Hi, I also am/was a patient with WPW. For my third ablation procedure I was also prepared to go with an epicarial procedure, two different facilities said that the pathway couldn't be reached. I elected to go to the Cleveland Clinic for the third procedure. There, they mapped and found that what I really needed was a trans-septal procedure. The procedure was relatively short(4.5 hrs.)and 100% successful.
This site might prove helpful to you both.
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/heartcenter/pub/guide/success/arrythmiastory.htm
Wishing you the best of luck, Bob
If you are saying that the area of your heart that needs to be burned is not reachable from the inside of your heart, you may want to research epicardial catheter ablation. This is an approach which I believe originated in Brazil. They feed a catheter through your diaphram into the pericardial sac on the outside of your heart and place lesions from the outside rather than inside. Electrophysiology clinics here in the States are starting to use this approach. I have RVOT VT and also cannot get cured through normal catheter ablation. I am hoping to undergo this epicardial approach soon. I don't know much about it, but the mayo clinic offered it as an option for me. They said the procedure is pretty safe. Hope this may help.
If you are saying that the area of your heart that needs to be burned is not reachable from the inside of your heart, you may want to research epicardial catheter ablation. This is an approach which I believe originated in Brazil. They feed a catheter through your diaphram into the pericardial sac on the outside of your heart and place lesions from the outside rather than inside. Electrophysiology clinics here in the States are starting to use this approach. I have RVOT VT and also cannot get cured through normal catheter ablation. I am hoping to undergo this epicardial approach soon. I don't know much about it, but the mayo clinic offered it as an option for me. They said the procedure is pretty safe. Hope this may help.
vetura,
Generally, success at ablation of accessory pathways is quite good. Probably above 90% depending on the experiece of the operator.
The failures can be due to a number of reasons especially those due to location of the pathway or the presence of multiple pathways.
There are ways to get to pathways. Of course these are generally more invasive and carry greater risk.
Im not familiar with your health care system. Here, I would try to seek advice at a larger academic medical center that deals with the more difficult cases.
good luck