Hope I'm not jinxing this by writing: I'm having my Mini-maze op this Monday 11th. Feel nervous (distraction is the name of the game) but hoping this really does means the wait is nearly over. Phew...And am appreciating these last amazing sunny and warm days we are having... It's like a thumbs up... Well that's how I'm viewing it.
It's also discouraged me from doing a big tidy and clean.....too much in this heat (great excuse!) Decided that the cleaner (whose coming whilst I'm in hospital) to do a planned thorough clean for me can pick that tab up. 👍🤣 I will tidy though....
And to keep me busy my poor little much loved dog has thrown me a spanner... She has suddenly developed a lump on her chest, growing at an alarming rate and is struggling to walk... Arthritis. She is 12. Off to vets this afternoon & hoping all is sortable. Bless her.
Enjoy the sun everyone.... well shade in my case.... we are blessed. ❤️❤️
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waveylines
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Thankyou. Yes all good.... It was a fatty lump. Phew and she's now on meds for srthritus. No wait, no fighting just straight in and job done. Wish I could say the same for us!!
Aww thats great news, and I am sure your procedure will run nice and smooth. All normal to feel nervous and you’re having the mini maze how exciting, I am sure it will be of massive benefit to you. Let us all know when your out and feeling better x
Wishing you the very best outcome. Having read your biography, and from personal experience, I agree that medics do not care that much…. As you stated, it’s not their bodies, nor their health that are affected. It always amazes me they are never prepared to investigate fully in order to find the root cause of patients’ health problems. One has to fight one’s own battles and push for the right to be treated accordingly. That should not be the case.
I'll be thinking of tomorrow I'm sure your op will go really well. I should be having my mini-maze with Mr Hunter in November/ December. I was suppose to have it on the 24th August but other commitments got in the way big time. Sending best wishes for NSR.
Thankyou... It's on Monday... Not long now. I started the washes today...
Aww so sorry you had to delay your op. He seems to be getting down his list now the hospital have let him. So hope you don't have to wait long. He told me could be September & he is right.... Praying no cancellation!!
Good luck and best wishes. I'm still hoping my RF Ablation will hold. It's 8 weeks tomorrow since I had it done. Did you have one yourself previously or is this your first procedure? Have to managed to get it done of the NHS or are you going privately?
Wishing you well post your catheter ablation. I was not suitable for a catheter ablation as my messed up heart wiring is due to cardiotoxicity. So my EP said he would have to go in multiple times and he wasn't convinced that would fix me and wouldn't be good for me. So he referred me straight to Mini maze. Might need a follow up catheter ablation as there is one small part that can't be reached via this proceedure. Am hoping that won't be necessary. 🤞🤞
Good luck wavey and great news about the pooch, last thing you want now is any unnecessary stress! I’m sure we will hear more before Monday but only when you feel up to it, please let us know how you get on 👍🤞👍
Aww thanks Flapjack. Means a lot. Will Post when I feel better after the op. And yes am so relieved that my pooch is OK even though arthritis in your spine can't be fun. Am wondering if we can have such a wonder drug monthly too when osteoarthritis catches up on us!! 🤔🤣
I hope this works out well for you and that you have a large "to be read" pile of books next to the sofa waiting for you to get home and tuck into them with no guilt about sitting down and reading in the daytime.
I shall be looking out for updates. Is this the same op as MummyLuv had done?
Good luck, do let us know how you get on. So glad that your dog is doing ok. I’m laughing at cleaning before the cleaner comes, because I am pretty sure I would do the same. We used to laugh at my mum doing this.
I know Gumble Cat it is bonkers. I've not felt great recently so have let things slide..... Pride comes before a fall!! My chickens are coming home to roost so to speak as my son also want to bring his girlfriend to meet me this weekend..... First time.... and I gather she's very special.. Coming up from London. Fantastic and an ace distraction... 😂🤣... & am delighted but the urge to clean has become stronger! (Am pretty sure she won't be remotely interested in the prowness of my cleaning skills!) Still forecast is 28C today and really best I can do is a tidy plus push the hoover around the obvious bits. Hey ho.. 🙄 🤣😂
Best wishes on your mini-maze and for a fantastic outcome.
You are having it in Sheffield and I had it in Tokyo,
The skill and experience of the surgeon are all that count, and the outcome will be a total success (as for MummyLuv).
The surgeon creates a fence, with light RF scarring on the outside of the heart (epicardial), to block off errant electrical impulses, and the heart returns to normal mode.
I have been 9.5 months in NSR and off all medications for 7.5 months.
