Ablation for an older person

My Mother has been experiencing tachycardia episodes around 180 bpm. She is 75 years old.  
The hospital wants to do an ablation.  I have heard that chest pain afterwards can go on for months.  I am concerned that she could not tolerate that level of pain.  She has had a heart attack with many by-passes some years ago and recently has had many back spasms after having a tube removed that drained fluid off a lung. Would someone with insight around older persons and ablations weigh in on this.      

[tom_h]

While not your mother's age, I am 60 and had one done about 10 weeks ago.  I experienced an achiness in my chest for about 3 weeks following the procedure, but it wasn't really much to speak of.  I also have a friend who had an ablation at 80 y/o, and he was fine.  Today, it's not 75 year old, but 75 years young!  The proceudre is fairly simple, and in my case, pain free as I was fully sedated during the procedure and don't remember anything.  Recouperation to back on your feet is perhaps several days, but you're ambulatory immediately, and in my case, I was ready to go practically the next day.

[Jerry_NJ]

I think the health condition more than the age is the important issue.  Ask her doctor, better the EP Cardiologist who would do the Ablation.  The "hospital" (resident?) is just an input to the decision.

Tom has experience, I don't, but I will add that from what I have read it may be better if the ablation can be done while the patient is sedated.... other posts I have read characterize the recovery as relatively pain-free - again, just what I have read.  Given people may be more inclined to post pain here than no-pain, the fact we get few complaining about the pain strongly suggest it is not a problem for most.  Again, the physical condition of the patient is a key factor on the speed of recovery.

Good luck to you all.

[ireneo]

I've had 3 ablations and I don't remember anything that I would call "pain."  There was a general dull ache, no more than if a person was coughing too much. I think the bruises in the groin were more of a nuisance.

If she goes in for the ablation, have her wear some soft boxers when she goes home. Typical women's undies have that elastic that will press into the incision area and feel uncomfortable.

[cindy707]

I am in total agreement w. Tom and Ireneo....i am in my mid  50's and am four years out from the ablation and like Ireneo don't remember any pain so to speak in the chest wall....you may have this confused with a maze procedure where there is ALOT of physical pain in the chest however a boilerplate ablation meaning an ablation where they run the wire up thru the groin area is a totally different procedure and non invasive.  The recovery is pretty fast and painless.....if it were my mom and the consideration were a maze procedure here is no way i would encourage the procedure because of the recovery however like i say a regular ablation is no more painful then the after effects of a root canal...you have to look at the benefits vs. the quality of life without it.....i would simply just do your research and i am sure you will be able to relax alittle

[tom_h]

To expand on what Cindy said.  What remains from the entry point in the groin is nothing more than a puncture mark from a large needle.  There's no cutting or sutures involved.  That healed in a couple of days.  The hematoma took a little longer, but was certainly was bearable, and caused only a little discomfort.

[littlegreenman1]

The most painful part of ablation is laying
________________FLAT________________
on your back for 14-15 hours. (Say you start @ 6:30 AM - done @ 3:00 and have to lay for 6 more hours.... just saying.)

That being said: I would think at that age there SHOULD BE a cost/benefit anlaysis taken into consideration. It's an extremely expensive procedure. At age 75 the female actuarial life expectancy is: 12.43 years.  Is-has drug therapy been considered/tried?

Folks in the USA - we're the ones hating increase in costs, Obamacare, broke SS system, etc... THESE are decisions that HAVE to be made... yet nobody wants to take that choice if it's THEIR mother in question.

[tom_h]

In comparison to littlegreenman1's experience, the only time I was flat, was for the procedure, and I was out for that  That was approximately 5 hours in duration from sedataion to awakening.  Then I was in a slightly inclined bed for another 3.5 hours.

Costs... My bill was just about $77,000.  My out of pocket expense was $250.  It all depends on what kind of insurance your carry.  If you're in the US, no doubt your mother had Medicare.  With gap insurance, her cost could be minimal. The procedure is expensive, so do your homework first.