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John Edwards Trial Postponed, Heart Surgery Next Month

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Fri Jan 13, 2012 at 04:48:53 PM EST
Tags: John Edwards (all tags)
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John Edwards has a life-threatening heart condition for which he will undergo surgery next month. His trial has been postponed until at least March 26.

The judge received information from two cardiologists who said "that a trial would "reduce the chance for success." In granting Edwards' request for a continuance, the judge stated there were "real and serious health issues."

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    John Edwards Trial Postponed, Heart Surgery Next Month | 20 comments (20 topical)

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    one of the surgeries (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by athyrio on Fri Jan 13, 2012 at 08:55:19 PM EST
    for that is called an ablation...I had one last year and sadly it wasn't successful...It involves going in with probes and killing off the part of the heart causing this problem...anyway, sometimes it is successful and sometimes not...Hope he gets success no matter how they treat it...if not treated he will probably end up with a pacemaker and defib in his chest which isn't pleasant...

    Sounds horrible, sad you did not get a successful (none / 0) (#16)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jan 14, 2012 at 10:15:32 AM EST
    surgical address.  I have had problems during pregnancy with a spot in my heart.  When pregnant I guess a woman's heart muscles up and a part of my heart puts on too much during pregnancy.  After delivery I have an arrhythmia as it muscles down.  I wonder if that "spot" won't give me problems in the future?

    Parent
    I just wish him and his family (5.00 / 4) (#14)
    by ZtoA on Fri Jan 13, 2012 at 09:42:07 PM EST
    all the best.

    Really? (none / 0) (#1)
    by bocajeff on Fri Jan 13, 2012 at 05:23:47 PM EST
    Why wait a month if it's life threatening?

    There is no date set (none / 0) (#2)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jan 13, 2012 at 05:36:51 PM EST
    It's at least a month. He's having surgery.

    Parent
    Well, (none / 0) (#4)
    by bocajeff on Fri Jan 13, 2012 at 06:35:23 PM EST
    I'm not saying that doctors shouldn't be the final answer. I'm merely stating that the words "life threatening" usually connotes danger. If you got a call from a friend or relative stating they have something life threatening you probably wouldn't wait a week or two to call back and see what's up.

    Considering his character, legal knowledge, and status this smells like a delay tactic more than a "life threatening" situation.

    Parent

    My understanding is that he has (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by Anne on Fri Jan 13, 2012 at 07:16:16 PM EST
    an arrhythmia that was discovered when he collapsed while jogging; he's had more episodes, and has been told not to drive or travel.  Surgery is next month, and then he will require a period of recuperation.

    It's not like his heart condition has resulted in the dropping of charges - he will still stand trial - so I don't get the hostility.

    Parent

    My mom was hospitalized for arrythmia (afib) (none / 0) (#7)
    by Mr Natural on Fri Jan 13, 2012 at 07:45:25 PM EST
    that could not be pharmaceutically controlled.  When they finally decided this, the surgery happened within two days.  Apparently Ann Arbor is crawling with cardiac surgeons, available even to a medicare patient like my mother.

    John Edwards naturally doesn't have that option, being, as we know, dirt poor.  Obviously he needs the month to raise the cash, begging in the street or playing Bingo.

    Parent

    And obviously, you know the details of (5.00 / 3) (#8)
    by Anne on Fri Jan 13, 2012 at 08:03:40 PM EST
    Edwards' condition, making you qualified to judge his doctors' medical decisions, right?

    Because anyone with an arrhythmia has exactly the same thing your mother had.

    Parent

    "Because blah blah blah" (none / 0) (#9)
    by Mr Natural on Fri Jan 13, 2012 at 08:20:38 PM EST
    Nice job on the straw man, Doc.

    Parent
    You're the one who used your mother (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by Anne on Fri Jan 13, 2012 at 08:26:37 PM EST
    to take a swing at Edwards, not me - all I did was call you on it.

    Parent
    I deleted the response to (5.00 / 2) (#13)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Jan 13, 2012 at 09:09:05 PM EST
    Anne's comment. Personal attacks are not welcome here. If you hate John Edwards, take it elsewhere.

