No. He works well with an ep at the same hospital who would be available at a later date if needed. For example, in the case of typical right-sided flutter which the mini-maze cannot treat. However, during a Hybrid/Convergent procedure, in some cases the ep will work alongside the cardiac surgeon during the same procedure. The surgeon from the outside. The ep from the inside. But at other insby mjamesone - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey Susan, thanks for the response. There is nothing I can find that either of my parents or grandparents had any heart issues at all, let alone with the Mitral Valve. Unfortunately, they have passed all due to different circumstances, but nothing related to heart. I do know that in many cases the Mitral Valve Prolapse is hereditary, but in my case it doesn't appear to be the case.by cornerbax - AFIBBERS FORUM
After about a year it appears that my Afib has actually been caused by Mitral Valve Regugitation. I have Mitral Prolapse (Of the Posterior Leaflet). Many doctors totally disregarded my Echo's which showed this moderate to Severe mitral regurgitation. Those cardiologists/EP's only stated to get an ablation. Fast forward to now, my current Cardiologist and EP state they believe myby cornerbax - AFIBBERS FORUM
Here is a post Shannon did 4 years ago on these convergent procedures.by GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteSiestaJimmy Does anyone have any insights on this? Here is a post Shannon wrote on the topic. This is a search which returns other posts/threads on the topic. Basically, a top line EP like Natale will have better results, with a much shorter recovery time than those getting a hybrid.by GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey guys. Was hoping for some input here. I'm a 37 M. I have paroxysmal Afib with rvr. I have HCM and a family history of HCM thus i also have an ICD. My Afib has gotten progressively more frequent last few years. Last year I had 5 cardioversions with the last one failing. Scheduled a emergency ablation at the local hospital but i converted chemically with amiordrone in the ICU. Iby clemsonaffiber - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Beach Bill,. The convergent procedure is not as consistently effective as Natale's all endocardial approach for persistent and LSPAF ablation with many thousands more patients having undergone successful Natale Extended PVAI plus Posterior Wall Isolation, SVC Isolation and Non-PV trigger detection and ablation along with, as needed, LAA/CS isolation, and as underscored in the BELIEF rby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Met with an EP today who interned at the Cleveland Clinic when Natale was there. After some optimistic banter, I began asking questions regarding success rates, etc, and finally what happens after a few of his procedures fail and I'm left with scar tissue and a bunch of new symptoms. His next option was to send me for Convergent Ablation where they were getting much better results then he wby jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
Researcher, You are incorrect about Dr. Sirak counting flutter or tachycardia; he told me that many of his failures were flutter cases that were solved with a simple flutter ablation. Regarding your comment about the Cox Maze lesion set being difficult if not impossible to replicate; yes it is difficult but Dr. Sirak has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to do so, with excellent resultsby E. B. - AFIBBERS FORUM
Here is a short version of what follows: Other things being equal*, these days, Afers might may more favorably on waiting to have a CA/surgery, to allow promising new, apparently efficacious treatments to become, through real-life experience, both safer and more effective. Developments in treatments that are less costly or risky than CA/surgery would also make waiting more attractive. These treaby DickI - AFIBBERS FORUM
There was a lot of hope that convergent or hybrid procedure would be the answer for the tough cases. The results recently presented at the HRS annual symposium was disappointing. When I get home, I will try to find and post the abstract.by researcher - AFIBBERS FORUM
I would wonder if Dr Natale would consider using the convergent approach in your case: <; (Also see the fuller discussion of the hybrid procedure about half way down the page.) Presumably he would also be interested in assessing the following factors that affect the likelihood of CA success: <; and would advise you of the effect they might have on probability of success. I do not knoby DickI - AFIBBERS FORUM
The Five-year follow-up The prospective patient who is trying to get a general picture of his career as a CA patient* would want to note the following: 1) The rate of single-procedure success was 46% (74 of 161 Ss). So there is around a 50% chance that one CA will not be enough for you. And this % is for paroxysmal patients with normally functioning left ventricles (although the Table of Paby DickI - AFIBBERS FORUM
Phyllis: Here are two places to start: <; Your choice should depend on a number of factors, including your type of AF (paroxysmal vs persistent/permanent) and the availability of expert EPs and surgeons. IMO the Wolf MiniMaze is *not appropriate* for those with persistent/permanent AF. Ask the surgeon what his success rates are. MM variations, on the other hand, may be. Initial resultsby DickI - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jodi, Wow, my understanding is that 10 years is a long time to be in AF without remodeling/scarring greatly reducing the probability of treatment success. It is reassuring that the doctors were willing to go a ahead with the procedures. It will be interesting to see how this turns out -- although it is just one case -- and to know what how much scarring they found -- although we probably wonby Dick - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mark, You might be interested in Kerry Acker's story in the May 2007 issue of the AFIB Report: He supplies his email in the article so I suppose it would be ok to contact him: kacker4@hotmail.com. He visited a number of practitioners (as you plan to do), in his case before before making the rather uby Dick - AFIBBERS FORUM
The duel procedure is a great option for patients - the ex-maze, pioneered by Dr. Kiser seems like the key procedure along with the ablation. Kiser's ex-maze is not a mini-maze - it is the full maze. I heard the Dr. Cox came to see Kiser's procedure, however, I'm not surprised Cox had some negative reaction to the ex-maze. Dr. Kiser doesn't use the equipment that Cox endorsby Carl - AFIBBERS FORUM