Is 81 year old too old for ablation?

In a single word.....no. But.............it depends on several factors. It's not just your age, although by itself it should be no obstacle. Instead, what else is going on in you? Is your heart structurally sound? No valvular problems? No serious enlargement of the left atrium or the ventricle below it? No uncontrolled hypertension that would make those last two a high probability inside of a couple of years? Do you have other comorbidities that, taken together, make you a poor prospect for such a corrective operation, maybe even due to the need for general anesthetic?

Our organist at church learned he was in AFL at a doctor's visit. He had no idea. He and his wife are very active outdoors kayaking on the open ocean for fun. He was 77 at the time this happened. He needed two emergency ablations because the first didn't work. He's hale and hearty now, five years later, and every bit as active.

BTW, your first ablation was an astounding success. The EP should be on your Christmas mailing list, including a fine and expensive bottle of 20 year old Scotch. 😀 Many index ablations fail by about the 5th year. Getting 11 years, as you have, suggests that your EP knew what he/she was doing and did it perfectly. Alas, for almost all of us, time marches on and so does our cardiac electrical disorder. In time, most of us will need a 're-do' or a touchup to nip new pathways that once again have our hearts tripping over themselves.

One last point: there's no time like the present. You are, as you read this, in the very best condition you'll likely ever be in terms of the potential for success if you elect to undergo a second ablation. So get on this....yesterday.

I had a PFA at UC Health in Aurora Colorado last year at age 85. Meeting with cardio team in a few weeks to see if I may have another PFA in September at age 87. Age is not the single factor in determining if you are a candidate for ablation.

I have an 83 year old friend who had a successful ablation about a year ago. She is doing great. You are just a young 81 so go for it! All the best!

@gloaming - Thank you for your response. It gives me hope and also some questions to ask the EP when I see him on the 20th. I wish the EP that did my ablation 11 years ago was still in our area. He was Peruvian and went back there for awhile and I think he is now in the Miami area. He was my hero for sure. God Bless!!!

@aard - Thank you. That's encouraging to hear. Glad your friend is doing well.

I was 81 when I had an ablation last year after 3 trips to the ER with crazy arrhythmia. Diagnosed with atrial flutter. Tried meds with no effect. Ablation solved the problem, no recurrence after 9 months.

I am 81. I had a PFA about 2 months ago. So far, so good.