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Heart Rhythm Community
This patient support community is for discussions relating to heart rhythm issues, arrhythmia, irregular heartbeat, implanted defibrillators, pacemakers, and tachycardia.
Ablation Success?
by Arizona Jim, Apr 10, 2008 12:21AM
Hi - I'm a 53 yo male with a history of heart disease. I had a stent placed in my circumflex artery 18 months ago. Since then, I've experienced several sessions of PACs (with a few PVCs too). I've tried several medicines with little success. I've tried Flecainide, and I'm currently taking 75mg of Metoprolol twice a day. For the last three weeks, I've been experiencing 20-25 PAC's per minute with a slight break upon waking up in the morning. I know they aren't dangerous, but they are problematic. When I get runs of 4 to 5 ectopic beats in a row, I'll get nauseous and dizzy.
My EP was able to catch a half dozen of them on a short EKG strip. The good news is that they all appear to be coming from the same location and have the same waveform. My EP wants to schedule me for an ablation within the next week to try and get this under control. This is a quality of life issue.
Question - What are the risks of ablation?
My EP was able to catch a half dozen of them on a short EKG strip. The good news is that they all appear to be coming from the same location and have the same waveform. My EP wants to schedule me for an ablation within the next week to try and get this under control. This is a quality of life issue.
Question - What are the risks of ablation?
Did you ask your doc about it? What did he say?
The procedure itself...I don't remember...the injection of Versed and I woke up in recovery wondering if they did the procedure. No problems afterwards, no beta blockers, nothing and I feel great. Actually I go for a two month checkup tommorow.
Best Wishes to you.
I had two ablations for PVCs (2003) and I am nearly PVC-free after 4 1/2 years! It was truly like a miracle for me!! I did have to sign a release about understanding the risks, but they were very, very minimal (percentage wise). I'd do it again if I had to.
Before the first ablation, my most recent holter also registered 22,000 PVCs, no PACs. I hear ya! The twilight sleep is great : )
Please feel free to ask about the procedure, post, whatever. We'll do our best, and then as we say, we'll see you on this side of the mountain. The view is beautiful : )
connie
My doctors described ablation as a "low risk" procedure, but not a "no risk" one. They also use the word "cure" when talking about the potential of ablation. That is a word not often used by medical professionals.
Now after almost a year and a half, my answer is clear. I did the right thing--no medication other than a statin and an aspirin. I will be 65 in three weeks and I am hoping to do a four day backpack in the Wind River mountains this summer. I have no concerns about another episode.
As for risks, my EP says that the real mortality rate is MUCH less than 1% - in fact he's never lost a patient after an ablation. Since he is quite well regarded in this area I consider that significant.
As the EP puts it, 60% of all patients undergoing ablation are essentially cured. Of the remaining 40%, 20% get better after a 2nd ablation. If all else fails and you are like me - i.e. in persistent, continuous a-fib (6 months now) - and a 2nd ablation fails to bring your atria into line, the final step is to ablate the AV node and install a pacemaker to make the ventricles beat regularly. It won't give you normal sinus but it will give you a regular beat - somehting I haven't had since early last November.
The 60%, 20% thing sounds nice but here is how it works in simple odds. Your odds are 3 to 2 that one ablation will correct the problem. After that it's a toss-up. Even odds you'll need a pacemaker. For me it is a simple matter of trying to get my life back. My Dad's mother had a pacemaker in her chest when she died and his younger sister has one now. I have done all I can to get my affairs in order. My wife has a medical power-of-attorney for me and knows my wishes. I have already spoken to the man I want to say words over me if the procedure goes south. I'm gonna go visit my folks' grave (they're bunking at the National Cemetary at Ft. Sam Houston, Tx) Saturday or Sunday.
They say there are three things a man should do in his lifetime; build a house, plant a tree and raise a son. My house is 11 years old. My son is 39 and has given me 3 grandchildren. The tiny 1 gallon oak tree I planted in my back yard 10 years ago is taller than my house. Guess I've done what I'm supposed to.
Good luck either way you choose to go. Ultimately you have to decide if the cure is worse than the disease or vice-versa.
Bill
The EP and ablation took five hours from the time I was wheeled into the lab until I was rolled out and saw my wife again. I was awake several times during the procedure and I was able to see five separate catheters on the monitor. There was no pain or worry involved in the procedure. I was sedated with some good drugs and I slept off and on during the entire thing. I was admitted to the hospital overnight for observation and got to come home this morning. I took a four hour nap this afternoon, and I'm ready to return to work tomorrow. The only discomfort is very little pain and swelling in the groin area from the two places they installed the catheter.
If you're having problems with various arrythmias, I'd really recommend you consider an EP and possible ablation to resolve the issues.
Jim
Have a great weekend!
connie