NCTexan
Veteran
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap10...rian-foster-likely-to-undergo-heart-procedure
On tablet, so no preview, sorry about that.
On tablet, so no preview, sorry about that.
Death to Google Ads! Texans Talk Tip Jar! 🍺😎👍
Thanks for your support!
01/31/13
Texans running back Arian Foster tells me he'll likely undergo a heart procedure in about a month. The Pro-bowler is considering a heart ablation to fix the problem that forced him to leave the Texans week 16 match-up against the Vikings because of an irregular heartbeat. Foster has been aware of the issue with his heart since he was around 12 years old and says over the years he's had around 8 incidents where his heart has raced irregularly. This last one though, was the first time it had ever happened during a game.
Arian says the biggest side effect for him is shortness of breath. After experiencing that problem this season in a game he started discussing his options for fixing it with trainers and doctors. That's when he says he learned Hakeem Olajuon suffered the same condition.  The basketball player's doctors were able to determine that Olajuon's trigger was drinking cold water. *Arian has been searching for his trigger and tells me he's now thinking it might be releated to stress. It certainly hasn't hurt his performance on the field as over the past 3 years he's been one of, if not, the best running back in the NFL.
Cardiac ablation is a very common procedure performed for many types of arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation, SVT (supraventricular tachycardia), WPW (Wolf-Parkinson-White), etc.
Thanks for the info.
What kind of surgery/procedure are we talking about? Is this something that will sideline him for a couple of weeks recovering, or a couple of months?
As I've explained on here before I had ablation for my a-fib and didn't find it "minor" at all. This was a guy who was a top doc in this field in Houston. At the time they were switching from doing it more from hand to a robot arm like device that is allegedly making it more precise. They pierced my heart and almost killed me. Had to rush me to get opened up and stitch my heart before I bled out. From all I was told it was touch and go. Not only that but the ablation didn't work. Many people have to go back for follow ups. I was a great candidate..young, rarely went out of rhythm, only taking rhythm meds when it went out of rhythm...pill in pocket. They tried to blame some of it on me moving..they didn't put me all the way under. Another doc I went to after this said he would never do that. So I'm sure he is getting as many opinions as possible. I'd never call it minor though.
Frog,
We've talked about your perforation in the past. It is a scarey and terrible thing to go through and can definitely be life-threatening. That is why it is prudent to only do it in a hospital setting, where in the unlikely event that the chest must be quickly opened, it can be done so to save the patient's life. It is a real potential complication seen with ablation. I don't know if it was an "excuse" or not. However, any patient movement during the procedure and the catheter tip can easily be displaced to burn the wrong area or to burn too deeply (through the heart wall-perforation). That is why general anesthesia is specifically recommended for atrial fibrillation, where the heart is already itself moving in irregular and unpredictable fashion, without patient movement. The complication rate for ablation seems to be consistently somewhat higher for atrial fibrillation than for other arrhythmias.
I'd be curious concerning how many robotic ablation procedures your cardiologist or surgeon had performed before yours, as there is a steep "learning curve" to the use of the robot. Some surgeons have a great reputation with traditional tactile surgery, but have a difficult time transitioning that expertise to the robot, especially near the beginning.
Ablation, no doubt, carries significant risks although in small number of cases. However, as you have found out, you might not care that the risk is 1 in 1000....if you are that one. That is why the procedure must be justified by significant supportive indications.
Frog,
We've talked about your perforation in the past. It is a scarey and terrible thing to go through and can definitely be life-threatening. That is why it is prudent to only do it in a hospital setting, where in the unlikely event that the chest must be quickly opened, it can be done so to save the patient's life. It is a real potential complication seen with ablation. I don't know if it was an "excuse" or not. However, any patient movement during the procedure and the catheter tip can easily be displaced to burn the wrong area or to burn too deeply (through the heart wall-perforation). That is why general anesthesia is specifically recommended for atrial fibrillation, where the heart is already itself moving in irregular and unpredictable fashion, without patient movement. The complication rate for ablation seems to be consistently somewhat higher for atrial fibrillation than for other arrhythmias.
I'd be curious concerning how many robotic ablation procedures your cardiologist or surgeon had performed before yours, as there is a steep "learning curve" to the use of the robot. Some surgeons have a great reputation with traditional tactile surgery, but have a difficult time transitioning that expertise to the robot, especially near the beginning.
Ablation, no doubt, carries significant risks although in small number of cases. However, as you have found out, you might not care that the risk is 1 in 1000....if you are that one. That is why the procedure must be justified by significant supportive indications.
John McClain
@ McClain_on_NFL
By the way, Arian Foster won't be
undergoing a heart procedure. He's
had an irregular heartbeat snce he
was 8 and has missed 1/2 of a game.
What is your main specialty, Doc? Just curious because your knowledge on all of these subjects just blows my mind. If you specialize in a field that I see a doctor for, I'd love to come see you.
I too had an ablation. I agree with HoustonFrog that it is anything but "minor" for those experiencing it. I was in surgery for close to 7 hours and when I woke up, I thought I was dying. Worst experience of my life. It took me screaming for the idiots in the hospital to finally realize how much pain I was in and come shoot me up with morphine.
I really feel for Arian. Sucks to be young and otherwise healthy but have to deal with a heart that just randomly ****s up for no reason.
Its Official. We can all breathe now
Jason La Canfora
@ JasonLaCanfora
Texans RB Arian Foster released a
statement today rebuking a report
that he will undergo a procedure to
correct an irregular heartbeat issue
John McClain
@ McClain_on_NFL
By the way, Arian Foster won't be
undergoing a heart procedure. He's
had an irregular heartbeat snce he
was 8 and has missed 1/2 of a game.
Houston Texans running back Arian Foster was forced out of a Week 16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings because of an irregular heartbeat. As a result, the NFL Network is reporting that Foster is considering a medical procedure to fix what has been a recurring issue for him since he was a kid.
Alex Flanagan of NFL Network reported Thursday that Foster said he is likely to undergo a cardiac ablation in about a month.
In a statement released through the team Friday, Foster denied that surgery was planned and that he has no conversations with his doctors about surgery.
"Thank you all for the concern. As of now, I have no complications with my blood pumper. There was a casual conversation with a reporter about my particular condition that turned public. But I have not, nor do I plan to anytime in the near future, have conversations with my doctors about any surgery. I am feeling well and am as exuberant as ever. Love and light to all those concerned!"
I remember when he tweeted an MRI and said 'hey, I'm fine!'
Just sying....
linkThere isn’t unanimous opinion about the necessity of the operation, however. Texans General Manager Rick Smith said Friday that the team’s physicians don’t think Foster needs to have an operation because of the irregular heartbeat, which Foster has dealt with since childhood.
“Our medical team continues to monitor it. He missed half of a practice and half of a game and the doctors treated him. We’re comfortable with where he is,” Smith said, via Mark Berman of KRIV in Houston.
Foster will obviously have the final say on whether or not he has the operation, which is known as a heart ablation.