Posted by John Behle on December 30, 2001 at 20:47:28:
In Reply to: Atril fib and maze posted by Tony Spackman on December 30, 2001 at 16:51:13:
Dr. Millar is one of the most unique doctors I've ever run across. I couldn't be more impressed in him, his skills, his staff or the follow up.
Dr. Millar has done about 200 MAZE procedures and has been very successful. My MAZE was about 8 months ago and I have not had a moment of Afib since. Some people have a less painful time of it than I did. The first week was pretty bad, but I would do it a couple times a year if that was what it took to get rid of the AF.
Dr. Millar performs the full open chest form of the MAZE. That concerned me at first, but I believe from what I have read that it is a less risky way to go, though the risks either way are very small. Dr. Millar does the MAZE quite a bit in conjunction with Mitral Valve repair and other procedures. In my case all that was needed was the MAZE.
The whole experience was exceptional and the only complaint I could possibly think of when the asked me later was lack of sleep from the Beverly Hillbillies in the next room. Somebody had probably a dozen or more loud visitors that seemed to be staying overnight - but you wouldn't run into that.
I was released after about 5 days and was very surprised how fast the recovery was. I was 43 at the time and Afib had ruled my life increasingly for many years. It had hit a point where about 60% of the time I was in AF and feeling miserable. The toll it had taken had reached the point of Congestive Heart Failure and I was turned down the first time I went in for surgery because I wasn't strong enough.
I couldn't recommend the MAZE or Dr. Millar any stronger. It is a total life changer and he is an exceptional surgeon and individual.