Maze procedure.

[cali111]

Has anyone had one of these and what can I expect?

[Rellim296]

Cali, I was about to say this sounds as if you might be moving forwards at last and then I saw you have a previous post two days old to which there has been no response. How remiss of us to have ignored you.

I hope someone will be able to respond.

[cali111 in reply to Rellim296]

Thank you for your reply. Maybe the others on holiday!

[Hidden in reply to cali111]

Maybe not a lot have had it. I have had a cox maze but mine was done whilst undergoing open heart surgery to remove a tumour (benign) from my heart so can't comment sorry

[Buffafly in reply to Rellim296]

The previous post was in Arrhythmia Alliance 😃

[Rellim296 in reply to Buffafly]

Well spotted, Buffafly - that explains everything! Phew! We are off the hook. But Hidden has made a good point.

[Hidden]

I don't think these are performed very much in UK. If you look up Stopafib.org you will find quite a bit of information there. Melanie True Hills , the founder of the organisation is a great advocate of Maze procedure. It's very interesting to read her account.

Regards

Sandra

[cali111]

I think you are right but I have a clot in the left atrium which the surgeon is going to remove and then ablate my heart at the same time. He muttered something and mentioned maze so I assumed this is what he ment. Well , early days yet.

[npac]

My wife was going to undergo a maze a year ago when a heart surgeon thought her afib was caused by a leaky mitral valve. She was in permanent afib at the time and her heart ejection fraction was down to 20%. We're in the states, and were told that the maze was the gold standard to fix afib but is reserved for cases where you need heart surgery anyway. The maze itself was supposed to be no big deal but the recovery from the surgery was more prolonged, maybe a few months from what I recall because of the valve repair and the larger incisions. Her EP thought the valve issue resulted from her afib rather than vice versa, and recommended what he called a convergent ablation procedure instead of a maze. I think that's when they do more aggressive ablation in other parts of the heart instead of a simpler pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) ablation. Well, her afib and valve improved after taking amroderone and doing lifestyle changes to the point that she's paroxysmal. As a result she's having a regular ablation tomorrow which will hopefully get her off ameoderone. So, if you've been posted a maze, you might ask why they've recommended that instead of a PVI ablation.

[cali111 in reply to npac]

The surgeon`s actual words were "I will remove the clot by open heart surgery and will ablate it at the same time so you don`t have to come back" He mentioned the word maze when thinking out loud. I am waiting for confirmation on the procedure offered but they haven`t typed the letter to my GP yet and to get information of medical records in the UK is like accessing the vaults of the bank of England. I cannot take the drugs requested of me, and only take apixiban and half dose of digoxin. I am trying to find out if I have any other problems other than the clot and AF as I am not aware of anything else wrong. Still, I am in there fighting - it is a long job over 12 months now.

[GarrBo]

Hello calli111

I have had 4 ablations through the arteries in the groin and one through open heart surgery. I think from your comments that you are asking about open heart surgery.

I had a pre-op meeting with a consultant about a week before the op where the procedure was explained to me and all my questions and concerns were answered, so if you can, before you go have a think about everything that worries you about the op and all your concerns and talk to your consultant about them. She won't mind answering your questions and telling you as much detail as you need. I also had a scan in an MRI which lasted around an hour and was pretty boring and very noisy.

I was admitted to the Hospital at Hammersmith the day before the op and had to take a shower in the evening of the day I arrived and another on the morning of the op using a special antiseptic soap. after that I was dressed in a gown and waited for the op take place. The nursing staff were very good at keeping me entertained and I felt very relaxed. I was given a sedative by injection through a catheter that had been fitted the night before which made me very drowsy and blurred my vision.

When the time came for the op I was taken into the pre-op room of the operating theatre and tranquilised. You cannot see the operating theatre which I was disappointed about because I wanted to see what it looked like (like 'Casualty apparently but with a lot more equipment).

I woke up in the ICU with tubes down my throat and very thirsty. My first thought was for a cup of tea which I tried to ask for by signing but I couldn't of drunk it any way, because of the tubes. I was very sleepy but once you come round the nurses keep you awake. My glasses were mislaid during the op so if you wear them put them with the rest of your stuff before you go to theatre. I was in the ICU for a couple of day I think but my recollection is a bit hazy. My chest was very tender and a catheter was fitted for toileting.

I was then moved to a recovery ward and given pain killers which made me very woozy, I remember thinking that at one point I got out of bed to look for the disco I could hear which was really the noise of all the machinery beeping and I couldn't have got out of bed any way as I was connected to heart monitors and things.

