Cardiac Ablation

Yes

by Artist - 2016-10-07 00:04:13

Yes,  I had an ablation for atrial fibrillation in May, 2016 at the University of Alabama Hospital.  It took 4 & 1\2 hours.  They did what is called a pulmonary vein isolation.  They inserted various catheters through a vein in my groin, entered the right atrium and then punctured the septal wall  between the right and left atrium so that they had access to four veins that entered the left atrium.  The first part of the procedure involves the use of mapping instruments which detect the areas sending out the errant electrical signals so that they know what areas to ablate.  Next, working an concert with a beating, moving heart, they carefully navigated the burning tool to the proper areas.  As they worked, a computer showed the progress they were making in eliminating the afib.  The last part of the procedure involves the careful exraction of the catheters. I told the physician that I would be very upset if he damaged  the great job my other EP did when he installed my PM leads. They insisted in using a general anesthetic since it is so important not to move at all.  Since they administered a strong anti-coagulent, when I was returned to my room, they took blood samples frequently to see how that medication was working its way out of my system.  Six hours after the procedure, they pulled all 4 catheters out of the vein in my groin and that was really painful.  They couldn't do it while I was still under anesthetic because of the bleeding possibility.  The procedure room was really interesting with all sorts of technicians monitoring numerous computer screens.  I was discharged the next day and they said the procedure was a success.  The only lingering pain that I had was a sore throat from the general anesthetic.  My afib is definately less noticeable, of shorter duration and less intensity.  They say it takes about 3 months for the scar tissue to fully form and the results of the procedure to be accurately evaluated.  I am waiting to see my EP, and hope that he will take me off Sotalol.  I am definately glad that I had the ablation even though the afib is not entirely gone.  

Thanks Artist

by epo1002000 - 2016-10-07 00:48:38

Great info. Thanks for the details. It will probably be a couple extra days for me because I am on blood thinners. It would be great to get off some of these meds. They switched me fom Sotalol to Carvedilol, it improved my afib, but it is still there. Hope this works.

Thanks again for your comments.

Me Too

by Artist - 2016-10-07 13:53:42

I was taking Eliquis (anticoagulent) twice daily and my pre op instructions said to continue taking it.  They tested my blood coagulation factor before the ablation and it was in an ideal range.  I believe it was a 2 and if I remember correctly, that was on a scale of 1 to 4.  Then in addition to that once I was in the OR, they administered an additional anticoagulent.  In spite of that, I was discharged from the hospital at 1 p.m. the next day.  I doubt that they will keep you hospitalized for several days after surgery. There are all sorts of videos of actual ablations on line.  The time for the procedure varies a great deal and can take as litttle as 2 & 1/2 hours and as much as 6 depending on the locations of the cells that seem to need ablation.  I was not at all fearful and found the whole thing very interesting.  I got the impression that the nurses working in that after care area were a cut above.  They were so attentive, kind and helpful. I hope that you get excellent results.  I know you will be relieved to get back home.  Please keep in touch and let us know how you are.

Had 2 PVI ablation

by Wo bist du - 2016-10-11 01:07:07

They seem to work about 2 years then seems the electrical connection grow back in the pulmonary veins.

Thanks gwandolowski

by epo1002000 - 2016-10-11 19:32:19

Thanks for the info...I am scheduled for Nov 7, and the nurse said it would be overnight stay just like you said Artist...I will update when I get back home.

2011 underwent the Cox Maze III Procedure

by DragonsTool - 2016-10-13 20:02:21

This was preformed after 3mnths of different medical and procedural attempts to get my heart into normal thyme. Done at Providence Hospital in Everett Wa.  8 weeks late during a post surgical visit the determined my SA node was at a 99% block and my pacemaker was installed  

In 1987, Dr. James Cox pioneered an open-heart surgical procedure to cure atrial fibrillation. Called the Cox Maze procedure, it involved a complicated set of incisions made in a maze-like pattern on the left and right atria (the upper chambers of the heart) to permanently interrupt the abnormal electrical signals that cause irregular heartbeats. When these incisions healed, the resulting scar tissue blocked the erratic electrical impulses that caused atrial fibrillation, which could no longer be conducted throughout the heart. 

Over time it evolved into the Cox Maze III procedure, which is also called the "cut-and-sew-Maze". A study at Washington University in St. Louis of the results from their Cox Maze III procedures showed greater than a 96% cure rate 10 years after the surgery.1 Freedom from stroke has generally been reported as exceeding 99% for Cox Maze procedures.

Successful Ablation

by epo1002000 - 2016-12-11 14:15:59

Had the procedure done 12/07/2016. It went well without complications. I am 100% vent paced rhythm without ectopy. Only med change was decreased dosage of Digoxin to 0.125. I do feel better.

Artist you were correct on timing of precedure, mine lasted a little over 2 hrs. They used the same room as my pacemaker insertion, so that fimiliarity was a comfort mentally.

Thanks everyone for the input on this.

Successful Ablation

by teeone9 - 2016-12-14 19:58:59

I had a cardiac ablation done over 10 years ago for AFib.  It was an 8 hour procedure and I was in the hospital overnight.  In March of 2015 I had a pacemaker inserted because I had fainted a couple of times.  Pacemaker is working and I have only used it 1.2% since June of 2016.