Re: Suggestions for 73 year old with AFib

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Posted by steve giddings on February 19, 2002 at 18:05:50:

In Reply to: Suggestions for 73 year old with AFib posted by Blair Carruthers on February 19, 2002 at 01:06:07:

Probably the best recommendation concerning whether or not to have the maze, from a risk perspective, will come from the surgeon who would be doing the procedure. (I'll take abuse for saying this from folks who feel markedly better post maze after having af for years, I know, but). The surgery is at least "semi-elective" for most if not all people who have the procedure as a stand alone operation. By that I mean that the candidate's life is not in immediate danger if the surgery is not performed. Under these circumstances, the surgeon is not likely to agree to do the operation unless he/she is quite confident that the outcome will be good. Since ancient times, the foremost ethical principle guiding physician behavior has been, do the patient no harm.--"I will prescribe regimen for the good of my patients to the best of my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone."

So off the pedestal, talk to the surgeons. Nobody wants their track record sullied or responsibility for a bad outcome if it is avoidable. If they think the benefits outweigh the risks, it is likely going to be OK.

Steve Giddings

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