Getting surgery with Afib

[Euve]

One of the reasons I decided to get the ablation is because I have to undergo a few major surgeries after the ablation one is a knee replacement and the more major one is cervical spine surgery and I was told by the surgeons that having AFib during surgery can really complicate things any feedback would be appreciated

[Buffafly]

I had a big spinal op - fusion to treat scoliosis and degenerative arthritis - and my cardiologist was ok with it because my heart was strong. He said I would probably go into AF and I did but a dose of digoxin fixed it. I know of other people who have had operations in spite of AF but of course it is better without! Bear in mind you would need to allow about six months for your heart to heal before considering surgery.

There is also the option of pace and ablate which I assume would overcome the problems with surgery - some cardiologists still think it is a better option than ablation but it seems worth trying the ablation first.

[BobD Volunteer]

I know that I probably would not be here if I had not had a successful ablation in 2008. When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2011 the doctors did not want to operated, rather treat with radiotherapy. I convinced them that I wanted it removed despite the impotence and incontinece this would create. I would have had a much harder job if I still had AF as a five hour operation would have been unlikely.

During the operation they found evidence that it had spread outside the prostate bed and I had various other bits chopped out, three years of hormones and 33 shots of radiotherapy and survived. Without this the original idea of focussed radiotherapy would have missed areas already affected with obvious results. Lucky boy?

[10gingercats in reply to BobD]

Lucky you,lucky family and lucky us.

[jedimasterlincoln]

Well yes, having AF can complicate things but it isn't a barrier to either surgery if the benefits outweigh the risks. There are things they can do to help should you pop into AF during surgery.

Obviously you'll need to stop any anticoagulants around 5 days before, and probably for a day or so afterwards but if you're on the list for them you clearly need them and AF is just an annoying presence that will need managing.