Posted by Newman on December 19, 2003 at 05:55:50:
In Reply to: Re: PVA's posted by Carl Plaskett on December 18, 2003 at 14:03:07:
A few comments:(1) Maze was the procedure of choice to cure afib four years ago. Ablations were in their infancy. Today ablations at the best centers have a very high success rate, almost zero stenosis, almost zero complications, take only three or four hours including the before and after miscellaneous things that they do, are very easy on the patient, the hospital stay is one night, and the patient is back to normal 48 hours later. In the small percent of failures, a second touchup ablation is almost always successful. The cost is $40,000 at Cleveland Clinic. Be it paroxysmal, persistent, or chronic, the Cleveland Clinic and University of Michigan EPs have very high rates of ablation success rates. I know many on this board love the maze. It cured them and it gave them their life back. Nevertheless, it is major surgery, requires weeks to get back to normal, requires the patient to be on the heart lung machine, costs much more than $40,000, and as I have read on this board, I am aware of many complications, some of which are quite serious. A reasonable person must surely conclude that a PVI ablation is far preferable to a maze for those patients with lone atrial fibrillation. However, for those with other problems in addition to afib, then the maze often is the procedure of choice. Things have changed a lot in four years, and they are still changing. We must continually reevaluate.
(2) It doesn't cost one penny to read the other bulletin board. It has the same cost as this board. They are both free. I have spent hundreds of hours reading this free information and have become very knowledgable about my own medical condition and decided to have an ablation based on this research. I had an ablation by Dr. Natale two months ago. The other board has a lot more volume than this one, so I have learned more on it. However, this board has been helpful too. Han's book and monthly reports are offered for sale. No one has to buy. As a matter of fact, his price is very reasonable and they fill a need for many people. I see nothing wrong with his offers. I will be always grateful for his wonderful bulletin board. I have gotten a college education from it. Without it, I never would have gotten a Dr. Natale ablation. I probably instead would have had one here on the gulf coast of Florida from an EP who has done maybe ten ablations, only because of a lack of knowledge.
(3) The reason Hans is not cured of his atrial fibrillation is because he doesn't have a spare $40,000 in his bank account. This has no bearing on the value of his bulletin board. Posts from thousands of other afibbers is the real value of the board, in addition to Han's occasional valuable comments. My family doctor hasn't been able to cure his arthritis, but I still value his advice about treating mine.
(4) The underlying reasons for both boards are to educate and to support others with the same affliction. I will continue to read both boards, and I am grateful that they are here for all to see.
Newman
- Re: PVA's Jeanne 08:44:34 12/19/2003 (0)