SEVEN ablations! This is nuts

HI all - thankfully this is not about me. I had two ablations with Dr. Natale and have been in NSR for over 10 years! This is about a good friend of mine, Debbie. I would like to advise her, but want to be sure I have my facts straight.

Debbie has had Afib on and off for quite a few years, and she also has cardiomyopathy. She just had her 7th ablation one week ago, and is still in Afib. This is number 7!!! I had tried to convince her that she needs to see Dr. Natale about 2 ablations ago, but I think whatever EP she has in the hospital she goes to, has convinced her that they are able to fix her up. Obviously this is not the case.

After still being in Afib now for 1 week after her 7th ablation, her EP told her "this should calm down in 90 days". Is that ever something to expect?? I am in disbelief, but wondering if it could still be considered a successful ablation if she's still in Afib after a week - and might still be for 3 months. Seem wrong to me, but am checking with you all to get your feedback.

By the way, the doctor told her that her other ablations were done on the lower part of her heart, and she had Afib again on the top part of her heart.....can we get one area ablated and then get Afib somewhere else in the heart?

Geezzz...I feel so badly for her. ~ Barb

I don't have a crystal ball but I predict her afib will not calm down in 90 days. Or ever, maybe. So why hasn't the EP put her on some type of antiarrhythmic in the meantime to stop the afib while she waits for the 90-day miracle? Does she at least have rate control and stroke prevention?

Have her read this post and tell her to quit letting this EP do things to her.

It definitely sounds nuts -- at least, to me (new to this forum, but not to the AF world. Hi, Carey!!).

But the fact that your friend "has cardiomyopathy" is likely pretty significant. Broadly, there are three subtypes of cardiomyopathy, and the AF incidence and ablation success rates vary between each of them:

• Dilated
• Hypertrophic
• Restrictive (included in a general article about AF and CA in patients with the various subtypes of cardiomyopathy

Generally, cardiomyopathies make AF and its recurrence post-ablation more likely, too. It doesn't help ;-)

At some point, though, it's difficult to imagine that the incremental scarring (ie, fibrosis) associated with so many ablations isn't trying to make things worse all on its own. It's probably the kind of unique situation that may be better suited for pulsed field ablation (PFA) or even one of the more invasive (eg, five box/mini-Maze) procedures.

She may benefit from seeing a cardiologist who specializes in the particular kind of cardiomyopathy that she has.

But without knowing all the particulars of the case, ....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/2024 06:42PM by NBeener.

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NBeener
(new to this forum, but not to the AF world. Hi, Carey!!).

Hi NBeener!

Hey, Daisy!!

I'm slow, but I got here :-)

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NBeener
Hi, Carey!!

Well, whaddaya know. Welcome aboard!

Did Debbie ever get better?