Surgical management of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in a specialized hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy center","publisher":"Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery"},"pd-adult-balkhy-official":{"title":"Husam H. Balkhy, MD","publisher":"UChicago Medicine","url":"https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/find-a-physician/physician/husam-h-balkhy","read_at":"2026-10-08","kind":"official provider or programme page","support":"Current professor/director role; TECAB, robotic mitral and atrial fibrillation surgery.","limitations":"An institutional listing supports current role and stated clinical scope; it does not establish the next appointment, operating allocation or individual risk-adjusted results.","body_file":"outputs/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/review/provider-depth/adult/sources/balkhy-official.txt"},"pd-adult-uchicago-programme-image":{"title":"Robotic heart surgery programme image","publisher":"UChicago Medicine","url":"https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/landing-pages/robotic-heart-surgery","read_at":"2026-10-08","body_file":"outputs/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/review/provider-depth/adult/sources/uchicago-programme-images.html","kind":"official image source","support":"Hero photograph URL and alt text observed on the official robotic-heart-surgery page."},"SP10":{"title":"Ali J. Khiabani, MD, MHA — physician profile","publisher":"WashU Medicine","url":"https://physicians.wustl.edu/people/ali-j-khiabani-md-mha/","read_at":"2026-10-08","source_kind":"official-institution","local_body":"/Users/eugen/Projects/frankenstein-agentic-framework/outputs/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/review/provider-depth/specialties/sources/recovered-official-web.json","supports":"Current assistant professor, cardiac surgeon at Barnes-Jewish, minimally invasive AF/valve surgery; research in arrhythmia surgery and outcomes; 2024 cardiothoracic fellowship.","limitations":"Direct HTTP returned 403; complete relevant body recovered with web reader. No personal Maze annual volume or long-term rate is reported."},"SP19":{"title":"The long-term outcomes and durability of the Cox-Maze IV procedure for atrial fibrillation.","publisher":"The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32563577/","read_at":"2026-10-08","published_at":"2020-05-05","doi":"10.1016/j.jtcvs.2020.04.100","pmid":"32563577","source_kind":"primary-research-abstract","local_body":"/Users/eugen/Projects/frankenstein-agentic-framework/outputs/heart-surgery-hub-20261007/review/provider-depth/specialties/sources/pmid-32563577.json","supports":"WashU Cox-Maze IV programme 853 operations during 2003–2018; Khiabani first author; rhythm durability and recurrence predictors.","limitations":"Historical programme cohort, not operations by Khiabani. Follow-up denominators shrink; no randomized comparison with catheter ablation; long-term freedom-from-arrhythmia is not cure."},"tp-cleveland":{"title":"Cleveland: 1,559 operations in a specialised HCM centre","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2018.11.148","kind":"primary clinical study; prior research edition","checked":"2026-10-08","accessed":"2026-10-08"}}}