Does Dr Natale always require a TEE

I contacted Bordeaux about a follow up Ablation and mentioned responses I had to an earlier post that a TEE would not be needed if I was on an anti-coagulant for 2 - 3 months. Bordeaux response was that if no TEE then a cat scan would be needed.

No tee from Dr. N. on initial procedure. But definitely be rock solid on taking your NOACs on schedule and without fail. I take mine on the 7s every day.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/07/2020 11:18AM by NotLyingAboutMyAfib.

Since you've had a prior ablation, their reasoning is probably to rule out pulmonary vein stenosis from the first ablation. There isn't a hard and fast rule on this. It depends on the patient and their history.

Thanks for the replies. Turns out it doesn't matter: at least for the present. What I would need, not unreasonably, is a Covid 19 test shortly before the op. Since I can't get that in this country at present I'm stuck.

So it's carry on with the Flecainide which is keeping me in NSR but also makes me feel constantly unwell.

You can certainly get a COVID test in Austin, and I'm unaware of travel restrictions to the US currently, so I don't understand why you feel it can't be done.

for my situation, (everyone is different) a scheduled TEE six months post my LAA isolated ablation is recommended.

I had to do an echo before my Natale ablation but no TEE (thank god.) I think Natale does TEE or something similar *during* his ablations though.

Properly done, a TEE is a two-hour event involving no discomfort whatsoever.

Currently TEE will be done just before ablation under general anaesthesia. In 2007 when I had my last ablation in Bordeaux TEE was requested to be done one week before planned ablation. My last experience with TEE was just awful. Doctor was not we to insert probe and I had problems with gagging, despite being given sedative injection it was horrible experience. Due to Covid I cannot travel to Bordaux again and it will be done in the country I live. Currently in Australia there are ZERO community acquired Covid infections..