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← Return to New to group, wanted to share my arrhythmia story.
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New to group, wanted to share my arrhythmia story.
Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (30)Comment receiving replies
I have had paroximal afib for about 5 years. After gojng off amiodorone a few years back I had an ablation. The ablation was not successful snd I went back into afib- this time more persistent. I was prescribed rate control meds as rhythm control meds were not working. This past year I had a second ablation. That one also did not work and I went back into paroximal afib taking cardizam if rate got too high. The episodes have now increased in frequency and duration lasting over a week now. My EP is suggesting an av node ablation so that I can discontinue some of my meds and have my heart rate controlled through a biventricular pace maker.
Has anyone had experience with an node ablation?
Replies to "I have had paroximal afib for about 5 years. After gojng off amiodorone a few years..."
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@makial This is common, so it's not off the wall....if you follow. The pacemaker will help to keep your left ventricle from trying to keep pace with the atrium above it, on the other side of the mitral valve. The upper atrium is beating erratically. The ventricle is picking up the same signal, and has what is called as 'rapid ventricular rate' or 'rapid ventricular response' depending on the team looking after you. However, a pacemaker doesn't always stop the fibrillation. You need to be clear about yes or no from the next meeting with your EP.
The two ablations failed because the EP was being conservative and didn't want to ablate more tissue surfaces inside your left atrium....I think......I hope. If he was not very skilled, that also may account for those very unfortunate failures....and believe me, I feel for you.
You would be wise, I think, and I advise, to seek a highly experienced EP some distance from you who specializes in complex cases of arrhythmia. There are many dozens of excellent EPs in the USA who do this more complex surgery. One is Dr. Andrea Natale at Texas Cardia Arrhythmia Institute in Austin, TX. Another is Dr. Pasquale Santangeli at Cleveland Clinic. Or, Luigi Di Biase, MD, PhD
Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Montefiore Hospital
New York.