Keyhole Maze Procedure Tomorrow - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Keyhole Maze Procedure Tomorrow

robboian profile image
38 Replies

Tomorrow I will be one of the first patients in Australia to have a keyhole maze procedure. It seems that the success rate is something around 75-85%.

Experienced my first episode of atrial fibrillation in 2000, as a fit and healthy 48 year old.

Since 2000 I’ve been on a range of medications. Mainly sotalol. Two strokes in 2005 and 2010. Progressed from paroxysmal to persistent AF in 2013. Since then a number of cardioversions and two ablations. AF has remained persistent with episodes becoming more frequent and longer duration.

So, I'm sitting in a ward patiently waiting. Let’s hope that I am one of the lucky ones. Living with AF is such a drag.

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robboian profile image
robboian
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38 Replies
Thomps95 profile image
Thomps95

Wow - what a story - you are a trailblazer - will be thinking of you and hoping for the best

VeeT profile image
VeeT

Hope you are one of the lucky ones. Let us know how it went. Good luck.

Best of luck, you seem to have lots of expertise across there, just been following Twitter feed of an AF conference.

bartk profile image
bartk

All the best mate. Let us know how you get on.

Lastec1 profile image
Lastec1

I too was one of the first 20 or so to have the Maize Procedure in the Uk in November 2014 & June 2015. Since then I have gradually built up my strength, back to a bike riding & fit again 67 year old. Are you having both procedures dine at the same time or are you coming back in 3 months later for the 2nd Part? This is assuming I am talking about the Hybrid Procedure? Good luck anyway, and take the rehabilitation very slowly for the first 4 - 5 months.

robboian profile image
robboian in reply to Lastec1

I have already had two catheter ablations. The atrial ablation via a chest entry is new. I've been told that they may touch up the previous ablations at the same time. I guess that makes the overall work a hybrid approach?

wendicarro profile image
wendicarro

Wow! Good luck and be well, keep us posted.

Wendi

Misseyj55 profile image
Misseyj55

Hi there robboian hope all went well and you are either in recovery or back in the ward ....wish you a speedy recovery and don't forget to be kind to your self .......regards Jo

Runcrans profile image
Runcrans

Good luck buddy hope all

Goes well for you ,

sunigirl profile image
sunigirl

Hi, sending very best wishes for a future free of AF.

Susan

marykhall3 profile image
marykhall3

Wow! I have not heard of this before. Praying for your full recovery. I googled it of course. Sounds very promising.

AnneTS profile image
AnneTS

Dear Robbolan. I will be thinking of you and wish you every success in your pioneering procedure. Please do let us know what you have experienced and how you are getting on. We are all very interested. Anne

Azbycx profile image
Azbycx

Good luck with the op ,hope it goes well for you

Fussyface profile image
Fussyface

Hi Robboian

I had a Video Assisted Thoroscopic Surgical ablation with isolation of LAA, 8 months ago in the UK and have been AF free since. Take it easy, hope you feel better soon. X

robboian profile image
robboian in reply to Fussyface

Thanks, sounds positive, good for you. I will be on amiodorone for a few weeks following surgery so won't know the result for about three months.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

Best wishes, will be thinking of you and awaiting your further posts.

Mazza23 profile image
Mazza23

Where in Australia do you live

robboian profile image
robboian in reply to Mazza23

Melbourne.

Mazza23 profile image
Mazza23 in reply to robboian

Perth. Good luck

SRMGrandma profile image
SRMGrandmaVolunteer

Thinking positive thoughts for success for you! Keep us posted!

Steve2810 profile image
Steve2810

You will be fine, let us all know how you get on, i have never heard of keyhole maze procedure??? Good luck we will be thinking of you ;-)

dave205 profile image
dave205

Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, Miss. is the only hospital in the state to offer the minimally invasive Lone Atrial Fibrillation Ablation often referred to as a mini-maze procedure. The surgery offers hope to atrial fibrillation patients for whom other treatments have not worked.According to Cardiovascular Surgeon William Harris, MD, the technology in doing this has been around for a few years. "Many people don't know this is an option for them, but it is a highly effective way to treat AF, with an 85 to 95 percent chance to cure it."

youtube.com/watch?v=mHMntI1...

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to dave205

Very interesting, thank you for posting. There's hope for us all (even the ones like me who cannot have any more routine ablations).

Thomps95 profile image
Thomps95 in reply to dave205

I wonder if this can eventually just replace "routine" ablations, since it seems to have a higher success rate.

Barb1 profile image
Barb1

Glad you posted about this. Can see me having to have this after 4 ablations. If it is offered of course. Fantastic to have LAA isolated. I have had a clot in there

Laurasheart profile image
Laurasheart

Good luck to you you are in my prayers!

Tamarita profile image
Tamarita

Best wishes for a great outcome

rosyG profile image
rosyG

Good luck for tomorrow Let us know how you get on.

SuzieA profile image
SuzieA

Good Luck, I pray all goes well x

Ewcia profile image
Ewcia

Good luck for tomorrow. Who is doing this procedure in Melbourne? I am seeing Dr.Sparks from Epworth Hospital. All the best.

robboian profile image
robboian

Hi The cardiothoracic surgeon is Michael Yii. Also at Epworth. I'm a few days in now and am almost ready to do a progress report. Look out I'll do something in the next day or two.

Globe-J profile image
Globe-J

Hello Robboian,

Too late to wish you good luck, but I hope that you are well. I too am an Australian, a Sydneysider, considering the procedure. So please, if you have a moment, let me know how you are doing.

Best wishes

J (-:

robboian profile image
robboian

Hi J

I had the modified maze procedure in November 2015, so its about 18 months on. Apart from three short bursts of AF 12 months after the procedure I have been AF free ever since.

Would I do it again? Absolutely. Off all beta blockers, lifestyle has returned. Although the first 24 hours post op were very painful the recovery was relatively uneventful for me.

However, it's not universally successful. My cardiologist has eight patients who have had this procedure, the results are generally positive but in one case the person has not done so well. This might be because of the specific technique that was used. The approach only isolated the left atrium and it seems that some triggers come from the right side. I believe that some surgeons in the USA are now isolating both left and right sides.

Happy to talk if you can get some contact details to me.

Ian

Globe-J profile image
Globe-J in reply to robboian

Dear Robboian,

First of all. Congratulations, you have done well. And thank you for a swift answer. I'd like to have a chat, appreciate the offer. It may have to be over the phone, since I am a Sydneysider.

Would you be kind enough to email me on a1sydneytj@gmail.com?

Thank you

J (-:

SophieBella profile image
SophieBella

Wishing you good luck and hope its all a great success for you.

CyclistMark profile image
CyclistMark

Hope everything went ok for you.

I don’t think they do maze on the NHS here in the UK, only privately.

MummyLuv profile image
MummyLuv in reply to CyclistMark

Hi there, there are actually a few nhs trusts who do have surgeons doing mini maze/hybrid, Sheffield. Liverpool, Newcastle, Coventry, London, Plymouth, Oxford and Brighton to name a few. Very good news if you are in England. If you are in Scotland or Wales it’s not available to us on the NHS yet.

The post above was 7 years ago and Australia now have at least 2 hospitals carrying out hybrid procedures 👍

CyclistMark profile image
CyclistMark

Hi, thanks for clearing that up :-) glad your procedure went well and that you’re in NSR

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