Aww thank you Saul. I have my fingers & toes crossed it goes like Mr Hunter has reported.... (I'm) Straight forward. I watched a video on it and frankly am in tofal awe at the level of skill.Wow.... You are doing sooo well. That's amazing... Truly... so delighted for you.
I read some reports of people who had this op 14 & 20 yrs ago and are still in NSR & well.
I'm still P-Afib but am moving towards persistant I can tell as now I get episodes thoughout the day.
Though this is keyhole I have to be mindful there's always the possibility of open heart surgery on waking post op. A friend of mine had a valve replacement recently with Mr Hunter and he had to change to open heart due to scarring around her heart from a previous infection. She's doing brilliantly now.
My release form also mentioned open heart as a possibility, but I believe it to be extremely rare and due to an emergency. I can tell you that after 5,000 mini-mazes by Drs Wolf and Ohtsuka (over a period of some twenty years), not a single mortality and very small percentage with complications.
Dr Ohtsuka just completed surgery on a patient from Finland who had AFib for years and with an added complication of LSVC (a congenital abnormality of left superior vena cava persistent draining into the left atrium). Dr Ohtsuka treated both the Afib and LSVC and LAA excision, and the procedure lasted just 1 hour and 18 minutes under GA. No radiation at all !
My hope is that mini-mazes will be available more widely and for all who wish to go down that route.
On a light note, Dr Ohtsuka was mentioned in a popular Japanese comic. The top left image illustrates the scarring pattern that Dr Ohtsuka creates around the pulmonary veins and the excision of the left atrial appendage(LAA) to prevent strokes.
This is the story as told by Dr Ohtsuka:
"This medical drama is based on a true story of my patient. He was a senior rugby player. He gave up rugby and other activities because Coumadin and tachycardia was extremely harmful. He almost lost hope but found me to undergo WOP in 2008. After surgery, he got free from any drugs and back to rugby. Not only rugby, he was energized and became a famous volunteer to help his birth place totally destroyed by Tsunami in 2011.
He is now 84 in SR and with no stroke events in the past, still coaching his junior rugby team."
Good, good luck Ang. Love and good will will cure all.
Ozziebob posted a link to a video by Dr Wolf. In the video Dr Wolf speaks about the two techniques (CA vs mini-maze) and their respective issues and success rates.
A catheter ablation is carried out by passing surgical instruments via the vein in your groin to the heart. The scarring is carried out inside the heart and involves radiation during the fluoroscopic imaging necessary to guide catheter manipulation. A thoracoscopic "mini-maze"is carried out by punctures or incisions on the sides of the chest, for the instruments to reach the heart via the chest cavity, and no radiation.
There are several issues discussed in the video:
a) The scarring (by burning or freezing) is done inside the heart (endocardial) in the hope that the scars will be transmural (go all the way through the thickness of the heart muscle) to reach the nerves that are located on the outside of the heart (epicardial).
b) A hole has to be made in the septum (the tissue that separates the right and left atria) in order to pass the instruments to the left atrium where Afib begins, and this hole has to be closed after a CA.
c) A catheter ablation may require anti-coagulation after the procedure because the left atrial appendage is not removed or clipped.
d) A CA ablation creates scarring to healthy muscle tissue inside the heart to deal with nerves on the outside of the heart, whereas thoracoscopic mini-maze procedures create the scars on the outside of the heart directly.
e) The success rate of a mini-maze for paroxysmal AFib is >90% after five years, and much lower with CA.
f) CA requires radiation for imaging, which may be harmful in later life? A Thoracoscopic mini-maze uses a camera to see the inside of the heart and no radiation.
"Patients could receive anywhere from 9.5 – 41 minutes of continuous radiation, or the equivalent of 830 chest X-rays during a single ablation. Exposure to such radiation has been linked to the prevalence of malignancy later in life." (Cleveland Clinic)
Mr Hunter is a highly regarded cardio thoraisic surgeon at the Northern General in Sheffield. He is highly skilled and experienced in the minimaze. It is keyhole surgery so recovery is much quicker than open heart surgery. Mumyluv did a lot of research over who and will have far more info/stats. The objective of the Mini Maze is to create scarring at strategic points to prevent rogue electrical impulses causing the heart to beat erratically and out of sync. It's very clever.
You would need to be referred. This can be done through your GP or cardiologist. He offers this treatment on the NHS or privately. The usual rule is that if catheter ablation hasn't worked or if the EP says you are not suitable for catheter ablation (as in my case) then this is another option. Research out there showing a very high success rate. Mr Hunter told me that in my case P-Afib he has a 90%sucrss rate. At your initial consultation a series of preop assessments will be carried out (, usually on the same day) to see if you are suitable.
