Re: Learning From Dave Funderburg

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ MAZE Alumni Forum ]

Posted by Dave Funderburg on December 08, 2003 at 21:02:29:

In Reply to: Learning From Dave Funderburg posted by Anne Rowthorn on December 08, 2003 at 17:44:29:

Anne,

I think that Bill has given you excellent advice. Also my atria is not moderately enlarged, it is very large. I was, and still am, surprised that this was not raised as an issue after Dr. Natale's office received my records well before my appointment. In retrospect I would have insisted that the TEE be evaluated the same day it was completed as it apparently provided information that was not indicated on a standard echo and substantially changed his assessment of the odds of a successful procedure. I also learned that in post MAZE situations they most often deal with a-flutter with a high success rate. Dr. Natale indicated that the procedure for post MAZE a-fib is more complex and has a lower success rate on the first try. I also suspect that our medical conditions are really quite different despite the similarities. I would concentrate on three questions.

What is the potential impact of the size of your atria related to this procedure?

Are you suffering from a-flutter or a-fib?

If you are in true a-fib what impact does that have on the odds of a cure?

It would be a mistake to use my situation as a potential gauge to judge your own success. However I suggest that you resolve these questions, be comfortable with the answers, and discuss things with your local doc again before you go to Cleveland. The CC is an awesome facility. But once you check in it does become a bit of an assembly line process and you are moved right along.

Good luck and God Speed.


Follow Ups:


Post a Followup

Name    : 
E-Mail  : 
Subject : 

Comments:


Optional Link URL:  
Link Title:         
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ MAZE Alumni Forum ]

WWWBoard 2.0a and WWWAdmin 2.0a © 1997, All Rights Reserved.
Matt Wright and DBasics Software Company