IST, cryoablation Vs. RF

[sally08809]

Yesterday I had a 7 hour successful partial sinus node ablation.
Hx is 7 years IST every medication ineffective. I am a 46 yr. old nurse with generally excellent health. I was willing to risk a pace maker to improve the quality of my life.  The RF could not be used because it would damage the frenic nerve.  After 3-d mapping, cryoablation was used.  The intire proceedure took 7 hours but my HR has remained 60-80.  I feel terrific. Several questions:  1) Has there been any research on cryo vs. rf. success rates?  2) What is current success stats on the outcome lasting? thank you sally08809

[triacting20]

Congratulations on your successful ablation, I'm In a similar situation in which I was diagnosed with IST and none of my medications are working with my heart rate always around 150, so how long has it been since your ablation? Because from what I hear the majority of the time the IST comes back. The other question I was gonna ask you is where did you get it the ablation done, b/c Im trying to find a good ep.

[sally08809]

The ablation is one week old as of today.  No way to tell how long term success will be.  Still feeling great.  Hr. has ranged from 65-121. much lower than past and color and energy are back. Proceedure done at englewood in NJ.   by Fiegenblum and Simons.  Both electrophysiologists assisted in proceedure.  It was complicated because pathway was on frenic nerve.  Trying to determine if cryo increased posibility of recurence of ist. good luck

[sweetcarrina]

i am 24 years old and have gone through two unsuccessful ablations for my ist...one seemed to work for about a month, then my symptoms came back.  i got the second one soon after, where i experienced the same problem with the phrenic nerve in the way and received cryoblation as a precaution also.  this paralyzed my right diaphram for several weeks, which should typicaly only last hours.  after recovering, my ist is yet again back and now i am researching a third procedure at the cleveland clinic in ohio.  

the doctors there are very confident that they can ablate the site without damaging the nerve, and seem to have the best information.  i was seen in spokane, wa for the first two procedures and feel that, even though my doctors were great and tried their best, they just dont have as much experience, knowledge, or confidence as the doctors at the cleveland clinic in ohio.  so that is probably where you will find some great information.  

good luck to you, i know it is so annoying and hard to deal with.  :0)