QuoteCarey I would definitely seek out one of his proteges. In 2008, I referred my cousin to one of Natale's early protégés, Sergio Pinski, at CC Weston, FL. My cousin lives in the area and was given bad advice, in my opinion, by an EP in the area. I insisted he go to Dr. Pinski for a second opinion. My cousin went with Pinksi for a still durable afib/aflutter ablation.by GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotebeneyw Been a few years since I last came to this page. I had my first ablation with Dr. Sergio Pinski in 2007, Cleveland Clinic, Weston, FL touch up in 2008 and in NSR since. I cannot say in words how pleasant life can be with no afib. By this time you should be post ablation. Hope all is well.. Hi Beney, I recall you posting about your Pinski (a Natale protegé) ablation. Glad you areby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Ken, Since you are in Florida, you might see if your HMO would do Sergio Pinski at the Cleveland Clinic in Weston. A number of posters in past years have had great results. Pinski trained under Natale. I referred my cousin to him in 07 and Pinski did a great job for him. Here is a search for Pinski here: < About the HRV logger. The heart rate seems to be each second. This is noby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for the update PhilS that is one more good report regarding Dr Ernst I have heard and recently she has moved to number one with a bullet in my UK ablationist list. I also had a very enjoyable lunch on Sunday here in Sedona with Dr Peter Weiss who is an experienced and smart EP ablationist from Utah's Intermountain Group and his lovely wife Karen who were visiting Sedona for a shortby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Iatrogenia, I've heard good things about Dr Hao, and know he has trained with the best in Dr Natale. But I dont have a running list of all those who by consensus are deemed to have got 'the touch', so to speak. The only one's that I have heard about consistently in that light are, foremost, Dr Natale, who several EPs who have worked with him have told me personally how aby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
I was interested to see what Dr Pinksi said in the Cleveland Heart Q&A that was recently posted Chris M: 2. How many ablations a year should a competent EP perform? Dr. Pinski: There is no strict number. Once an EP is over the learning curve, a huge number of ablations are not required to maintain the skill. If the whole team, including lab staff, anesthesiologists and nurses are stableby afhound99 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I found that Florida is one of the states that keep track of how well hospitals are doing by specialty and re-admissions. So I did a search on irregular heartbeats hospitalizations. Both Cleveland Clinic is slightly higher on volume and Central Florida re-admissions is the lowest in the state, and that's very good. Cleveland Clinic re-admissions is about twice that of Central Florida and in thby researcher - AFIBBERS FORUM
Interesting...I have sleep apnea, bradycardia, mild GERD and use CPAP. Since I am a mouth breather I use PAPER tape, NOT surgical tape with the nasal mask. I have had no luck whatever with using a full face mask. Not being overweight and with a thin face all the masks leak air. The paper tape does not rip off your skin like surgical tape might. I have to admit the CPAP did nothing I am awareby benj - AFIBBERS FORUM
Two ablations with Dr. Pinksi, Cleveland Clinic (Florida) and under general anesthesia both times. Your best friend will be the anesthesiologist and when you get that tap on the shoulder just before the procedure and after the usual 'do you have any questions?'...good night Irene. I never had a cardioversion and always converted spontaneously. When the PAF bouts became more frequentby beneyw - AFIBBERS FORUM
George, I emphatically agree with your suggestion that your cousin get a second opinion from someone of the caliber of Dr Pinksi or Dr Natale. I also agree that a 50% success rate is not the best -- although I am not sure what exactly is meant... I am assuming it mean that this was his success rate in solving the AFL/AF problem when he did a RA ablation for typical AF in cases like your counsby Dick - AFIBBERS FORUM
Marian, I do believe that a pacemaker was needed, in my case. My heart rates were soaring above 250 and dropping to 30 or less; I couldn't have waited 3-4 months with symptoms like that, to see if a 3rd ablation would have been helpful. At the time, Dr. Pinksi said that he would have never put in a pacemaker and meds weren't working, so all I saw ahead was more hospitals, and life as aby BABlocker - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, the NY Times' article had a link to Han's BB and what a great information source that will become to many more afibbers. From my initial diagnosis more than 10 years ago and the information gleaned from Hans's books along with the many contributors to this Board, I know I speak for hundreds, if not thousands like me, who learned so much and as a result took charge of their aby benj - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dr. Pinksi responds to emails and all inquiries fairly fast and is just a great example of what a health CARE professional should exemplify. I first learned his name on this BB and cannot say enough what a great day it was several years back when I discovered this site, purchased Hans's books and got to 'know' such warm and very intelligent people. Marian, I bet you feel relievby benj - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Benj, I made my decision to ablate based on what I went throught every day for several years before ablating. Actually, the worst of Afib started in the mid 80's and was able to control it for several years. Medications came and went, and then in 1998 I had my first pacemaker, my heart rate going to the 30's constantly when not in AFib and going up to 400 when in Afib. I then wenby Bob G Ocala - AFIBBERS FORUM
That's what I appreciated about Dr. Pinksi at Weston Fl Cleveland Clinic. We talked about success percentages, and he explained to me how they worked. University of Florida, Shands in Gainesville, would not do an ablation on me, since I was too complicated a case, and I guess it would hurt their success rates. Dr. Pinski did do my ablation, because he wanted to help me. What percentage wby Bob G Ocala - AFIBBERS FORUM
I contacted Dr. Pinski...and his take on it? "I bet all the tests come back negative." I hope he is correct. The fact is the endo. feels this has nothing to do with the afib. I have had PAF for over 10 years. As for the thyroid issues...first discovered with blood work by my cardio. based on NO symptoms but to make sure ordered the tests. I had a slightly raised or high normalby benj - AFIBBERS FORUM
Well, after a 2.5 hour ride along Alligator Alley in FL I made it to the Cleveland Clinic in Weston. I will dispense with the "we don't have your appointment scheduled" debacle and cut to the chase. Let's say I got to see Dr. Pinksi. He looked at some of my lab results and concluded after an examination I would be a good candidate for the PVI ablation procedure. He was verby benj - AFIBBERS FORUM
Well thank you all for that sage advice. I now have an appt. with Dr. Pinski on March 1. Amazing I can get to see him before a local endo. doc...go figure. I found another endo. and have an appt. Feb. 8 so hopefully that can be addressed prior to seeing Pinski. I will still see the other local afib guy, Cuello in Ft. Myers but I have a lot of questions re: his experience...who knows, now thatby benj - AFIBBERS FORUM