Comments on: Palpitations, Flutters And A-Fib After Heart Valve Surgery?

By: pawan

pawan — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 20:51:23 +0000

I underwent double valve replacement surgery in Oct 2005, i am 31 yrs old. Everything was fine untill recently I stated experiencing palpitations followed by what I can call sudden rush of blood to the back of my head. Is this something serious. I am worried.

By: Maggie Lichtenberg

Maggie Lichtenberg — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:41:47 +0000

I would like to address Nancy’s post of June 15th. I, too, have had a tricuspid valve repair (Ebstein’s Anomaly) and MAZE procedure in 2003. My A-fib and flutter has come and gone over recent years, but never painfully as it did before my open heart surgery. I’ve had ablations, I’ve been cardioverted. And guess what: now I am in irregular rhythm 24/7 and it does not bother me. Antiarrythmic meds don’t work for me, so they are out. I have, in fact, just gotten used to it! I still hike, but more slowly. So the question for your cardiologist is, why are physicians so concerned about stopping A-fib? Might you have the consequence of A-fib that isn’t dangerous, just bothersome? Warm regards, Maggie Lichtenberg

By: Sue weedon

Sue weedon — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:33:14 +0000

I had a aortic valve replacement 2 months ago. I’m having trouble with the
A-Fib. My surgeon is telling me in 3 month the A-fib should go away. The
A-fib is less but was started on Dioxgins. I take commudin daily due to
the mechanical valve. If continue I will suggest to my Dr for outpt for IV
drug. I go for EKG weekly to monitor the A-fib and the last two was normal
sinus rhytm. I glad to read the comments and I’m not alone because I was told this is common with AVR since it your electrical system.

By: Allan

Allan — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 06:16:21 +0000

About 4 weeks after my aortic valve replacement in October last year I suffered from two occurrences of atrial fibrillation. I spent the night in hospital after the second one. I was put on Sotacor which has prevented the recurrence of these attacks.

By: Shelby Hudgens

Shelby Hudgens — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:08:42 +0000

Three weeks after a successful Ross Procedure, I was hit with preventricular contractions that changed to atrial fibs a few days later. These lasted about a week, but were continuous night and day. That was about seven months ago and I have had no further issues. My experience is once they go away, they stay away. Good luck.

By: Dave Richards

Dave Richards — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:17:08 +0000

Steve, I came out of double valve repair last July in A-Fib. Meds controlled it and coumadin kept clots from building up. I was finally cardioverted six weeks after surgery and went back to normal sinus rhythm. After that, skipped beats became very prevalent, and a heart monitor recorded 25,000 skips or extra beats each day. Needless to say, that’s a potentially dangerous number. Two weeks later I was in the EP lab undergoing a cardiac ablation. Today, I get about 200 skips per day, and my ejection fraction increased from 40% to 55%, which is close to normal. Adam gave you important advice: don’t suffer through this quietly. Have your doctor monitor your condition to make sure that you remain in top form.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:21:20 +0000

I also had an aortic value replacement(pig) and a Big Maze procedure last May. I believed the AFIB would automatically stop after the Big Maze Operation, but as it turned out I was wrong. In the hospital my physician told me that I could not be placed in sinus rhythm, during and after the operation, because I had a blood clot in my heart.

I believe it was something like 3 months before I went to see an Electrophysiologist as recommended by my cardiologist and Surgeon. He, the electrophysiologist, attempted to place my heart back in rhythm by using the defibrillator. Eventually, like a month later I had another procedure completed by him, and what I have been told is that he basically fined tuned the Maze procedure. This procedure took approximately 3 or 4 hours. I was than given a 7 day monitor to see if I was in or out of AFIB. It came out that I no longer had AFIB. I’m told that this procedure works 80% of the time.

I have been AFIB free since than.

For the ensuing

By: Nancy

Nancy — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 05:08:56 +0000

I have had heart problem all my life, numerous issues-one of them palpitations and then in past 3yrs A-fib occured…it was scary and they tried to give me meds but didnt work..had to have my heart ‘shocked’ back to sinus rythmn..I was ok for awhile and then happened again and then had to have heart ‘shocked’ again…I recently had my tricuspid valve replaced as well as MAZE procedure done to help stop the A-Fib.
I was told that though had this done, the A-Fib could come back and then would have to have heart shocked again and then should even out and be ok. I was just recently taken off amiodorone for the A-fib and so far so good..keeping fingers crosses will stay in sinus rythmn..

By: Angeline

Angeline — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:42:00 +0000

Thank you it makes sence now! I have a question after heart surgurey had a new aortic value replacement cow. I am going for surgurey for my knee it is finish I am 77 years old how long should I wait is that a very dangerous operation? Should I be worried?

By: Jean Moore

Jean Moore — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:55:16 +0000

I had an Aortic Valve replacement 2 months ago. I ended up needing a pace maker due to
unstable heart. For almost 6 weeks after I was in and out of atrial fib. Finally had to go to
the hospital and have drugs administer to try to get my heart back in sinus rhythm. Thank
goodness it worked after 2 days.
Since my valve replacement I have had terrible bouts of depression and panic attacks. The
more I’ve read up on it, I think I have Post Traumatic Stress. Has anyone else out there suffered from this?
I had a septuple by-pass surgery 10 years ago and did not experience any of these problems.