Ablation recovery time?

@grover81 It's where they make incisions between your ribs to get to the outside of the heart.

From what I understand that's considered Maze Surgery which seems to be more invasive than the Ablation procedure. They both attempt to accomplish the same thing but apparently some patients require a different approach.

@sandw40 I'm not well-read on the MAZE procedure, but I have seen that it enjoys a strong reputation for success. It's just a lot more involved, longer under GA, and much more costly. Regular catheter ablations are done from a small incision in the upper inner thigh...essentially right at the margin of the groin. Few ablations take longer than about two full hours, although some have gone as long as four. EP's often book hospital cath labs for two days a week and they'll perform 3-5 each of those days. The rest of the time they're doing patient consultations and other admin work.

@gloaming
Just a guess but probably a necessary procedure for those who may not have success after several ablations.

I know 2 people that had the mini maze at St. Helena in Napa Ca. Both doing well but long recovery. They each failed conventional ablations. Innervation to the heart is sympathetic and parasympathetic via the Vagus nerve. On top of that innervation, each cardiac muscle cell is capable of generating it's own electrical current. Skeletal and smooth muscles cells can't do that. Sometimes the nerves on the outside need to be taken out other nerves can be dealt with form the inside the atria. Some people need both. Unfortuantely these nerves can grow back over time. Other times rogue cardiac muscle cells just get a hankering to fire off and can establsih circuts.

Trying to live to a decent, healthy age is getting way too complicated.

@sandw40 Yes, although it's all relative. A ripe old age 200 years ago was about 60. Most TX'd (time-expired) in their late 40's and into the early 50's. Now, with better diets, more reasonable domiciles, fewer great intruders and fears on our peace of mind in urban centers (less fight-or-flight cycles in a day or in a week), we are in better health by 55 and beyond, But, we still do age, and our economy has permitted many of us to be able to afford the kind of advanced care that forestalls our ends for 20 years or more. We just need more air conditioning, higher costs for grub and necessities, and the good will of people who know us to lend a hand now and then.

Has anyone had short term memory loss after AFib, shocks, eliquis, ablation, dizzy spells. I am very depressed and Afib is back. Help