Hi everybody can you have a mini maze if you've had 3 ablations which have caused intensive scarring of the heart or does that rule you out I'm looking at my options now as no more ablations for me as they won't benefit me because of too much scarring and my options are getting very limited
Thank you
I would guess you could have the Wolf Mini Maze which works by zapping the rogue AF pulses that come through from the outside of the heart. That process is usually performed through the side of the body. We've heard some good results from people having that procedure privately either in Houston Texas or Japan.
Hopefully, someone on the forum will have had a successful mini maze here in the UK and will respond to your post.
Jean
There are a few on the forum who have had a mini maze by Mr Steven Hunter here in the UK.
Whereas a catheter ablation forms scars on the inside of the heart, mini maze forms scars on the outside. Those that have had the mini maze have had previous catheter ablations that have failed, so this shouldn’t stop you. Obviously it is down to the surgeon, but certainly worth looking into.
All being well, I am having a mini maze in a little over two weeks. Can’t wait!
The expert on mini maze is MummyLuv. Have a look at her posts which show her journey.
Yes you should be able to have the mini maze, I’d had 4 ablations and was heading for my 5th or pace and ablate when I explored mini maze. After consulting Mr Hunter it was decided that a hybrid convergent mini maze, would be my best bet. It’s a combination of mini maze left side, catheter ablation and occluding left atrial appendage in one sitting. I was in permanent atypical flutter when I had the surgery last May, since then nothing until I contracted pneumonia in December which lead to 4 days of AF and 1 month later still on antibiotics a bout of 7hrs of AF. Before my procedure my AF which after a few hrs goes to flutter had never self converted always requiring cardio version. I don’t regret my decision and would do the same again. Good luck whatever you decide. As an aside it may be a few days until mummyluv comes back to you, as she’s indisposed at the moment. (Not heart related)
Thanks love, hip related this time 🤣🤣
Steve do seriously consider mini maze. I was told I could never convert to sinus rhythm after failed catheter ablation and cardioversions and I am now nearly 2 years of normal sinus rhythm post mini maze,
If you are in England ask your GP to refer you to Mr Steven Hunter at Northern General and go and have a consultation with him, then make your decision on next step.
three ablations does not disqualify you from a MiniMaze. But best to clarify with your surgeon. It doesn’t with Dr Wolfs MiniMaze but I don’t know about convergent since it requires another ablation along side it.
I've had 4 ablations and they're now discussing mini maze for me too but because of my history, it will be through the chest 
hi Steven. I had three ablations and was then told my only other option was an AV node ablation, pacemaker and then a watchman. All of which I adamantly refused. I then had a mini maze. It will be 6 years soon and I am afib free. I take no medications including a blood thinner. I do not have a watchman and I am not pacemaker dependent. Yes, you can have a mini maze.
Wolf Mini Maze
mini maze/ watchman
