For Phil re U.K. Ablation

The top man in the U.K. is probably Prof Richard Schilling at London Bridge Hospital.

If you can get referred to him it would certainly be worth considering. If you have to go private it would cost you around £21000.

Sam

Thanks Sam. Did he perform one for you?

I'm just battling with my GP at the moment on referrals.

I had Steve Furniss down in Eastbourne and also the Freemans Hospital in Newcastle with John Bourke, followed by Adam Fitzpatrick in Manchester (where I live) as insurance as well.

I extended my review to the hospital as well as the EP. Steve Furniss is supposed to be a top guy but it concerns me he's moved away from a top rated center at the Freemans Newcastle to Eastbourne which to my knowledge is not so rated.

Have a call with GP tomorrow to see what he can do referral wise as he was pointing to possible restrictions. As I'm aware though the NHS "Choose and Book" system should give you the right to be referred to a named consultant. GPs view though is that all "tertiary centres" i.e. specialism centres should be good, which I think is somewhat naive view and easier so say if it's not your choice.

Will see how it goes!

Phil.

Sorry, Phil no personal experience. His is the name that came up most often when I was researching the subject should I need it in the future.

Phil, a Doctor pal of mine had the PVI done by Sabine Ernst in London in Oct 2011 and he hasn't missed a beat since apparently. He advised me that she has done over 3,000 procedures and has only a 15% repeat rate. I know someone else who had his done by Prof Schilling but it took him three goes at it to fix him. He had been persistent for sometime though whereas the other person was Paroxymal. I think both of those EPs sound very good but if I was a betting man I'd probably go with Sabina knowing how much my GP mate would have investigated them.

I have had three procedures over the course of four years with the last done in March this year. The EP said he must have only stunned the nerve in the 2nd procedure by going too easy on that area of the atrium near the esophagus. He moved it out of the way on the third and gave the spot a good torching and it seems to have worked with me now back off drugs and playing football again. The last two procedures were short and only involved 6 or so burns. I do have ectopics regularly though they now seem to be settling down a little more at month 6.

Incidentally I can't believe that all three of us ie the two people mentioned above and me ended up with AFIB in our late 40's. We are all fit and healthy though not extreme in our sport pursuits, my only thought is we partied hard on weekends and holidays but then so do a lot of people. We are all at this stage doing well it seems and off drugs.

Good luck with your choice of EP and wishing you an excellent outcome.

Mike J



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 09/12/2013 08:38AM by Mikej.

" I do have ectopics though they now seem to be getting a little better at month 6."

That's my experience too. 6 months to heal plus or minus

Yes AFH, would be great if the 6 month mark spells the end of runs of ectopics for us both. If I'm being cynical I can cast my mind back over the past 5 years since this new chapter in my life began and remember periods of lulls in ectopic activity only for them to return a couple of days later. My first PVI lasted for 3 years off drugs without any disabling symptoms but I had daily periods of multiple to the power of three ectopics in all sorts of distracting varieties. If the ectopic episodes stop I would have see that as a strong indicator of getting back to my trouble free pre AFIB days. BUT, ectopics aside any day without fast panicky AF is a joy so here's hoping it continues.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/12/2013 05:55AM by Mikej.

Thanks for the info Mike.

Looking at the collateral on line for her she looks to be at the forefront of ablation thinking and I like the fact she aims to reduce fluoroscopy time too.

Interview

Good news is my GP has said he can refer to a named consultant in the UK. He's still against it though on following grounds: may not get the actual consultant performing the ablation but a team member, follow up post procedure and ease of access if issues.

Out if interest Mike any reason you didn't go to Dr Ernst (assume you didn't)?

Regards

Phil

Phil, I have a very well respected EP Professor here in Australia. Sabine is a little too far away ha ha. If I had to have another ablation though I'd give that some serious thought and extend my annual trip back to Blighty. I hope though there will be no more ablations needed for me and I can just enjoy catching up with family and friends when I am over there. I had a follow up check up with the EP two weeks ago and as I left he said that he had never had to do 4 ablations on one patient yet.

Cheers
Mike

Aha!! Thought you were in UK! Makes sense