Posted by Russell Boyce on April 27, 2001 at 15:04:16:
I am currently 58 years old. I had the full MAZE done by doctor Cox at Georgetown University Medical Center along with a single bypass and a mitral valve repair. I was released in 6 days and was driving in 14 days. I had an MI 2/96 after being in undiagnosed AF for 3 months. I was brought in in af and with a blockage in my coronary artery. They sent me to DHMC in Lebanon,NH for an angioplasty which ended with the placement of three stents which reblocked within months.They tried several drugs which ended with several bad and permanent side effects. I was then sent to doctor Mark greenberg at DHMC who does a AV node ablation and pacer. He referred me to doctor Cox and was scheduled for 8/5/97 until it was discovered GUMC didn't have a provider number with NH Medicaid (who had already approved the operation). By the time I was rescheduled for 2/4/98 I showed up in a wheel chair and a double heart cath showed I was at 15-20% ejection fraction and doctor Cox said I was no longer a candidate for the MAZE. He turned me over to the teaching faculty who saved my life. I went from 280 pounds to 230 pounds in 8 days and although I walked out of the hospital was still in congestive heart failure. I returned a year later at 50% ejection fraction and had the MAZE.They did a esofogeal ecocardiogram one year post-op that showed my atriam are fuctioning normally. Would I have the MAZE again? You bet!! I have reopened my computer repair shop after almost 5 years of total disabilty. Nh Medicaid paid for my surgery and I got free plane rides from the United Way's Skywish program.
Anyone who has an active lifestyle that has been terminated by af should have the maze if they are able to. Russ Boyce in extreme northern New Hampshire.