Cardiac ablation experiences

[john-e89]

At last I'm good to go and on the list, desperate to have this after 8yrs of mis-diagnosed atrial fibrillation.

Out of interest has anyone NOT had it done out of choice and why?

Any experiences good or bad would be appreciated out of interest, although nothing's going to stop me...apart from the surgeon packing his endoscope away and going to Australia that is.... :roll:

Ronk if you read this I seem to be having problems sending PM's, I was'nt ignoring you.

 

[ronk]

Try and ignore any reasons NOT to have it done !
Pm sent !

 

[stuartinzg]

Lately I've had a lot of heart palpitations but have put that down to stress and caffeine and a change in life style has reduced them significantly. Forgive my ignorance, but what is classed as cardiac ablation? At what point are you diagnosed?

 

[ronk]

My diagnosis was made after having a monitor fitted for a week. The trace showed the medics what was happening.
They were then able to suggest a suitable treatment. The suitable treatment for me was the catheter ablation process .

 

[MrPT]

Out of interest has anyone NOT had it done out of choice and why?

I've had an option to have it since I was about 14, but I have SVT, it is infrequent and I can manage it pretty well with other techniques. Even though the risk of ending up needing a pacemaker is very low, my lifestyle just isn't affected enough for me to justify the ablation procedure.

I'm open to reconsidering in the future, of course, especially if things get worse. They've actually gotten a bit better, to be honest. Probably because I'm more aware of the condition, but also because I think I'm less stressed/anxious than I was a few years ago.

 

[enzed4]

nothing's going to stop me...apart from the surgeon packing his endoscope away and going to Australia that is.... :roll:

lol - paging member BMWZ4MC ...

 

[ronk]

For info:-
Atrial fibrillation & Dvla
Group 1 entitlement ODL – car, motorcycle
Driving must cease if the arrhythmia has caused or is likely to cause incapacity.
Driving may be permitted when underlying cause has been identified and controlled for at least 4/52.
DVLA need not be notified unless there are distracting/disabling symptoms

 

[john-e89]

Lately I've had a lot of heart palpitations but have put that down to stress and caffeine and a change in life style has reduced them significantly. Forgive my ignorance, but what is classed as cardiac ablation? At what point are you diagnosed?

Mine was after an ultrasound, 2 heart stress tests and a CTI scan Stuart, just waiting now for an MRI.

The Ablation procedure involves burning the rogue nerve path which cause the AF, the burning creates scar tissue which over about 8-12 weeks forms and blocks the nerve path thus blocking it. You possibly need up to 3 attempts, all on different occasions, to be successful, mine will be on the 4veins as they enter the top left chamber then possibly up to another 3 on the heart chamber itself if the other 3 still hav'nt worked so it can be a long drawn out job, just depends how successful the first goes are.

 

[john-e89]

Out of interest has anyone NOT had it done out of choice and why?

I've had an option to have it since I was about 14, but I have SVT, it is infrequent and I can manage it pretty well with other techniques. Even though the risk of ending up needing a pacemaker is very low, my lifestyle just isn't affected enough for me to justify the ablation procedure.

I'm open to reconsidering in the future, of course, especially if things get worse. They've actually gotten a bit better, to be honest. Probably because I'm more aware of the condition, but also because I think I'm less stressed/anxious than I was a few years ago.

Good to hear you are managing it well MrPT, are you on any beta blockers out of interest?

 

[ronk]

......what is classed as cardiac ablation? At what point are you diagnosed?

A catheter is put into place via the groin area and the Dr. inserts the kit to burn or freeze the rogue areas. A gross simplification I'm sure but that's the gist of it !

I was diagnosed after having a three channel monitor fitted for a week - then having the trace analysed.

It's said that up to 12 weeks the symptoms can reoccur.

I'm in for a review on the 11th March but have a sneaking idea that number one attempt might not have been 100 %

 

[john-e89]

I'm in for a review on the 11th March but have a sneaking idea that number one attempt might not have been 100 %

No surprise there Ronk, depending on the heart condition the first ablation is around 60-70% successful, plenty of scope for needing another one.

That's according to the guy I'm seeing anyway.

 

[ronk]

I'm in for a review on the 11th March but have a sneaking idea that number one attempt might not have been 100 %

No surprise there Ronk, depending on the heart condition the first ablation is around 60-70% successful, plenty of scope for needing another one.

That's according to the guy I'm seeing anyway.

I've heard those same figures - I'm not exactly keen to have it done again, I would if needs be!
Currently my situation is being controlled by the ordiginal meds remaining I'm place.

 

[Mad Professor]

Im not a cardiologist per se .BUt -Cardiac abaltation success depends partially on whether there is any underlying cardiac pathology aside from the AF (ie mitral valve disease or cardiomyopathy) -and in particlular whether the left atrium is dilated or not -your cardiologsit would know this a priori on the basis of the echocardiogram result prior to recommending you for the proeceedure -ie im assuming that the Echo was normal and that you have what i known as lone AF . So in that case you should have a decent result .
Best of Luck

 

[ronk]

I was told my heart was otherwise healthy !
The cardiologist likened it to a healthy engine but with dodgy electrics .

 

[john-e89]

Im not a cardiologist per se .BUt -Cardiac abaltation success depends partially on whether there is any underlying cardiac pathology aside from the AF (ie mitral valve disease or cardiomyopathy) -and in particlular whether the left atrium is dilated or not -your cardiologsit would know this a priori on the basis of the echocardiogram result prior to recommending you for the proeceedure -ie im assuming that the Echo was normal and that you have what i known as lone AF . So in that case you should have a decent result .
Best of Luck

That is exactly as I was told MP, there's two leaking valves but not enough to merit treatment yet, and some thickening of the left chamber wall IIRC, but that is apparently treatable with blood pressure drugs so he's happy for the ablation to happen.

Thanks for posting and the well wish.

 

[Mad Professor]

Thickening of the left ventriclar wall -aka hypertrophy which is often due to hypertension - should not affect the outome of ablation -its really the size of the left atrium which is the deal breaker -so it looks like your'e good to go
If the left atrial size is borderline the cardiologsit may still put you on a beta-blocker after the proceedure just to cover their bets -like backing a horse each way as it were -in that regard a beta-blocker might not only help to prevent the AF recurring but also help to regress the left ventricular hypertrophy -although having said that there better drugs than beta-blockers for acheiving the latter .

 

[MrPT]

Out of interest has anyone NOT had it done out of choice and why?

I've had an option to have it since I was about 14, but I have SVT, it is infrequent and I can manage it pretty well with other techniques. Even though the risk of ending up needing a pacemaker is very low, my lifestyle just isn't affected enough for me to justify the ablation procedure.

I'm open to reconsidering in the future, of course, especially if things get worse. They've actually gotten a bit better, to be honest. Probably because I'm more aware of the condition, but also because I think I'm less stressed/anxious than I was a few years ago.

Good to hear you are managing it well MrPT, are you on any beta blockers out of interest?

I'm not, no. I was prescribed a pack to take on an ad hoc basis a few years ago but the SVT episodes I was getting at the time were very short and stopped before a beta blocker would have kicked in.

I can stop the SVT nearly every time now using the Valsalva manoeuvre; the only exception being when I've been exercising, in which case I need to relax for a while first. This hasn't always been the case, but I was once admitted to the Le Mans medical centre with SVT (during the 24h!) and one of the paramedics gave me some tips on how to do it properly. :?

Always interesting to hear about other people's conditions - especially the lifestyle impact. Again, I'm grateful I have one of the more mild arrhythmias.

 

[ronk]

When I had episodes of a/f pre ablation , only time seemed to stop them!