Getting an ablation: How do you find the best doctor?

Posted by elwood @elwood, Dec 6, 2019

From Seattle area. Need second ablation & want the best provider. Found Electrophysiologists listed at Mayo, Rochester. Only gives background, education. No patient ratings, comments? How does one select a doctor for first appointment?
If anyone, having had an ablation, can share experience & recommend a doctor, be appreciated.

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elwood | @elwood | Dec 14, 2019

In reply to @thomola "I had an ablation with mapping done 4 weeks ago by Dr Munger. He's absolutely amazing..." + (show)

Do you recall how long your procedure was?

maryrohrer1 | @maryrohrer1 | Dec 14, 2019

In reply to @elwood "Do you recall how long your procedure was?" + (show)

9 am to 1 pm

sheltond | @sheltond | Feb 7, 2020

I had an ablation about 7 months ago because my congenital heart defect and the surgery I had at 18 months came back to haunt me with an episode of VT that didn’t end on its own. I got admitted to UWMC in Seattle and had an ablation, then an ICD implanted. Dr. Robinson is my EP. I was optimistic about everything except after the ablation. I don’t know what the mapping was, but I got a full-on 2 hour long MRI. I was told that I was going to be partially awake during the procedure so they could detect the rogue signal coming from the scar tissue. I ended up getting completely knocked out and was told I was squirming too much. I still have PVCs. I’m still just wondering what I should worry about.

grecarmar | @grecarmar | Feb 10, 2020

I've read a lot of good things about Dr. Andrea Natale at the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute.

Dana, Volunteer Mentor | @danab | Feb 11, 2020

Not very close to where you are at but Dr Bahu in Phoenix did a couple of mine and my other EP dr i had first moved to Kentucky but he is awesome also Dr Gaitonde

greff | @greff | Feb 13, 2020

In reply to @elwood "Congrats on your success ! Did your doc use Catheter & Cryo or both ? Do..." + (show)

I thought I'd offer my thoughts elwood. I have dealt with A-Fib for 25 years. I finally had ablation done in September of 201o. Heart mapping, ct scan to rule out thrombus in arteries/heart. It went well and I have not been in AFIB since. I am one of those people who can feel every heart beat and always knew when my heart was not in sinus rythym. My mothe also had AFIB but could not fell any symptoms, other than generally not feeling well. I've been told that as the AFIB progresses, eventually cardio version won't work (which I was cardio verted several times because the meds wouldn't convert anymore. The electrophysiologist told me that getting the procedure done could completely eliminate my afib. He also said that he would have me sport a heart monitor for three months and if there were more episodes, we would repeat the procedure. Ive also told that evetually the heart wears out due to always wanting to miss fire so if you can get the procedure done, I would recommend it.
All of my doctors at the Northcentral Heart Hospital in South Dakota have profiles, videos, their education, experience listed on their hospitals website. My thought about cardiologists that don't; ask them directly about their education, training, experience, etc. If they aren't willing to be upfront with you, go somewhere else.