At StopAfib.org, we asked Dr. Lishan Aklog, Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery at The Heart and Lung Institute of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, to address an atrial fibrillation patient question regarding the use of amiodarone for mini maze surgery. You will find his answer here:
FAQ: Dr. Lishan Aklog Addresses Patient Question on Whether to Use Amiodarone for Mini Maze Surgery
I talk a lot in speeches, programs, and articles about the financial toll that atrial fibrillation takes on us and our families.
A new study from The Commonwealth Fund reinforces the burden of rising medical costs in the U.S. on individuals and families. Those of us that have suffered with atrial fibrillation will not find this information at all surprising.
Over at StopAfib.org, you will find an article about the study findings as well as what it means to those with atrial fibrillation and some ideas to help with the financial burden of atrial fibrillation.
Once you’ve read it, please come back and share your thoughts and comments here at the Atrial Fibrillation Blog.
If you are considering a procedure of any kind, especially an atrial fibrillation procedure, you’ll want to read this about the importance of time outs in the operating room…
For those atrial fibrillation patients who are on amiodarone, or for those avoiding it, there is good news. Multaq® (dronedarone), a replacement for amiodarone, received priority review status from the US FDA. While amiodarone is among the most effective atrial fibrillation medications, it has major toxicity issues that dronedarone doesn’t display.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to doctors who are prescribing amiodarone for their atrial fibrillation patients saying that those patients should take no more than 20 milligrams of Zocor®, Simcor®, or Vytorin®.
The Arctic Front® Cryoballoon Procedure for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation will be featured in a live webcast on August 30, 2008.
You can take advantage of a rare opportunity to ask famed electrophysiologist and “catheter ablation maestro”
UPDATED 8-17-2008: “Ask Dr. Natale” is now closed, but you may now ask questions of Salwa Beheiry, who works very closely with Dr. Natale. Click on the link above to learn more and to go to the site where you can ask Salwa your questions.
Last time, we mentioned the Micronutrient Information Center of the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Here’s some additional information from there related to cardiac arrhythmias:
“Walnuts are especially rich in alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid with a number of cardioprotective effects, including the prevention of cardiac arrhythmias that may lead to sudden cardiac death.”
So, walnuts can help prevent cardiac arrhythmias. Wow!
Other good sources of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) are flaxseed, flaxseed oil, walnut oil, canola oil, mustard oil, soybean oil, and tofu.
If you’re not familiar with flaxseed, check out my flaxseed article.
If you have atrial fibrillation, it might be worth considering adding these foods to your diet.
Do these foods help with your afib?
In Atrial Fibrillation Patient Discussion Forums, we mentioned the A-fibcures group, which focuses on non-pharmaceutical atrial fibrillation cures.
Much of the recent group discussion has centered on understanding the confusing and ever-changing landscape of atrial fibrillation surgery. Group moderator, Carl Plaskett, reached out to THE authority on the Maze procedure, Dr. Jim Cox, known as the “Father of Maze Surgery”, to provide some clarity around atrial fibrillation surgery.
Dr. Cox was kind enough to write up a brief white paper. It’s a fascinating look at where we are, and where we have been, in trying to cure atrial fibrillation.
Find out more and access the White Paper by Dr. Cox
One topic, AV node ablation, makes the rounds of the atrial fibrillation discussion groups on a regular basis, and has just come back around again. All at about the same time, several afib patients’ doctors have insisted that they have an AV node ablation with a pacemaker implant. Thus they have come seeking others’ experiences.
In this procedure, the AV (atrio-ventricular) node is frozen or cauterized to stop electrical signals from being transmitted from the upper chambers, the atria, to the lower chambers, the ventricles, and a permanent pacemaker is implanted to control the heart’s electrical system.
Supposedly, at least according to some doctors, the AV node ablation will eliminate afib, or at least patients won’t feel it any more. Wrong, say many who have had the procedure. They still feel it, and they are just as miserable.
And whether or not you feel your afib, it’s still damaging your heart, and you’re still at risk of blood clots and strokes. Thus you’ll probably still be on anticoagulants, such as Coumadinâ or warfarin.
I don’t have anything against pacemakers – they do a great job of keeping people alive and of detecting irregularities. We’re lucky to have this technology.
But please, please, just don’t sever that AV node that connects the atria to the ventricles. It’s so FINAL. You probably won’t be able to take advantage of advances in medical technology, and if there’s a problem with your pacemaker, you darn sure better be able to get to an emergency room quickly.
So, lets see…
- you’ll still have afib
- you’ll still be at risk of strokes
- you’ll probably still be on Coumadinâ
- you’ll be pacemaker-dependant
- you may not be able to take advantage of advances in medical technology
Now, why is it you would WANT an AV node ablation? Duh!
This controversy seems to be pitting patients against their doctors. One mentioned that her doctor thought she was obstinate for not wanting an AV node ablation. She’s not being obstinate. It’s her body, and she gets to make the decisions. She doesn’t want one, and considers the procedure prehistoric. She’s right!
Maybe for some patients it’s the only answer. But I suspect that applies to far fewer patients than actually get the procedure. Is this just another case of Clueless Doctors who are just not aware of what afib does to us? Or are these doctors unaware of all the other Options Available? Or is it an economic decision? I sure hope not. Is it naïve to still believe that doctors want the best for their patients and will help them find a cure?
What has been your experience regarding AV node ablation? You’re welcome to join the discussion, but before you jump over there, please share your thoughts and comments below. Thanks.
