AF after surgery and PVAI

[wim]

Hello in addition to my question of  6th of June the following.  

I Had MVP, Left atrium size 53 mm and an enlarged aortaroot of 50 mm (aorta valve is good). Since eastern I had atrium fibrillation some times it is gone most often it is present. I am a male of 53 old 1,86 meter and 85 kg

On te 24th of august surgery took place. My mitral valve is repaired and my aortaroot and valve are replaced. Futher a pulmonary vein antrum isolation was done. Now about six week after surgery I have continous irrregelar hartbeat  (AF) and small periods of sinus rhythm since 23-September. Before this day the situation was reverse long periods of good sinus rhytm. My general pratitioner says wait and see. What do you advice me to do? And what is the change that AF will disappear. My medication is 2 X 40 mg sotalol and acenocoumarol.

Thanks in advance from the Netherlands

[Cleveland Clinic]

Make sure you stay on the blood thinner and the sotalol for now.  It is possible that you have recurrence of atrial fibrillation or that this is a form of atypical atrial flutter that appeared after the ablation was done.  This is infrequent but does happen after the procuredure that you had.  Of course atrial fibrillaton in common after any open heart surgery up to 90 days.  It may ultimately go away by itself as your doctor has stated.  It is hard to predict.  The fact that you have an enlarged atrium makes it less likely.  Fortunately, it is possible when you have an occurence to undergo a catheter pulmonary vein isolation which does not require open heart surgery just to touch things up a bit.

[Smitty150]

More and more I am convinced that ANY complex surgery should only be received at a frontline hospital well-known for the specialty in question. Local doctors will attempt the procedures and many will be successful--but their success percentage has to lower than that of the "stars" at the major clinics.

I placed myself in the hands of the Cleveland Clinic for a PVI. So far I am 2+ months down the road with no symptoms whatever. Nevertheless, the CC docs have me check in weekly and send in EKGs from my home. I go back in November for a battery of tests. Yes, it's another long trip to have routine tests, but I want them performed by the best and interpreted by the best. What's an airline ticket and hotel where the heart is concerned?

Best of luck.

[Bruce180]

Your thoughts echo mine completely.  I had an ablation 7 months ago at CCF after passing on a LA hospital, waited 14 months for it, and it was the best decision I ever made.  After your November tests, you probably will continue with the EKG's for 3 more months, 3 times a week, and some 48 hour monitoring, but it just goes to show you that CCF is looking at truly curing the problem with front-line followup.

[Smitty150]

While waiting for my blood draw in the local clinic the other day, I met a lady with two PVI ablations

and a pacemaker. She was sweet but rather bewildered and very accepting of what was going on in

her course of treatment. I imagine there are many like her and relatively few who populate these

Forums and engage in other pro-active attempts to narrow their choices.