A fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), Hartmuth Bittner, MD, PhD, is a medical doctor focusing on cardiothoracic disease. In April 2021, Dr Hartmuth Bittner joined Cardiac Surgery Associates (CSA) in Lafayette, Indiana. CSA is a team dedicated to diagnosing and treating patients and promoting healthy living, including encouraging prevention measures that help lower heart attack risk.

Researchers have studied the relationship between the consumption of alcoholic beverages, such as wine, and human health over the years. Results from the studies show some compounds in wine, such as resveratrol, a natural antioxidant found in the skin of grapes, lowers bad cholesterol, helping to keep the heart healthy. According to the American Heart Association, oxidative stress correlates with many diseases, including cancer and heart disease. Oxidative stress results from an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants, resulting in damage to many tissues.

Other studies suggest moderate consumption of alcohol reduces the formation of blood clots, raises good cholesterol, and may improve the function of the layer of cells that line blood vessels. Since red wine is fermented together with grape skin, its contents of useful compounds are higher than other alcoholic drinks. However, any type of alcohol should be taken in moderation and is not recommended for people with conditions such as high blood pressure, liver disease, or ulcers, among others.

A specialist at Cardiac Surgery Associates, Dr. Hartmuth Bittner is an experienced medical practitioner who earned his MD magna cum laude from the University of Heidelberg Medical School in Germany and completed a medical residency at Duke University. A cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon with a career spanning three decades, Dr. Hartmuth Bittner has performed various minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgeries.
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Maze surgery is often done on patients with atrial fibrillation who don't improve with medications or other treatment endeavors. Atrial fibrillation is characterized by abnormal heart rhythms that spawn from erroneous electrical activities within the upper chambers of the heart. This condition results in stray electrical signals, which consequently lead to the upper and lower chambers of the heart beating out-of-sync.

Maze surgery is uniquely designed to fend off stray signals within the upper heart chambers by blocking those signals with scar tissue. The procedure begins with an incision in the chest to access the upper heart chambers while the patient is under general anesthesia. The surgeon proceeds by making cuts in strategic areas of the chamber using a scalpel, heat, or high cold energy equipment. Scars replace the cuts as the tissue heals. The scar-tissue “maze” pattern serves as a barrier to stray signals and creates a correct electrical path for necessary signals.

Maze surgery elicits an improved quality of life in most patients, as the symptoms of atrial fibrillation (such as pounding heartbeat, weakness, and shortness of breath) fade after treatment. However, atrial fibrillation may return after time in some patients. When this happens, medication or another type of maze surgery will be needed.