I recently had a pulsed field ablation which resulted in pericarditis

Please excuse misspelling of pericarditis.

Mine wasn't a PFA but .... I had a Radio Frequency Ablation (2020)...actually that was 2nd of 3 & I ended up with Pericarditis also (EP said he may have burned a little too much). 911 back to the hospital the same night I was released after the ablation (done previous day) where I stayed for 4 or 5 days. Colchicine worked just fine - was on it both in the hospital & for a few days after released home.

Thank you for being so kind to share your experience with cardiac ablation and then going back into hospital so quickly with pericarditis. I have been second guessing myself right and left about choosing the Pulsed Field Ablation thinking perhaps it was too new of a procedure and needed more time to prove its efficacy.

I was stunned by the amount of hard pain it took to breath and had no idea that was a potential side effect. I believe l remember that it was perhaps referred to as trivial fluid around the heart.

I'm curious since you have had 3 ablations are you now free from Afib?
Do you still have to take blood thinners and an anti arrhythmia drug and/or blood pressure medication?

I do wish you well on your rode towards recovery and will forever be grateful to you for helping me so much by sharing how you managed 3 ablations.

3rd Ablation was March 2022...so far so good (3rd time the charm?).

Other thing to think about is the "blanking" period...usually about 3 months where you may think it hasn't worked. You have to remember the ablation is still sort of an "injury" to the heart (but a very planned one) that takes time to heal/recover.

I didn't really have much pain breathing after that 2nd one just some shortness of breath....mostly was bad pain around left shoulder blade (like I was sitting back leaning on a rock), tried to eat dinner-started with salad & that didn't stay down so didn't bother with the rest of dinner...decided to just doze a bit & see if I would feel any better & when I woke up around 11pm & was just as bad that's when I called 911.

From what I've learned/read....Afib isn't really "cured" (at least according to a contact I have on Twitter...he is Director of EP at a major teaching hospital/university - he also has some really good teaching videos on YouTube...actually learned more from his videos than from my own EP). Not sure if I'm allowed to post a link to them.

I did sometimes feel like I might be having a mini-run of Afib...only lasting a minute or so.
but was actually runs of PVCs/PACs. Those are now well under control with Magnesium (check with doctor before just trying that though).

I am still on Eliquis since my ChadsVasc score indicates that I should be on it.
Not really on a medication for my BP since I have/get Orthostatic Hypotension. I am on a Beta Blocker but to control my heart rate.

Hope all goes well for you

I've had 3 ablations which didn't do much for me.
Im about to have my 4th in the new year but the pulsed field ablation.
Not sure of anyone else's age here but I just turned 53, I was diagnosed with AF at 45, very young for this condition.
Unfortunately when your diagnosed your stuck with it for life and it's all about management.
Ablations are not a permanent fix only temporary, most people know this. Because I have had 3 already it's narrowed my arteries alot, this is why I will be having the pulsed field in the new year 2025.
I am aware and have been told that I will get worse as I get older and can lead to other health issues.
I've been on medication twice a day since diagnosed but it doesn't always work for me, I still have alot of AF issues.
I recently did the stress test to show my cardiologist that I can't even walk up a hill or a flight of stairs without being totally puffed out, not a good outcome at the age of 53.

Hello, I'm having my 4th ablation early 2025 which will be pulsed field. My cardiologist can't do anymore cardio ablations due to narrowed arteries from previous 3.
I was diagnosed at 45 and I'm now 53. Once diagnosed your stuck with the condition and it's just about management and medications.
If you have any other news you can tell me from your procedure I'm happy to know

Pericarditis (caused cardiac tamponade and had to have CPR) immediately after radio frequency ablation that has now lasted for 6 months. Have been on prednisone, colchicine, PPI and naproxen for 5 months. Doctor tried to taper first from 30 mg to 20 mg and I had a flare and then they tried 5 mg taper and that didn't work either. So I did 2.5 mg tapers down to 5 and then 1 mg tapers down to 2 mg and then had a flare after they took naproxen out of the mix when I got to 10 mg of prednisone. Now back up to 5 mg for the last 2 weeks. Have been referred to specialist at Northwestern who says Rilonacept may be the next step. But I'm hesitant to do this. Could I just taper more slowly? I was doing 1 mg taper from 5, 4, 3, 2 for 7 days each until I flared. No one has been leading my tapers - I've just had to figure it out. The specialist says I can try 1 mg tapers again but hold for 2-3 weeks and maybe up to 4. I just want to be done with meds and to the other side. Has anyone been cured of pericarditis caused by ablation and doesn't live in fear that it will come back? My QOL is just as bad if not worse than what it was before the ablation. Thank you for any insight.

I notice that this is a dated post per May. Assuming you cleared it first, were you able to send the teaching videos you referenced above? If so, I have interest and noticed that some people have included links over time however I am unsure about the Mayo Connect policies on that.

Hi @joaf37. I am tagging @lucy1002 so they receive notification of your comment.

What is your experience with ablation and pericarditis?

Hi joaf37
Wasn't sure how to put in a link...but if you go to YouTube & search for Dr. Joshua Cooper - Arrhythmia you should be able to find him.
Look for Patient Education section he has 2 posts from about 5 years ago so need to scroll down a bit.
1 is 14:29 minutes long (subtitle is What is it) & other is 13:47 minutes ( subtitle is How do we treat it)long.
I subscribe to his channel.
Hope you are able to find those.