atrial flutter and ablation

[miamibeacher]

Has anyone here had atrial flutter and then had an ablation, and is happy with the results?  Unhappy with the
results.  I have periodic a-flutter and my doctors are leaning toward having me have an ablation.  Any comments
would be helpful. Thank you.

[miamibeacher]

Thank you - notice you have already been through open heart surgery.  I am 55, in
otherwise very good health.  The "traditional" doctors I am seeing all seem to be in
favor of the ablation, stating 90% success rate.  I do not know if my flutter happens
enough to merit the ablation.  Last time I had one I was overmedicated with the medication used to reduced heart rate and they had
to revive me with an amphetamine, which knocked me back into sinus rhythm.   I have
met someone with a-fib who recently had the ablation done by the same doctor who would do mine, and he is very thankful he did. On the other hand, I read the problems
others have had on this website and it gives me pause.

Also, at Mt. Sinai here in Miami, there is a $30 million alternative study going on to test the effectiveness of removing heavy metals from the body to heal all sorts of different heart ailments, and apparently they are having success, though the traditionalists are trying to de-bunk the study.  The study is spear-headed by the chief cardiologist at Mt. Sinai who is well-respected. I met with his partner, a holistic cardiologist, and am waiting for the results of the test for heavy metals in my system.
It is not FDA approved so insurance does not cover, but the doctor told me that they
have cured 85 out of 88 patients with a-fib, and the 3 that are remaining have had a-fib for 30 years and they are determined to cure them as well.

So, I am going through all the different tests both sets of doctors recommend, and
will eventually let the facts, research and my body make the decision.  

Peace and good health to you.

[Jerry_NJ]

Nothing is 100%, so one has to make a judgment based on the risk/benefit estimates, I believe.

I have permanent AFib and do not plan to have an ablation.  The story is long, so I'll not move this to a post about me, just give you enough to let you know I have no direct experience, but I have considered similar issues.

Simply put, my symptoms although constant, and mild, so the risk seems too high.  I also have a low probability of success as I also have an enlarged left atrium chamber.

The factors I'd consider in your "shoes" are:  age, symptoms, estimated success.  If the estimated success is less than 80%  it would take troubling symptoms to move me to go for the ablation.  A young age, say under 50, points in favor of ablation:  long life time to enjoy benefit if successful and young body to heal faster.