Here is an interesting webcast replay that you may want to check out if you’re interested in having a catheter ablation or surgery for atrial fibrillation.
In this webcast, cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Andy C. Kiser and electrophysiologist Dr. Mark Landers, both of Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst, North Carolina, perform a Convergent Procedure. This procedure, and similar hybrid procedures, combine atrial fibrillation surgery with catheter ablation. This procedure is particularly suited to those with persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation.
See: Replay of Convergent Procedure to Treat Atrial Fibrillation
Why do heart ablations fail -I have had 2-now take flecanide 50mg. BID and atenolol 25mg.BID. My condition was called proximal supraven. tachy. Are the surgeons failing because the procedure is new? They are not knowledgeable? I am 72 had been biking all over Europe -my life has changed -had the procedure 2 years ago. The meds are a concern . My energy is low-should I have been doing post -op excercises? My do I feel like I have a” weight and pressure” on chest. Why don’t Doctors know enough about drugs? Thank you
Christina,
I’m sorry your ablations didn’t work. Everyone is different and afib can be in different parts of the heart. It is not easy to find all the spots from which afib is arising, especially if they don’t flare up during the procedure. That’s why multiple ablations are sometimes necessary.
Since two ablations didn’t do it, you might want to find our more about surgery as an option. Here are some links:
Mini Maze Surgery
Maze Surgery
Have you discussed all this lately with an electrophysiologist?
Mellanie
Mellanie
I have lone afib. I am having a catheter ablation in Oct. I wore a monitor and was in afib 15% of the time. I have been on Tikosyn for about 4 years. I have not had afib episode in several weeks. When I do, it only lasts a few hours. I am 63 and in excellent health. I don’t know if this is a mistake having the procedure when I don’t go out of rhythm very often. I’m afraid that someday the Tikosyn may not work and that may be the time for the procedure? It seems that as you get older the success rate tanks. Do you have any insight? Is life expectancy less when the heart is burned? Is there any statistics? any insight would be greatly appreciated
I was diagnosed with A-Fib in Sept. 1999. A hole was found in my heart in
2003 (ASD). I had open heart surgery to repair this. I still had A-Fib and
continued on Rythmol. In July of 2009 I went by EMS to hospital because
of very fast heart rate. In March of 2010 I went by EMS to hospital because
of very fast heart rate. In May of 2010 I was put on Multaq. In June I went
by EMS to hospital for very fast heart rate. I was taken off Multaq and
placed on Amiodarone. I have been offered the option of trying another
medication, Tikosin, OR to have the catheter ablation. I am leaning to
having the ablation, hoping to be cured of the A-Fib.
I want to know if this is a good idea ?