Re: Help - Concerned Mazer and Dr. Razavi

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Posted by Henry Alken on April 07, 2002 at 12:04:05:

In Reply to: Help - Concerned Mazer and Dr. Razavi posted by Tim Hawkins on April 07, 2002 at 10:02:44:

Tim,
I was shocked at the remarks of Dr Razavi but they seem to ring true to me. I think the 98% cure rate is not realistic. These numbers should not be quoted to patients unless the statistical data has been collected to back them up. I would expect the true rate of success to be in the range of 85%.

The definition of 'success' needs to be clarified. I consider 'success' to be MEDICATION-FREE NSR. I am in NSR most of the time, but I require Rhythmol and Toprol to keep me there. I do not call that success. I am approaching 6 months post-op and I still have a persistent Atrial Flutter at 130 bpm which can only be reduced and controlled by the medications. So, in my view, the Maze has failed, as of today.

The electrical currents in the heart are so complex that I do not think the sucess or failure of the Maze for any particular patient can be forecast. But since there have been many successful Maze operations and there are many happy Mazers who have left the hospital in MEDICATION-FREE NSR and have gone home to live happily ever after, I believe it is a very reasonable thing to try. Only by trying the Maze will a person find out if it will work for him. I do not regret having the Maze. I think it was a very worthwhile thing to do. I am very happy that the surgery did not make me any worse off than I was before. The highly skilled folks at CC do their best to cure the patient but it is Mother Nature that makes the final decision.
Henry Alken

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