I spent nine days in hospital in total and had to show the physio team that I could walk unaided and climb a flight of stairs before I could go home. My chest was still very tender and I had to wear loose fitting clothes as even the weight of a shirt was painful. I was not allowed to go home on public transport but luckily I lived near by so took a taxi. Discharge took several hours and wasn't helped by the attitude of the discharge nurse who was very unsympathetic.

I was not allowed to drive for three months which was the full period of recovery. and had to use a cushion to keep the seat belt away from the site of the surgery. Sleeping was uncomfortable as I couldn't lay on my side and had to sit up to sleep for a couple of months. I do remember waking up at night unable to breathe on two occasions but the doctor told me this was quite normal after heart surgery and nothing to worry about. Sitting up stopped this feeling immediately.

I was given a recovery time table of do's and don'ts which is important to follow. I also attended cardiac rehabilitation classes which helped with my confidence.

My chest was painful for about six weeks but every day brought a noticeable improvement.

If I had to undergo the ablation again I would without hesitation

I hope this helps, I have tried to cover as much as possible and I hope it will be helpful. I am more than happy to answer any questions that you may have and wish you good health.

Garry

[cali111 in reply to GarrBo]

Hi Garry,. Yes you were right These were the details I was looking for as I am a fulltime carer for my adult autistic son and I will need to carefully plan this recovery. My surgeon did say that I would spend two weeks in hospital as I have no one to care for me at home except my son and he would not be suitable. When you awoke in the icu with tubes down your throat did it not panic you? It doesn't sound very good. It is something that I will take up with them. The rest of it, the difficulty sleeping as you could not lay on your side is identical to when I had an artificial hip fitted so as I am not a good sleeper this does not really bother me (I hope!) I nearly had an ablation last September but it was stopped almost before it started when they found a clot in my heart when they did a preparatory TOE and so everything in my life came to a fullstop. The only problem I have with my AF is severe shortness of breath, which although doesn't sound much it prevents me from going out socially, it is difficult shopping (thank God for my car) and the surgeon said that he would do the operation to remove the clot and ablate the heart if my symptoms interfere with my daily life. I will do what ever it takes to try and get my life back on track as I do not have one at present. My only worry is that I will end up worse. With the first try at the ablation I had to walk into the operating unit before they started sedation and yes it was scary, more wires and screen than I have ever seen and the lighting was a weird blue colour.

Sorry to run on, and thanks again.

[Hidden in reply to cali111]

If your having open heart surgery you will need help with your son. It's a big op to get over if opening up your sternum. I had a v pillow to help me sleep upright. I also used a pillow to cuddle to protect at night. In car I used a bead pillow under my seatbelt. Not sure if your male or female? If female I used ah bras soft and used to step into them and pull up no fasteners. Sorry guys it's practical info for ladies. Also hair washing a prob used EDEN wash its like a shower cap put it on run and leave a while. Hope this helps

[cali111 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your helpful reply. I already use the stretchy bras which I took to when I had my gallbladder removed. The shampoo tip was helpful, can you not reach up to apply shampoo? My son has got good support from AUTOMONY a group run by a specialist worker and they will help. He is almost able to cope. He will be able to shop and help in little ways,so we will get by. At least we live in town now and not rural as I was when I had my hip replaced. I feel at lot more confident now with all the support I have received here and although I have no family as such left and no close friends I feel very good now. Thank you all so much.

[Hidden in reply to cali111]

Well just keep asking on here in the main a friendly group. If sternotomy may be difficult to wash. I was in longer than expected due to other things so it was the easiest for me till I got home.

[GarrBo in reply to cali111]

Hello Cali

Good to hear from you. I'm glad you found my reply useful. No the tubes weren't frightening as the consultant had explained what to expect when I came around. For me the strangest part was the effect of the anaesthetic as it sent me slightly doolally for a couple of days before I left hospital, nothing serious but definitely strange although I did some interesting drawings during that time.

My surgery was in 2009 and I had been in AF since 1994. The Papworth Cox 4 maze procedure that I had did not cure the AF but it has made my life a lot more comfortable since and as I wrote before I would have another one tomorrow without hesitation.

Good luck with your operation and please contact me if you want to. Oh yes, nearly forgot to mention, I made some good friends in the hospital.

Garry

[cali111]

Well, without the removal of the clot I cannot go further. I am between a rock and a hard place. I am now 73yrs old and I want to at least try to improve my quality of life. Am I right? For me I am willing to take the risks involved come what may. Thanks for all your info.