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J Card Surg. 2004 May-Jun;19(3):196-200. The Maze procedure for the treatment of atrial fibrillation: a minimally invasive approach. Ad N, Cox JL. Cardiothoracic Department, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. nivadmd@hotmail.com OBJECTIVES: The standard Maze procedure has proven toby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Circulation. 2004;109:2724-2726.) © 2004 American Heart Association, Inc. Atrio-Esophageal Fistula as a Complication of Percutaneous Transcatheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation Carlo Pappone, MD, PhD; Hakan Oral, MD; Vincenzo Santinelli, MD; Gabriele Vicedomini, MD; Christopher C. Lang, MB, ChB; Francesco Manguso, MD, PhD; Lucia Torracca, MD; Stefano Benussi, MD; Ottavio Alfieri, MD; Roberby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Here's an excellent resource for those who want to spend time reading about ablation techniques and related information. As a matter of importance and interest, this article, describes the use and advantages of using the ICE monitoring equipment for safety and efficacy during catheter ablation and is offered by Marin General's expert EPs: "Use of Intracardiac Echocardiographyby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gregg - I never wanted an ablation. In my early afib days, I thought I would never, ever consider such a procedure. As time went on and afib became worse, ablation seemed like a viable option. Dr. Natale gave me my life back over three years ago and I've never regreted my decision. NSR is sheer bliss and when I had that recent brush with afib again, I was reminded very clearly how jusby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Benj - If you didn't use Dr. Pinski, then what would your choice be for an EP? This is that area of personal choice - whether you are ready for ablation or not and with whom. Dr. Pinski certainly enjoys an excellent reputation but if you have serious doubts, perhaps you need to either wait a while or get a second opinion. I wish you well with your decision. I've never regretedby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mike - Tikosyn is used and supervised by Electrophysiologists typically after other drug failures as there is some risk of using it and one has to be hospitalized to be sure of compatibility. It's been noted from time to time that permanent AF leads to fibrosis of the heart and that perpetuates AF. (whereas if you are cardioverted and can stay in NSR, the heart won't undergo the remoby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Mike - Thanks for posting your news. Let's hope this does it for you. Give the healing process time and you should be 'cured'... or cured as far as we know at this point in time. Best to you, Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ken - there is always the consideration that exercise and especially prolonged exercise brings to the heart tissue (cells) an abundance oxidative stress which in turn promotes and/or sustains inflammation. Your healing may take longer - the longer and more persistent you are with exercise. Not that you shouldn't keep active and training, but your heart may not be totally healed - as suggby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I should clarify that to state - "if the particular surgeon thinks it is important to remove the LAA" (not all do) ... note the discussion by Hans and then what Marian reports by Dr. Pinski as there is controversy as to the merit of removing vs the functional value of the appendage. Some surgeons think it is important to remove so that the risk of thrombosis is eliminated should therby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Kagey - typically, the LAA is removed during a surgical procedure for ablation. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gordon and Heather - many people find a little bit of salt in the diet is important in balancing out electrolytes. It's the large quantities that are not helpful. I have a friend who always added salt to his cocktail of magnesium when he went into afib and it seemed to help convert him quicker. The benefit of salt for most people will be the iodine content that comes from iodized salby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Kagey, yes, of course - as do I. There will still be some antioxidant properties from garlic used in cooking etc - just a minor degree. Whole, fresh foods, herbs and spices are healthy and make our meals much more enjoyable. I agree with you! Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Rick - Too bad afib spoiled your holiday in Las Vegas. I used to go regularly to Las Vegas - even after I began my afib journey. I used to pray I would not have AF while there, but it seemed to be inevitable that I would have at least one event in 4 - 5 days. I didn't drink alcohol but did decide two things were contributory: one - it is obviously very dry so we become more easilyby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lynda - thanks. Dr. Blaylock is one of our favorites here introduced to us by Fran who was our educator on msg and free glutamates as well. His books are excellent and he enjoys an excellent reputation as an expert in his field. Don't hold your breath that the food industry will eliminate hidden MSG anytime soon. It is said to have addictive properties that keep 'us' coming bby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mike - at one time, my ferritin was 100 and my doctor wanted it down to at least 50.... I donated blood one time and the level came down and remains down. You should take steps to get yours down. Regards, Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN RESEARCH PROTECTION (AHRP) Promoting Openness, Full Disclosure, and Accountability www.ahrp.org "Research and Clinical Practice Guidelines: Can We Trust the Evidence in Evidence-Based Medicine?" .......is an article by Dr. John Abramson* (Harvard) and Dr. Barbara Starfeld (Distinguished Professor, Johns Hopkins), published in the Journal of the American Board of Familyby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
