Glen:
Why are you looking into the most radical procedures like Maze and AV node ablabion? Why not consider PVA (pulmonary vein ablation). Maze requires open heart surgery and a heart and lung machine, which carries it's own risks. AV node ablation would make you 100% pacemaker dependant. However, if it were me and those two were the choices, I would have the AV node ablation since you already have a pacemaker.
The hospital you asked about (Seaton Hospital, Austin) has no listing among the top 50. The Texas centers listed are:
Texas Heart Institute at ST Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston (#8)
Methodist Hospital, Houston (#15)
Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas (#24)
Glen, have you ever tried any invasive procedures to rid yourself of your afib?
I also heart a nightmare, unbelievable horror story from Ft. Worth, Texas. I would stay out of Ft. Worth.
Keep us posted
Pam