Posted by Henry Alken on November 27, 2003 at 12:08:32:
In Reply to: Re: Should I just go for it? posted by Carley Mill on November 25, 2003 at 16:57:58:
Carley,
By now your head must be aching trying to decide between a Maze and an Ablation. Allow me to possibly increase your confusion a little more!
The success rate for a Pulmonary Vein Ablation (first attempt) is around 80 percent.
The success rate for a Maze is 98 percent.
For me, a success rate of 80 percent is unacceptable.
I chose the Maze. Before the operation I asked Dr McCarthy's office how many Maze procedures he had done and what the result were. At that time, October 2001, he had performed over 300 Mazes with zero deaths and zero strokes. When I spoke with Dr McCarthy before the surgery, he told me he was doing about 2 per week, so by now he must have done well over 500 Maze procedures. As I mentioned, he follows up each patient very carefully and keeps accurate statistics, which his office will give you. Dr McCarthy's specialty at the Clinic is the responsibility for all Heart and Lung Transplants. For him, the Maze is not a challenge.After my Maze, I experienced Atrial Flutter caused by the Maze scaring. The vast majority of Mazers do not experience this, as Carl and others will verify. So I went back to the Cleveland Clinic for a "touch-up Ablation" in the right atrium. This is not a PVA. The Ablation was performed by Dr Schweikert after consultation with Dr Natale. Dr Schweikert is a superb, highly skilled Electrophysiologist. His candor and knowledge made me feel safe in his hands. Even though the Ablation was in the right atrium only and the catheter did not puncture the septum and enter the left atrium, the procedure still took 6 hours. It was completely successful. Dr Schweikert told me before the procedure that if it was found that an entry into the left atrium would have to be made, then I would have to return to CC at a later date for a second attempt, since much more equipment would be needed and they had only two sets of this kind of equipment and both sets were fully scheduled.
Before the Ablation started, I asked one of the doctors to show me a catheter. It is a thin piece of 'wire' about 30 inches long. The tip is bent slightly to one side. I asked the doctor how they guide this catheter. He said they rotate the 'wire' until the tip is pointing in the direction they want to go. The doctor's hand is near the groin and is manipulating the catheter by twisting it. He has to turn the tip towards the septum and force it through. He then has to move the tip to the entry point of one of the Pulmonary Veins and (somehow) create a circular ablation where the vein enters the heart. He has to do this for each trouble spot.
Personally, the idea of the doctor guiding a tip from 30 inches away by twisting and turning it, is scary and would only be my choice if Dr McCarthy and all the other Maze surgeons opted to retire simultaneously.
I've blabbed on enough. I hope Steve will correct any mistakes I have made in this post.
Good luck with your decision!
Henry
- Re: Should I just go for it? Al Flight 01:39:43 8/11/2004 (0)