Posted by Ed Wehan on February 19, 2002 at 22:37:04:
In Reply to: Re: Suggestions for 73 year old with AFib posted by steve giddings on February 19, 2002 at 18:05:50:
This is a very difficult one to reply to. Steve, as usual, does make very thoughtful points. I would like to reiterate that he does say talk to the surgeon about this and not necessarily your cardiologist or EP. The surgeon probably has seen what the maze can do and can better evaluate the risks/rewards for each patient.
Carl, I think, would address the same points that I would make which is that many in the medical community make decisions on some level of ignorance having never had AFib. They would "maintain" the patient where a cure might be more appropriate.
All I can really say is that I have an 80 year old neighbor who I went backpacking with last summer. We climbed one of the most difficult passes in the Sierras and spent a week camped at over 10,000 feet fishing and exploring. If I were 73, I would take the chance to live to do these types of things rather than feel the compression of life that AFib offers. This summer he and I will be climbing that same pass again and he will be 81. He is my idol. But, like me, he is one active guy and what he does or I choose isn't necessarily for everyone.