Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
atrial flutter ablation and 2nd degree AV block
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
atrial flutter ablation and 2nd degree AV block
by carolw, Feb 09, 2002 12:00AM
My father, 59 has symptomic atrial arrythmia, mostly atrial flutter and some atrial fib, and a lot of PACs. His heart beat race to 140 ~170 bpm during atrial flutter/fib. The average heart beat is 52 bpm during day time, and even lower in the night. Two months of Beta block, caused his heart beat at 30s in the night.
We went through an EP study and wanted to get rid of his typical atrial flutter by RF ablation. During the EP study, the doctor found he has 2nd degree AV block and came out without ablation. The explaination was further RF ablation will damage his already weeken AV conduct system. As in that hosiptal, they only did 11 cases of RF ablation, and have not encounted such complicated case like my father. My father is now on Sotalol for 40mg/day. Higher dosage will bring his daytime heart beat into 40s. Atrail Flutter/fib comes and goes, his life quality is very low, unable to tolerant any excercise.
We still hope to find a better hospital, to have his atrial flutter cured as he only has very little AF. I don't know how serious it is to have RF ablation, on his situation with 2nd degree AV block. Will further ablation will put him to 3rd degree AV block or even worse? I greatly appreciate any of your suggestion to restore my father back to his full life.
We went through an EP study and wanted to get rid of his typical atrial flutter by RF ablation. During the EP study, the doctor found he has 2nd degree AV block and came out without ablation. The explaination was further RF ablation will damage his already weeken AV conduct system. As in that hosiptal, they only did 11 cases of RF ablation, and have not encounted such complicated case like my father. My father is now on Sotalol for 40mg/day. Higher dosage will bring his daytime heart beat into 40s. Atrail Flutter/fib comes and goes, his life quality is very low, unable to tolerant any excercise.
We still hope to find a better hospital, to have his atrial flutter cured as he only has very little AF. I don't know how serious it is to have RF ablation, on his situation with 2nd degree AV block. Will further ablation will put him to 3rd degree AV block or even worse? I greatly appreciate any of your suggestion to restore my father back to his full life.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-CRC, Feb 10, 2002 12:00AM
Dear Carol,
Do you live in the US? If so I can't imagine that you would live so far from a hospital with more EP experience. A second degree AV block should in no way stop him from having an atrial flutter ablation. The risk of increasing AV block with this type of ablation is very low.
He may however still eventually require a pacemaker if he continues to have very low heart rates. This may actually help him to feel better in the long run. In any case ask your doctor for a referral to a cardiology practice in the nearest big city or consider coming to a major medical center such as the Cleveland Clinic for a second opinion.
Do you live in the US? If so I can't imagine that you would live so far from a hospital with more EP experience. A second degree AV block should in no way stop him from having an atrial flutter ablation. The risk of increasing AV block with this type of ablation is very low.
He may however still eventually require a pacemaker if he continues to have very low heart rates. This may actually help him to feel better in the long run. In any case ask your doctor for a referral to a cardiology practice in the nearest big city or consider coming to a major medical center such as the Cleveland Clinic for a second opinion.
