Life (Ablation) after MAZE procedure?

I had a mitral valve replacement in 2010, while they at it, they did the MAZE procedure to get rid of the a-fib I was experiencing. This took and I was in sinus rhythm for the past six years. I am now 86. Wondering if anyone has ever had an ablation after having had the MAZE.  I have been in A-fib for three months now and my cardiologist wants to implant a pacemaker.  I am just wondering if there is possibly anything else I can do to get rid of the a-fib before I resort to a PM. I have no symptoms, my heart rate is fast but controlled (110-140). Thanks! 


4 Comments

AFIB

by Artist - 2017-03-15 22:57:39

Pacemakers are usually implanted to treat Bradycardia (slow heart rate).  In my case, a PM was implanted to treat my very slow heart rate so that I could tolerate the medications for treatimg AFIB. A PM isn't implanted to stop afib.  It acts to keep the heart rate from slowing too much as the result of taking medications to control AFIB.  It sounds like your doctor may be prescribing medications to treat your AFIB and wants to implant a PM to keep your HR from slowing too much.  

Yes that's exactaly correct

by SBMom - 2017-03-16 03:00:10

Thanks Artist - yes my Dr wants to implant a pacemaker so that she can increase the medication to try to slow down my heart rate. I just wonder why I need a pacemaker when my lowest heart rate was 60. I was hoping she would increase the Diltiazem and/or do a cardio version before implanting a pacer. Seems like an ablation is out of the question for me due to my age. I have had 3 pauses over the 30 days event monitor  (2.8, 3.5, 4.4 second pauses). It doesn't seems like that is all that "frequent", but of course I know that pauses are not good. I  just want to be sure I have exhausted all efforts before getting the PM. I appreciate any - and all - advice at this point! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

avib

by Seabreeze - 2017-03-20 12:57:00

A second opinion doest hurt either...... I had a dual chamber PM inserted in 10/14 for a slow rate.........I went for three opinions concerning my av node abaltion which I'm having this week. We only have one of "us" and I'm glad I asked a million questions.

Thinking of you.

Sensitive Vagal Nerve causing pauses

by SBMom - 2017-03-22 23:24:25

I am in the hospital awaiting a decision on "to have a pacemaker or. It to have a pacemaker" - discovered that my heart rate drops occasionally when I eat and drink. This could explain why I had two pauses on the 30 day event monitor. I still suffer with a fast heart rate (140) in atrial flutter and they are giving me digoxin and Diltiazem seems to work keeping me around 80 bpm. Will need to decided if I should go the pacemaker route or not. I am afraid of the TEE and cardio version at my age (86) and wonder if I would even stay in sinus if I did convert over. Today is day six in the hospital trying to figure this all out. Any advice/input/experience? Thank you! 

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