What to ask the Electrophysiologist Hi All, I am new to AFIB and I am so overwhelmed by it! I have an appointment this evening with an EP. I have prepared a few questions for him however please share with me the questions you would ask an EP. Thank you for sharing. https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,188492,188492#msg-188492 Sat, 24 Oct 2026 17:53:01 +0000 Phorum 5.2.23 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,188492,188533#msg-188533 Re: What to ask the Electrophysiologist https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,188492,188533#msg-188533
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ggheld
Here is a list of questions to get you started:

I would boldly ask if out of all of his patients, how many hold the record for unsuccessful repeat ablations and what is his record of number of ablations he has perform on a single person since no ep is 100% successful?

I then asked if I held his record but I didn’t get a reply.]]> susan.d AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 08 Dec 2022 18:27:58 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,188492,188532#msg-188532 Re: What to ask the Electrophysiologist https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,188492,188532#msg-188532 www.biosensewebster.com]]]> ggheld AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 08 Dec 2022 13:40:20 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,188492,188518#msg-188518 Re: What to ask the Electrophysiologist https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,188492,188518#msg-188518
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PavanPharter
I first saw all of the paperwork when I was already in the gown. I don't see me as being pessimistic but reflecting the realities of my post ablation life. I'm not the same person and never will be. My heart operates in a narrow range all of the time now that prevents me from resuming my lifestyle prior to the ablation.

I was sent all the paperwork electronically weeks before the ablation. Yes, getting it “in the gown” is not the best timing.]]> Daisy AFIBBERS FORUM Wed, 07 Dec 2022 20:53:38 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,188492,188516#msg-188516 Re: What to ask the Electrophysiologist https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,188492,188516#msg-188516 PavanPharter AFIBBERS FORUM Wed, 07 Dec 2022 20:21:29 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,188492,188511#msg-188511 Re: What to ask the Electrophysiologist https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,188492,188511#msg-188511
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PavanPharter
At the end of the day, it's a coin flip. There's an omerta in many professions where they won't speak ill of each other and patients can easily become victims.

Just don't jump in bed with any EP or MD and see what can be done to avoid a procedure that may negatively and permanently impact your life.

So true!]]> susan.d AFIBBERS FORUM Wed, 07 Dec 2022 19:57:17 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,188492,188507#msg-188507 Re: What to ask the Electrophysiologist https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,188492,188507#msg-188507
Marty, I think the first question you need to ask is how the EP thinks treatment should go. Do they want to start with medical management (ie, drugs), or go straight to ablation. Ablation is considered first line treatment these days. If the answer is ablation, then the very next and most important question you'll ever ask that EP is how many afib ablations they've done in their career, and how many they currently do per month. The answers you want to hear are thousands in total and at least 5 per month.

It would be helpful to know more about you to guide more in depth questions. How old are you? How's your general health? How many episodes are you experiencing and how long do they last? How high does your heart rate get during an episode?]]> Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Wed, 07 Dec 2022 19:46:02 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,188492,188497#msg-188497 Re: What to ask the Electrophysiologist https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,188492,188497#msg-188497
A great many of us can get away with a single ablation and be happy and treated for quite a few years. Some of us, me included, will need a touch-up at least, meaning back onto the slab I go, or more extensive treatment that includes ablating other chambers if it seems warranted. One of our moderators here, Carey, has had numerous ablations. He admits freely, and often, that it turns out the he ought to have done more thinking and research and gone to the gentleman physician who ultimately put his AF to rest. (I think I have that essentially correct.) He didn't know to ask for the EP's surgery history, for example, or even his place of study.

So, again, my message is to ask the person if it's just a simple PVI (pulmonary vein isolation) that he intends, or does he intend to continue to look for other foci and to test you for several long minutes with isoproterenol before he releases you from the surgery?]]> gloaming AFIBBERS FORUM Wed, 07 Dec 2022 15:37:04 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,188492,188493#msg-188493 Re: What to ask the Electrophysiologist https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,188492,188493#msg-188493
Interview EPs, and several of them, with the same due diligence you would a financial adviser or potential mate. The wrong decision and even the 'right' one will affect you the rest of your life.

At the end of the day, it's a coin flip. There's an omerta in many professions where they won't speak ill of each other and patients can easily become victims.

Just don't jump in bed with any EP or MD and see what can be done to avoid a procedure that may negatively and permanently impact your life.

Ask them for copies of all of the contracts, waivers, disclosures you'll be asked to sign when presented with them only 30 minutes before the procedure in advance. You'll likely not get them.

Then realize anything that goes wrong you will likely have no recourse for if/when it does goes wrong.]]> PavanPharter AFIBBERS FORUM Wed, 07 Dec 2022 15:01:06 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,188492,188492#msg-188492 What to ask the Electrophysiologist https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,188492,188492#msg-188492 I am new to AFIB and I am so overwhelmed by it! I have an appointment this evening with an EP.
I have prepared a few questions for him however please share with me the questions you would ask an EP.
Thank you for sharing.]]> MartyM AFIBBERS FORUM Wed, 07 Dec 2022 14:30:10 +0000