I have had persistent AF for about a year after a few years of PAF (initially diagnosed as panic attacks). I was on BISOPROLOL 3.25 and Apixaban 2x day. I had a successful CV in February this year and have reduced my BISO to .625. I do not tolerate the drugs well including the anticoagulant.
I have been referred to BARTs for a convergent procedure and I had my first appointment with Mr John Yap yesterday. I’ve read around about the procedure and one article I saw suggested that it was a better option than a mini maze. Does anybody have any information or have had this procedure. I’d appreciate some feedback. I’m sure I’ll be waiting an age due to the NHS waiting lists but right now I don’t mind at all because I’m in NSR. I’m extremely nervous about the procedure. It does include tying off the LAA which reduces my need for anticoagulation.
Has anyone had this procedure? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
The convergent procedure is the grand daddy, if anything is going to kill afib it will. This is a combined surgical and catheter ablation, depending on the hospital either both at the same time or the surgical ablation first followed by catheter. In the UK I think this will be the future as an EP has a part to play and are therefore more likely to buy into this than mini maze alone done y a surgeon.
The convergent is done from under the rib cage where the surgeon does lesions on the back of the left atrium and clips the left appendage, depending on the hospital the surgeon will do PV isolation too. The EP then uses traditional catheter ablation to do the rest of the lesions. This achieves a fuller lesion set than mini maze alone. I have heard of a surgeon calling a procedure convergent but coming in through the ribs, this is unusual.
I had lone afib and so had mini maze first with a view to having catheter follow up only if needed, so far (15 months) I’ve not needed it. Hybrids are often first port of call where there are other arrhythmias or other heart problems.
I’ve sent you a link to my wee private Facebook group Mary when we’ve chatted in the past, come join us, we have a few people having/had hybrids.
Really interested to know more as I'm under Barts and had my first ablation in July. Holding so far but still under the effects of Amiodarone which I came off a fortnight ago. Is this on the National Health and did they offer it or did you ask?
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