There are now a few on here who have been through successful minimaze operations. Mummyluv may correct me but he has done over 500. It's probably more now.
That’s great news. My very best wishes for a speedy recovery. Keep us posted when you can.
I am waiting to hear from Mr Hunter. He is applying for admission rights at the Cromwell in London. I was hoping for September, but depends how long all of this takes. He is going on holiday in October.
Usually, he operates privately at the Harley Street Clinic, but my health insurance will not pay the full amount there. It would leave a shortfall of around £15k according to Alison’s figures. I would happily pay this, but Mr Hunter said nobody should have to pay.
My health insurance will cover the Cromwell fully.
I can’t wait, back in AF since 2am.
Anyway, will be thinking of you on Monday. Let us know how you are when you are able to .
Thanks Val. He is a lovely kind man as well as a fantastic surgeon. Fingers crossed he gets it set up for you at the Cromwell. Wow! Fingers and toes crossed for you.
I will post an update post op. Thank you for your well wishes. I'm nervous but resolute.
If Mr Hunter could he would do everyone on the NHS, he’s a total believer in medicine for all, only doing private because he wants everyone to be able to access mini maze. Not what I expected from a private surgeon, a very special bloke indeed 💕
Yes, I have had a lot of experience with private consultants, mainly for my late husband, but also for myself. In the main, they are driven by money, my cardiologist is a prime example of that.
Mr Hunter is like a breath of fresh air and an absolute treasure. He offered me the op on the NHS, but too far to travel on my own. Also I am hoping to move to Cornwall which will be even further.
I don’t know how long it will take to get admission rites for the Cromwell. I looked it up and it has to go before the medical committee.
Ooh I hope this doesn’t take months. I am pretty desperate now. In AF more than not and very debilitating so my life is on hold. Not tolerating medication and have no PIP.
I did email him and say that I am happy to pay whatever the shortfall is, but as you say he doesn’t think anyone should have to pay.
If that’s the case tell him you want Harley St and you’ll sort it out with your insurance company, as you know they’ll just send you the hospital bills he won’t need to get involved.
I have sorted it all with my insurance company. They have given me the exact amount they will pay. All invoices to go to them and they I’ll pass to me any shortfalls. I told Mr Hunter this but he still wants to pursue the Cromwell route. I don’t like to keep emailing him.
Wishing you the very best of outcomes for Monday. You are in safe hands by all accounts. Will look forward to hearing how it all went when you are feeling up to it. In the meantime, take it easy and enjoy our marvellous British weather! (how often do we get to say that 😂) x
Hi hope all goes well the waiting for any operation is often the worst part in a way. What is a mini maze op (don't worry if you don't want to go into it) my partner is waiting for a second radio ablation and I just wondered if this is the same or something else.
A Minimaze is key hole surgery where the surgeon creates specific scarring pathways on the outside of the heart to prevent rogue electrical impulses from misfiring the heart. The surgeon is able to see and get to parts that a catheter ablation can't. It has a very high suchess rate for P-Afib and a much higher success rate. for persistant than catheter ablation. Sometime some people require a follow up catheter ablation as there is one part the surgeon can't get to but catheter ablation can. If you've already had catheter ablation (usual requirement for referral unless you are not suitable) then this part may well have already been done.Many people have very long term relief of Afib from this op lasting many years and are not likely to experience a reoccurance but may. As part of the procedure the LAA flap is clipped. This means for many anti coagulation becomes unnecessary once fully healed. It can take some months for the full benifit of this surgery to be felt so people are left on drugs to support the heart whilst it heals and recovers. Drug treatment is the slowly withdrawn.
Best of luck for successful operation! You will be amazed at how it turns out. I had a MiniMaze a year ago and been in NSR since. I believe that once the LAA is clipped the need for anti coagulation is gone immediately, not after fully healed. At least that is how the doctor that invented the atriclip explains it. My EP wanted me on anti coagulation for 90 days after because he did not understand this. I politely declined. Haven’t taken an Eliquis since three days before surgery.
Keep us posted on your journey. So excited for you!
Wow thanks Poochman. ❤️ Finger, toes and anything else I can are crossed that I get a smooth ride..
