In 2005, Manuel Gonzalez tried to walk three blocks, but it took him 45 minutes because he had to stop four times.

"(It was) like somebody had a hand on my heart and squeezed it " he said.

It was then that the Southgate resident, 61, knew something: had to change -"I was just fed, up with it," he said.

Because Gonzalez was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, in which the heart's electrical signals are too rapid, and because his heart otherwise is in good shape, he became the first person in southeastern Michigan to undergo a relatively new procedure, known as mini maze ablation, in which scars were placed on his heart to block improper signals.

The operation, performed May 6 by Dr. Chris Liakonis at Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center in Dearborn, was a success.

While Gonzalez still is on leave from his job as a security guard at Greektown Casino in Detroit, his heartbeat is under control, though his chest still is sore and he has some trouble breathing.

Once those issues are reduced, Gonzalez plans to exercise on a treadmill, with the goal of losing weight. He's 5 feet 11 inches tall and 218 pounds, though he was up to 274 he ate very well at the casino, he said, jokingly.

Gonzalez's cardiologist, Dr. Arthur Riba, introduced him to Liakonis, a cardio/thoracic and thoracic/vascular surgeon who is based at Oakwood's flagship hospital.

Liakonis learned about the procedure through AtriCure, a Cincinnati-based medical supply company, and was intrigued. His inspiration was a neighbor who suffered from atrial fibrillation, had a stroke about 18 months ago and died about six months ago.

The prestigious Cleveland Clinic has performed several mini maze ablation procedures, which were developed about five years ago.

Liakonis trained with a surgeon familiar with the procedure in Virginia, did the whole procedure at a cadaver lab in Tennessee and received more guidance from a Lansing physician, Dr. D.B. Gandhi.

Mini maze ablation is a closed-chest procedure in which a cardio/thoracic surgeon and an electrophysiologist make three incisions: one below the armpit to insert the instruments, a port in the rib cage for a surgical camera and another port closer to the heart for the ablation device.

The electrically faulty areas of the heart are identified, and ablations, or scars, are created to block the improper signals. The left atrial appendage, where stroke-causing blood clots often form, is removed or closed off.

Atrial fibrillation is when a person has an irregular and often rapid heartbeat. It creates a quiver in the top two chambers of the heart, known as the atria, which the lower two chambers, or the ventricles, can't keep up with. Symptoms include high blood pressure, shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness and chest pain.

Liakonis started seeing Gonzalez in December, and the physician got approval from Oakwood officials to perform the procedure four months after he first asked.

The surgeon teamed with Gandhi and Dr. Nour Juratli, an Oakwood cardiac electrophysiologist, for the operation.

Gonzalez's procedure took about seven hours, though the actual surgery took about four.

"Mr. Gonzalez is a big guy, so it took longer," Liakonis said.

In time, Liakonis said the whole procedure will take about four hours.

Gonzalez spent nine days at Oakwood after the surgery, mainly because of pain control.

"I was nervous," Gonzalez said. "You go into part of the heart that keeps you alive. Dr. Liakonis explained it to me and showed me the instruments and procedures. He really gave me a lot of confidence in his work.

"I told Dr. Liakonis I was sick and tired of the three years (of suffering)."

In most cases, people with atrial fibrillation are treated with blood thinners to prevent strokes. The problem with a blood thinner like Coumadin, Liakonis said, is that it possibly can cause spontaneous bleeding, like nosebleeds, and patients are at major risk for other injuries.

Candidates for mini maze ablations must not have other underlying problems like leaky valves. The heart must be really strong, Liakonis said.

"My biggest concern is quality of life," he said. "The good news is these people I can help, it can give them a new lease on life."

Liakonis said another of his patients is a candidate for a mini maze ablation.

"If I can correct her rhythm, it's wonderful," he said.

To learn more about the procedure, call 1-313-436-2422.