Re: Maze drugs or ablation?

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Posted by steve giddings on February 10, 2002 at 14:49:54:

In Reply to: Maze drugs or ablation? posted by Tim on February 08, 2002 at 06:35:17:

I don't think any of us who post here envy your position. FOr me, I guess it would depend on how affected I was by the drugs, how my own case of AF seemed to be progressing, and probably whether I coould afford to take 6 enforced months off from my livelihood. For me it was a no brainer. No drugs worked, including amiodarone, I was in af more and more for longer periods of time, about 50% until the month before surgery when I stopped amio, then in af, at the last a full week prior to surgery, had a left atrial clot, bled on coumadin and failed an ablation.

About all I would say is that I would be wary of those numbers about ablation. AF is triggered by individual foci, but usually there are several at least and the underlying circuit for af is pretty much left in place with focal point ablations, so if a new one arises.....

I think the general experience is that they are a little bit less successful and they are not without long term risk, especially if left atrium and the pulmonary veins are ablated. As far as I know, the only intervention that has a high probalility for success is the maze. My feeling was, if I was going to have a procedure, it might as well be one with a high probablity of success. If you are going to are going to be benched for 6 mo for either an ablation or a maze, I know what my choice would be, hands down.

Then on the other hand, lots of folks are well controlled on meds for years (but they don't post to this board).

I'm happy to share my own experience in detail either by email or by phone. Email a number or ask for mine.


Good luck

Steve Giddings

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