    Parent
    Bingo! (none / 0) (#6)
    by Mr Natural on Fri Jan 13, 2012 at 07:35:04 PM EST


    Parent
    Please read KeysDan's comment (none / 0) (#20)
    by Towanda on Sat Jan 14, 2012 at 01:23:24 PM EST
    with detail re heart conditions.  However, the question that you raise hit me as odd, unless you never have known anyone with several medical conditions, such as cancer?  

    Certainly cancer also can be life-threatening, but even in advanced stages, it's common to take time to build up the patient's health and stamina before surgery, to do chemo and/or radiation first, or for various reasons.  Wait and see.

    Parent

    Prosecutors "took no position" re (none / 0) (#15)
    by oculus on Sat Jan 14, 2012 at 01:34:55 AM EST
    defendant's request for delay of trial date.  That pretty much sums it up.  

    If John Edwards' arrhythmia is (none / 0) (#17)
    by KeysDan on Sat Jan 14, 2012 at 11:52:54 AM EST
    not pharmacologically controllable (atrial fibrillation is more readily amenable to drug treatment than atrial flutter), he may be a good candidate for ablation.  There are several steps prior to such a procedure, including the ruling out of any underlying cardiac problems.  And, in preparation for this procedure, anticoagulants such as warfarin are administered and titrated to prevent complications--although such treatment has probably already been taken to prevent the most common life threatening complication--stroke.  A period of time may be needed to achieve the necessary anticoagulation titration. Several observations have been made that Edwards "looked healthy" in his court appearance, but once he converts to a sinus rhythm, he is likely to  feel and look fine.   In any event, the stress of trial at this point is likely to exacerbate the fast and irregular heart beat. Now, if the heart problem is ventricular in nature, he would be in very serious shape.   The postponement of Edward's trial seems to be a medically and legally sound one.

    Yes Keys Dan is (none / 0) (#19)
    by fishcamp on Sat Jan 14, 2012 at 01:01:39 PM EST
    absolutely correct as I just five daze in the hospital from chest pain which turned out to be an hyatil hernia which millions of people have and live with.  It's the esophagus strangling version that is painful.  While in the hospital I "moved" into atrial fibrillation and "corrected sinus" several times.  Millions of people also do this daily without ever knowing it.  When an old guy like me walks into a hospital with chest pain and both Medicare and Medicare supplemental insurance they do not let you out until they perform every test available.  John Edwards does look healthy and will continue to be so as long as he gets the problem under control and obeys his doctors.

    Atrial fibrillation is not necessarily (none / 0) (#21)
    by KeysDan on Sat Jan 14, 2012 at 01:44:55 PM EST
    confined to an older population.  Indeed, it presents in young people, often college-aged as a result of "binge drinking".  Of course, alcohol is an added risk factor for any age.  In the case of herniation of the upper part of the stomach into the thorax through a tear or weakness of the diaphragm a relationship exists with gastro-intestinal reflux (GERD). There is some suggestion that GERD and atrial fibrillation are related, if so, probably vagal in origin, rather than underlying cardiac problems.  As you say, the conditions are readily manageable with adequate treatment.

    Parent
    KeysDan your statement (none / 0) (#22)
    by fishcamp on Sun Jan 15, 2012 at 08:24:48 PM EST
    that there is some suggestion that GERD and A fib are related is overwhelming for me as I have both and have an appointment tomorrow with my Gastroenterologist.  I guess I need to listen more than blurt out what I've learned from you and the internet.  Thanx for the info.

    Parent
    The interrelationships, if any, are probably (none / 0) (#23)
    by KeysDan on Mon Jan 16, 2012 at 10:51:22 AM EST
    not as important as the management of each condition.  Although, if there is a relationship, treatment of GERD (e.g. Prilosec/Zantac ), through the impact on the vagal response, should relate to control of the heart rhythm (e.g treatment with beta blockers and/or antirhythmatics).  

    Parent
    John Edwards Trial Postponed, Heart Surgery Next Month | 20 comments (20 topical)

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