Has anyone had a convergent procedure on their heart? I understand it is a surgical ablation in which there will be a catheter ablation too

[Cuervo]

[Cuervo]

more info on the convergent procedure...I will be in the hospital 3 days. The first two are in ICU to be monitored carefully. I had a catheter ablation last July, I don't think it helped. After the ablation I stopped Amioderone after taking it for over 8 years. I had not had bad side effects except for gray on my feet. I was concerned that I should get off of it, as I had pneumonia twice in 2013. While on Amioderone my pulse was usually in the the 60-80 range, with no afib. In August I started having afib again occasionally. In Feb I was in afib with 120 pulse, so the doctor put me on Propafenone. It did not work, racing heart and cough. The doctor stopped Propafenone. Now I have been advised to the have the combination catheter ablation/surgical, it will be only a small hole in my chest. Not sure if I want this invasive procefure, but may be for the best. Advice?

[Ahamm in reply to Cuervo]

I'm curious now as to what your outcome was and how many times you were ablated? Do you still have AF?

[Hidden]

Cuervo, can I ask whether you are in the UK ? Is this procedure also known as the Cox mini maze procedure? Which hospital would you be in? Sandra

[keeponticking]

hi. Am in Ireland and have had a maze procedure. Is this the same thing? sorry some of the terminology is so different!

[Cuervo]

I'm in Austin, TX. I think it is similar to the maze, and maybe the Cox, if they work on the outside of the heart and inside at the same time...here they are calling that the convergent procedure. I don't think it is a preferred procedure by many. I have a call in to Cleveland Clinic, which is an outstanding heart hospital, to see if they do convergent, I don't think they do. My first and only other heart procedure was an ablation by an electrophysiologist in Salt Lake City, Utah in July. He doesn't recommend convergent as it is so invasive...at least not in most cases. He would recommend another ablation. Thanks for your interest.

[Hidden in reply to Cuervo]

Cuervo , you may like to read Mellanie True Hills experience. I understand she is in the USA and has had a mini maze procedure. try stopafib.org/mellanie.cfm. I have had 3 ablations but have had 2 AF episodes requiring electrical cardioversion since my last one 11 mon ths ago. You have certainly been through enough to have been on Amiodarone for 8 years -- I don't know about grey feet , it's a wonder you aren't grey all over!!

Sandra

[Cuervo]

You made me chuckle! Thankfully gray only on one foot..in the sun while travelling. I now cover.up! Thanks so much for the melanie address, going there now.

[StClares]

Hello Cuervo,

I'm waiting for a hybrid procedure at the end of April,similar to yours but not the same. The first part involves ablation via keyhole chest surgery, the second,several weeks later is a more usual catheter ablation via the femoral artery. This is relatively new where I live in England and I would very much like to hear the outcomes of your and anyone else's experiences.

Very best wishes,

Tina

[Fussyface in reply to StClares]

Hi Tina,

Did you get your hybrid proceedure, I' m waiting for an appointment with cardiac surgeon to decide on a Maze proceedure. Would love to know if you've had your treatment and your experiences.

Regards

Chris

[StClares in reply to Fussyface]

Hello Chris,

Annoyingly enough my surgery has been postponed 3 times since April and is now scheduled for September. The reason is that the first part (keyhole cardiac surgery) has to be monitored by a proctor from Italy and each time they have been prevented at the last minute from coming to England. The second part will be more straightforward with a catheter ablation done a few weeks later by an EP. I think I'm part of a clinical trial originating from the university of Brescia. Think it's a development of European new techniques for persistent AF. I found a little bit about it on a US website

clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT...

I'd be interested to hear about your. Maze experience as I didn't think they were available here, tho a friend in Holland had one some time ago.

Good luck and good health!

Tina

[rosyG]

I don't know much about this but do remember reading somewhere that there are advantages in the mixed procedure as they can be more accurate??

[Cuervo]

I changed doctors after deciding the convergent procedure might be too invasive. Monday I had catheter ablation, my second one, and was in the hospital one night. They found lots of misfires, working on the heart 85 minutes I understand. I presently don't feel better, probably worse. Now when I rest I can feel my heart thumping, before I didn't have that. My heart is still around 110-120 bpm. My blood pressure is low enough I am zapped. The Doc said I could skip my Coreg if it's below 120, so I do some of the time. I think Coreg helps regulate the beat, so I don't want to not take it though. But when my BP is below 110 down to 95 I feel very weak. Much of my discomfort in the left groin from the ablation, I really hurt to walk. Taking Ibuprofen as directed, helps some. Also still on Warafin. I just hope the fatigue goes away before long. I think the groin is slowly improving. My first ablation was a piece of cake compared to the way I feel now.

[iris1205 in reply to Cuervo]

I'm sorry to hear the recovery is difficult. give it time, but you might ask about the ibuprofen, there is documentation that NSAIDs aren't the best solution for pain for Afibbers. Paracetamol seems to be well tolerated - though we are all different so perhaps check with your doctor. I hope things improve soon!

[rosyG]

hope you feel better soon- I haven't had ablation yet but lots of people here say the first few days were difficult for them,

take care

[Cuervo in reply to rosyG]

Thanks for the encouragement.

[Cuervo]

Thanks, RosyG.