Second Thoughts

I'm currently scheduled for an ablation in mid Nov and I'm having second thoughts on my EP.
He has been performing between 50-100 ablations per year at a major Boston hospital for the last 15 years.
After reading all these blogs, I'm having second thoughts on if his experience is adequate.
Any advice??

Maybe ask for references but i doubt they do that. 50 a year may not be alot today. On 8/6 i know i was Dr Natale s 2nd that day
Dr Holshouser here does 2-3 a day on ablation days. Others will know better but i know that experience sure counts and it depends on your case difficulty. If your parasoxmyl and not persistent not long standing then the standard pvi may be an easier fix for you. Before my first ablation in 2012 i learned here to ask: who puts the catheters in and what is your accident record. Dr Holshouser answered all immediately to my satisfaction A friend here age 77 female was ablated 13 months ago. I begged her to go to Holshouser she just went with an EP assigned to her. Zero afib since. So????
Best to you in your decesion

I tortured myself last year over the same decision that you are facing. I did wind up canceling with my local EP and went to Natale [ based on guidance and stories that I got from this forum]. I had a successful ablation and it wound up being much more extensive then I thought it would be. I had paroxysmal A-fib for about 6 years and I required much more then PVI. I would question your EP thoroughly asking if they are experienced and comfortable in ablating other areas in the heart. And as Poppino mentioned I would ask about their complications record and also their success record. In The end after Gathering all your information you have to go with your gut. Good luck.

I have an abaltion scheduled nov 10 very nervous my dr has only done 250 to 300 he is maybe 38-40 dr john alvin kpaeyeh i like him aeems live a good dr i live Cincinnati ohio. I am 62 what do you think i will ask wbput complications and success rate

I personally would not get an ablation from a Dr with less than a thousand or more ablations under their belt and a very low complication rate and a high success rate. I would look for a high volume center. IMHO.

I have had two ablations at MGH by an EP with a 6-9 months waiting list. He has probably done thousands so far and still I am off to Austin next week to get ablation #3 from Dr. Natale.
It is all about the person preforming the procedure. Experience is key!
If this will be your first ablation you might ask your EP if he/she is partaking in the PFA (Pulsed Field Ablation) trials.
I understand they might replace the RF ablations in the near future.

Best of luck on whatever decision you make.

Tony, My EP is a coinvestigator in a clinical trial using pulsed field ablation.
Maybe I'll ask if I can participate in the trial...

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triplea
Tony, My EP is a coinvestigator in a clinical trial using pulsed field ablation.
Maybe I'll ask if I can participate in the trial...

Pulse uses no heat so I think it’s safer. I heard recovery is quicker. Natale has trials btw.

Made similar decision ended up going out of state to Dr Natale 6/10/20. Dr. Natale had to do some extra ablating that I can safely say my local EP would never have done. That right there was worth the price of admission!!!

I made a decision to travel from Wisconsin to see Dr. Natale. I am waiting for my third ablation to be scheduled. I have a telemed/consult call with him on Wednesday. I will be compiling my list of questions. Please let me know if you have any questions I should be asking him. Thank you!