The Thoracoscopic Maze - Jerry's Experience
Jerry, who lives in Connecticut and applies his experience as an expert on complex litigation involving accounting firms, was first diagnosed with atrial fibrillation in 1994. He had an unsuccessful electrical shock treatment soon after his diagnosis, but eventually just settled on a routine of using Coumadin to control his symptoms. "I'd have episodes now and then, but overall things seemed to be under control," says Jerry. "When I would go to see my cardiologist, I'd ask about any treatment innovations, but he'd always tell me there were more downsides than positives."
"Shocked" into Action
He said, 'I can fix you.' That was the diagnosis I was waiting to hear.
In 2006, Jerry underwent testing which diagnosed atrial fibrillation. He wasn't feeling any negative effects, but the weakness was something his doctor wanted to keep an eye on. Then, in early summer of 2007, Jerry found himself less inclined to engage in physical activity, and felt overly tired and weak. "I'm usually up for exercise and doing outdoor activities, but I was just too exhausted," he says.
Around the same time, Jerry read an article in The New York Times that talked about atrial fibrillation and treatment options. "That article shocked me into action," says Jerry. "It discussed some treatments my cardiologist hadn't talked with me about, but more importantly, it was the first time I realized that people with afib have an elevated risk of having a stroke. In all my years living with the condition, no one told me that. Right then, in my mind afib went from a minor annoyance to a potential killer, and I needed to take action."
Travelling the Country for Treatment
Jerry first contacted cardiologists at the Yale Medical Group, since they were right down the road from where he lived in New Haven. He found that these doctors hadn't had much experience using surgical techniques to address atrial fibrillation. "I was surprised that no one there had substantial experience with afib," says Jerry, "so I went ahead and contacted another group of doctors at Duke University." These doctors also weren't focused on treatments for atrial fibrillation. Jerry thought he had a long road ahead of him, but his luck soon turned.
A friend of his son in Columbus, Ohio recommended a cardiologist at Ohio State University who had experience performing catheter ablation treatments. Jerry was already planning to go to a Buckeyes football game in September, and scheduled a consult the Friday before. At the consult, the doctor and his associates reviewed Jerry's case in detail, eventually giving him a 50/50 shot of having long-term success with a catheter ablation treatment.
A Better Option Arrives
Understandably, Jerry was not impressed with only having a 50% chance of success. However, the cardiologist suggested that an associate of his, Dr. Sirak, was using a new procedure that might be appropriate for him. The cardiologist went out into the hall to track down Dr. Sirak's patient coordinator when it just so happened that Dr.Sirak himself was walking by. "Right then, he came in, introduced himself, and spent about 15 minutes looking over my chart," says Jerry. "I remember it clearly - he put my packet down and said point blank, 'I can fix you.' That was the diagnosis I was waiting to hear."
Dr. Sirak wasted no time recommending a specialized maze surgery technique known as the five-box thoracoscopic maze. "He said to me, 'What's your schedule look like after the game?' We scheduled surgery for 5:00 a.m. Monday morning and he gave me his card and contact information in case I had second thoughts over the weekend. My wife and family flew in for the game, and my wife stayed behind to help me during recovery."
After His Procedure
Jerry was out of surgery by Monday afternoon and was released from the hospital Wednesday. A month after his procedure, he had to wear a heart monitor consistently for 1 week. After seeing the test results, Dr. Sirak allowed him to discontinue Coumadin completely. Jerry now takes only metoprolol (a selective beta receptor blocker) and a baby aspirin once per day.
"It's really amazing," he says, "I haven't had a single episode or chest discomfort since treatment. I would not hesitate to recommend Dr. Sirak and maze surgery he performs. This September, I'm heading back for another Buckeye game and I'll be stopping in to see Dr. Sirak for a check-up. I think I've finally found a way to successfully treat my afib and minimize my risk of stroke."
For more details or to find out if you may be a candidate for the five-box thoracoscopic maze procedure in Ohio, request a phone consultation with Dr. Sirak online or call his appointment phone at (614) 366-7414.
