Posted by Ed Wehan on April 17, 2002 at 23:10:20:
In Reply to: Going back to San Diego posted by Don Haynsworth on April 17, 2002 at 16:21:53:
The pacemaker thing is difficult. My understanding is that a fairly significant number of people with AFib may have sick sinus syndrome which is a contributor to AFib and often exists with AFib. If you have this condition, there is nothing that the surgeon can do but put in the pacemaker. This does not affect the success rate as the individual needed the pacemaker anyway. Life with a pacemaker after AFib is success to me so I would add those individuals back into the numbers which would probably take Dr. Millar from 93% to maybe 98%. I am sure that Steve Giddings knows more about this than I do so maybe he will post something. I do think that ultimate success should be without drugs whether you have a pacemaker or not.