Posted by Jerry on April 30, 2001 at 20:32:09:
Hi,
Like most members of this board I have been through AF hell. I am 30 years old, male. I first became aware of my predicament 2 1/2 years ago. In that time I have been through EVERY med and a handful of different EPs without any measure of success.
Over the last summer I underwent 2 RF Ablations, specifically in my Left Superior Pulmonary Vein, which is the source of frequent ectopic beats for me. These beats serve as the trigger for numerous AF episodes over the course of a typical week. I was markedly better after both ablations for about a month before the AF slowly but surely came back. Needless to say this was a great disappointment as I took great risk and experienced great discomfort during these procedures. (I was awake the whole time and each procedure lasted 5-6 hours, 3 catheters were used : L Groin, R Groin, & Neck.) I had some complications after the first procedure, but everthing is relative. Everyone who has gone through the maze has endured much a much worse rehab afterwoods.
This leads me to this point. I am strongly considering the maze, BUT I don't think I can take my family through a major open heart procedure and not be assured of a cure. I know I am asking for too much but the 97+% cure rate for the maze seems to be complete BS, just like the 75% rate I was quoted for my ablations. Yes the maze is more effective, but since follow-up is a lost art these days, doctors no doubt inflate the numbers. It is a business for them after all.
For those that have had the maze and had experienced numerous runs of PACs preceding AF pre-op, does the maze address this problem? From my understanding of the procedure it doesn't seem to have an impact in this regard. This is an important point for me, and is why I went through with the ablations as I was trying to eliminate both trigger (PACs)and result (AF).
Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
Best of health to all,
Jerry