Mini maze

[Billrules]

I planning on having a min maze procedure with Dr Randall Wolf in Houston, who pioneered this procedure. Has anyone had this procedure done and how did you make out?

[johnMiosh]

It is now three years since my hybrid ablation (Sheffield, UK). I had the mini-maze in April 2017 and had an RF catheter ablation for flutter and re-isolation of one of the pulmonary veins six months after this. These are often done at the same time but my treatments were always planned to be three to six months apart as part of a clinical trial.

The mini-maze was difficult and recovery was relatively slow (it is only minimally invasive compared with open chest surgery). I did feel that the debilitating aspects of the procedure were not really made clear, and I think someone a little older or less athletic may have struggled. By comparison I was feeling 100% back to normal the day after my RF ablation.

I have had a few wobbly heartbeats picked up on the Kardia, but these were not accompanied by any symptoms and were generally dismissed as normal by the cardiologist. I have been pretty much AF-free since this procedure and am currently on no drugs; I also had an atri-clip fitted to the LAA, so I don't even take an anticoagulant.

The trial has now completed, and unofficially, I was told that the hybrid ablation performed very well in comparison to the outcomes from two catheter ablations. I would certainly recommend it to anyone, but you need to be aware that it is not as simple to recover from as a catheter ablation.

[paulh1 in reply to johnMiosh]

John, I had a maze procedure done while having open heart in 2017. They also did and LAA on me. I haven't ahd an episode of AFIB since that time. I would still take an anticoagulant. The LAA may account for the major source of clots it is not the only one. AFIB is never cured. Ounce of prevention is better than throwing a clot. I still take an anticoagulant.

[Ianc2]

Hi John

I had a mini maze done during a valve replacement operation, six years ago. The mini maze was not successful and had an ablation for flutter a year later, which was successful. for about 2 years when AFib crept back in. I had all the usual tests which pinned down the area of the heart that is causing the misfire. The signals are coming from an area of the heart where the wall of the heart is thin and that is difficult to get at. It is right next to a major artery and nerve and has a 30% chance of going wrong. I am 75 so my recovery time may not be that long.

As it happens It doesn't bother me too much as long as I behave myself. I get a 5 mile walk in most days, my weight is where it should be, and I keep a very careful eye on my diet, which tends to be low carbish.