First of many to come, I'm sure, observations about the JAMA announcement: Quote: Antioxidant Study: The Real Truth About Supplements "Antioxidants Tied to Death Risk" screamed the headline across the news wires. This, after the Center for Clinical Intervention Research at Denmark's Copenhagen University Hospital reviewed 68 studies on nearly a quarter-million people and "found" that synthetiby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Jim - I'm side tracked here by other pressing activities at the moment - On the natural folic acid, which is the folate form found in food, I presume Dr. Gordon to mean his product is formulated with a food-based folate ingredient rather than the synthetic. I don't know much about his products though and would have to take time to see what I could determine. I'm somewhat sby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gordon - I join in the salute to you for your participation; you have no idea the respect and admiration I have for all servicemen and women who serve. There are a few places you can look for some remote connections to all your ailments as a result of the enviornment overseas as well as your exposure to all of the mandatory vaccines. I will email you some websites to check comparing you sympby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Kagey - I'm guessing and this could be all wrong, but perhaps it is the difference between a left side and right side ablation.... with the less experienced (small hospital) choosing not to do the trans-septal puncture. I do know that the ICE monitoring equipment is very important in avoiding problems like stenosis and esophageal fistula. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Marian - thanks for such a thorough explanation of your assessment by Dr. Pinski. I do hope there is no stenosis so you can proceed with the touch-up or second ablation. Sounds reasonable to me. About the general anesthesia - while I fully understand your reasons for avoiding it, there is much to be said about the absence of pain but the comforting factor, I would think, is that you will nby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Shaun - I handled all that prior to ablation so there were no issues after ablation. Digestive enzymes, probiotics, adjustment of a displaced diaphragm and a diet that keeps me as alkaline as possible. I was vagal. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Bob - I take it you haven't read my lengthy post, "Caveat lector;" that would be a good start. The books referenced in my post indicate the same thing and other doctors are also speaking out on the subject..... one recent comment by Neurosurgeon, Russell Blaylock, MD in his January 07 newsletter: Quote: " Increasingly, we are seeing serious reactions were discovered during clinicla triaby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hans - I agree with your initial observation. Here's my input... I predict there will soon be a flurry of commentary from nutritional experts who evaluate the findings of this announcement and as I receive them, Ill be posting. Just recently, Garry Gordon, MD, said of the AHAs comment on folic acid that the hostility against vitamins by AHA is well known, but in this case is overstateby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jim - about your reference of scientists and biased information. Yes, indeed. Read Overdo$ed America by John Abramson - if you haven't read my recent post titled Caveat lector... that's a good preview. Note the other authors who are reporting the same findings. Scientists are for sale and this sort of thing - covering up results and biasing the results is rampant. The trusted jouby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Emmie - iodine deficiency should be ruled out. Iodine deficiency is found in both thyroid dysfunction and fibromyalgia. It could be just that simplistic.... add supplemental iodine and be tested regularly. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Wenda - my B12 levels were low when the methylation cycle was measured. After supplemental B12 (sublingual) did not measureably improve the numbers, I was instructed to have B12 injections once a month which I did for about a year. While some people feel dramatically better, more energetic, etc, I did not notice any significant changes although my methylation profile numbers improved to be iby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Very interesting. I wonder, though, how many of the increasing number of younger people who are reporting to have AF here on the BB would have this pulse pressure differential and yet they seem to be reporting in increasing numbers. There is a large population of people who are hypertensive - wonder why most of them aren't also afibbers. The arterial stiffness issue is just another rby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jack - thanks for posting your experience. Many of the afibbers to whom I've recommended theanine find that it helps greatly. It certainly is worth a try. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Perfect! Great reference.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM