Posted by Ian on June 16, 2005 at 22:55:59:
In Reply to: HIFU Mini Maze - ~9 Week Post Surgery - not good posted by Leo Craft on June 14, 2005 at 10:28:55:
Leo,
For what it's worth I was told by Dr. Randall Wolf (who I am going to have do my minimaze) that about 10 percent of his patients who are cured from a-fib are not cured of a-flutter and require an ablation for the a-flutter. It is a very short and routine procedure compared to the a-fib ablation.
This was in response to my direct question to him about the minimaze curing a-flutter. Since I have been diagnosed with a-fib and a-flutter I wanted to make sure that it would cure both. I did not like his answer but am going ahead with the minimaze anyway since it is still less risky than the a-fib ablation.
Most people who go the ablation route require 2 or 3 procedures before it works. You've gotten rid of the a-fib with one procedure. The flutter ablation is far less risky than the a-fib ablation and can probably be done by your local EP.
I would wait a few more months until my heart was healed from the minimaze and go in for the flutter ablation.
I realize it's not an easy choice but in my opinion you're still better off than if you had had an ablation.
Ian