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Heart Rhythm (Expert Forum)
ablation and pacemakers
Answered by
Michael J. McWilliams, M.D. - atrial fibrillation, Pacemakers, Defibrillators, Arrhythmias (SVT, VT), PVC/PAC, Ablation
Wilmington Health Associates
Wilmington - NC
Questions in the Heart Rhythm forum are answered by Dr. Michael J. McWilliams. Topics covered include heart rhythm issues, arrhythmia, irregular heartbeat, implanted defibrillators, pacemakers, and tachycardia.
ablation and pacemakers
by Char999, Jun 05, 2008 02:40PM
I recently went in for a ablation due to SVT. My doctor called me the "poster child for this procedure". I chose to be awake for the procedure. It was supposed to last 1-2 hours. After about 3 hours I was getting exhausted. My doc said he found more than one "misfire" in my heart. He then called in another Doc for a consultation during the procedure. He told me he was going to give me heparin because he needed to go into a "different part of my heart". He the put me to sleep! After approximately 4 hours I went to recovery. The doctor came out and told my husband, " things did not go well, I did it... she has complete Heart Block. I was then told I would need a Pacemaker. Apparently, he got too close to my "regular pacemaker" Sinus Node??? and ablated it too.
I am a healthy 42 year old. I'm feeling kinda bitter about this. I took 2 days off work thinking I would have a simple procedure. I spent 10 days at the hospital and came out with a Pacemaker.
Is this a common "outcome"? I don't believe at any time my Doc said I might need a Pacemaker. He also fully admits it was his "mistake".
Please comment.
I am a healthy 42 year old. I'm feeling kinda bitter about this. I took 2 days off work thinking I would have a simple procedure. I spent 10 days at the hospital and came out with a Pacemaker.
Is this a common "outcome"? I don't believe at any time my Doc said I might need a Pacemaker. He also fully admits it was his "mistake".
Please comment.
Doctor's Answer
by Michael J. McWilliams, M.D., Jun 05, 2008 08:29PM
, Jun 05, 2008 08:29PM
I am sorry to hear about that outcome. Being upset is a very common response to situations like that. It is not common to need a pacemaker after an ablation -- the risk is usually quoted to be less than 1% but it can be higher for some forms of ablation. I would need a lot more information to know what happened in the case. There are many different reasons people might need a pacemaker after an ablation and there are times when the risk of pacemaker is much higher than others. I respect that your doctor was honest about what happened during the procedure -- that is probably much less common than you might think
It is probably worth sitting down with your doctor to discuss exactly what happened. As your mind clears a little bit (it is hard to think after a procedure from the mediations, stress, and this case, having to deal with a complication), it might be easier to understand what happened. I have seen cases throughout the years where people have needed pacemakers in cases that you never would have thought from the beginning that they would need a pacemaker. The longer I practice, the more I expect to see. Medicine for doctors and patients can be very humbling.
That is about all I can say without seeing more information about what happened during the case.
I hope you feel better soon.
It is probably worth sitting down with your doctor to discuss exactly what happened. As your mind clears a little bit (it is hard to think after a procedure from the mediations, stress, and this case, having to deal with a complication), it might be easier to understand what happened. I have seen cases throughout the years where people have needed pacemakers in cases that you never would have thought from the beginning that they would need a pacemaker. The longer I practice, the more I expect to see. Medicine for doctors and patients can be very humbling.
That is about all I can say without seeing more information about what happened during the case.
I hope you feel better soon.
