Posted by John W. Gross on January 29, 2003 at 10:56:11:
In Reply to: Another question. posted by Deniss Artisskis on January 29, 2003 at 08:44:32:
Deniss,
The success rate of MAZE surgery is determined by the recurrance of A-FIB in the patient. In some patients other arrhythmias beside A-FIB are present but are "masked" until the A-FIB is cured. If someone is cured by MAZE surgery but begins to have other arrhythmias (not A-FIB) MAZE surgery would still be considered successful in the sense it cured the A-FIB. From what I have learned these past four years regarding this subject MAZE surgery will not in most cases cause arrhythmias but eliminating A-FIB will sometimes reveal an arrhythmia other than A-FIB exists. In this case additional treatment will be needed.
Complications with surgery of any kind is always a concern. I satisfied myself by going to what I considered a first class hospital and surgical team experienced with this surgery and handling any complications that could occur. When you feel confident in this regard then one needs to turn it all over to, as President Bush stated last night, our loving God.
Your questions are good ones. The kind we all had when we began this journey.
John Gross