So delighted that your in NSR ever since the minimaze op. Truly amazing and wonderful.I can't remember what Mr Hunter said about anti coagulation post op... Whether you have to go back on it for a while or whether it's banished to the bin!! I will be delighted to be shot of it as its caused me lots of problems.
so delighted for you Ang, one of our UK trailblazers. The few days before I kept myself super busy to keep the nerves under control so I can understand the cleaning 🤣
Pleased your dog is ok and being treated, the wee love will be like your baby I am sure xx
Ooh Thankyou Mummyluv. It's all thanks to you and Saul & 4Chickens. I'm no trail blazer but I know a great thing when I see it. You set me on my way and am eternally grateful.... ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I'm sure you are fully up to speed with the procedures that will be involved in your upcoming mini maze performed by Dr Hunter, but for others on the Forum unfamiliar with the mini maze I wanted to bring to the Forum's notice a new series of AF monthly live videos on Youtube (only 1 hour, on first Tuesday of each month during autumn & winter) by the well-known mini maze advocate Dr Wolf of Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart Centre. The first in the Series occurred a few days ago, and as the techniques were unfamiliar to me, Dr Wolf's video was revelatory to me. I hope it can help others, and with more to come each month. Great!
PS. The first live 1 hour video started at 11pm UK time, but this might soon change with our daylight saving changes. And the sessions have a live chat facility where watchers can ask Dr Wolf questions (a selection of which he answered). Fabulous!
Congratulations on your upcoming procedure. You will do great. I had a mini maze over 5 years ago after three failed ablations. I am afib free and take no meds or blood thinner. Best thing I ever did and you will report the same. I’m excited for you.
The MiniMaze is not the same as a hybrid convergent. I’m not sure which Mr Hunter does but they are not the same. The hybrid ablates the back of the heart and requires a catheter ablation either at the same time or after, hence the term hybrid. The nerves that most often cause the AFib are located on the front of the heart (ganglionic plexi) and don’t require ablation. Some people, especially if prior ablations, develop aflutter after surgery sometimes requiring an ablation which is highly successful. Best to watch the video. Dr Wolf explains all of this in it. Tons of information there.
Best of luck to you. I had my mm with Dr. Wolf in May, and after a brief "blanking" period, my heart settled into NSR. I have been there for over two months now and feeling the best I have felt in 2 years. I can go to the gym and swim in the ocean. Yay. Keep a positive attitude post-surgery and trust the process!
Good luck. I’m still in NSR from my maze in May from Mr Hunter which is amazing considering the complications of a pleural effusion and pneumothorax and corrective thoracotomy.
Mine was a rare complication and very serious. Mentally and physically challenging having two serious surgery within a week.
Very thankful for Alison and Carole’s support post op ! Had a quite funny accidental video call with Alison from hospital whilst attached to a chest drain, cheered me up !
But I stayed in NSR through the emergency surgery, through two blood transfusions, being taken off amiodarone and blood thinners ! Without the complication I’d of breezed it. Again my complication was very rare I was unlucky. It’s the only time it had ever happened to Mr Hunter during maze procedure.
Anyways it worked it works and although I’ll be honest in initially feeling if I’d made a big mistake, with more and more hindsight and NSR and no blood thinners, I think it was a good choice to try and sort my long standing persistent AF. I also apparently had a very odd shaped LAA which would have increased my stroke risk.
Anyways Good luck 🍀 I will certainly be thinking of you and wishing a speedy recovery.
So great to see you posting Ralph. It’s good people hear of the complications too, pleased to hear you stay an NSR and you are getting your life back. 💕
So so sorry to hear Ralph of all you went through but delighted to hear you are finally through and feeling the benifits. You have had a really tough time. Thank you for sharing this....
Mr Hunter told me that I am straight forward.... Am hanging onto those words & hoping it is but if there are complications then when your in it you have no choice but to keep going.... Glib to say not easy to do!! So I take my hat off to you. Im trying to take it as it comes. I'm not brave or stoic, a positive wimp in fact!!
I’m sure as with almost all of Mr Hunters patients you will be a straight forward case as he has indicted. You will be very well looked after by the team and the nurses on Chesterman are amazing. Complications are rare. Wishing you the best possible outcomes and look forward to hearing a positive post op update.
Awwwww am blushing now 😳 but truly I am a wimp. I'm the gal who says doc give me all the painkillers uve got! Why suffer is my thinking... Thankyou though. You are too kind. 😊
Best wishes to you and prayers for a successful outcome never to know AFib again! You keep that positive outlook. Positive brings positive. You've got this.
Fingers crossed for you and your dog. Keen to hear how you do over the moni maze as Im sick of ablations and re-does that last no time at all and thoroughly sick of being out of rythm and on heavy meds (since April).
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