hi all
I had my 1st Cryoblation on March 3rd at St Barts
I’ve been in AF 60% of the time and they are already giving my 2nd RF ablation on August 19th
it’s great news I guess as I’m not waiting the times that others have to wait .
just seems a short distance between
Mark Earley is doing the procedure and I believe he’s one of the top dogs in Europe isn’t he ?
Thanks for all your comments
matt
As you know, I’m not medically trained but its likely the inflatable balloon used to treat the tissue around the pulmonary veins may have failed because the surface of the vein(s) was irregular. This is what happened to me. After my ablation the notes indicated that parts of one of my pulmonary veins had not been fully treated. I believe it’s also possible that rogue impulses were apparent which again can only be treated by an RF ablation. If additional work is needed, the sooner it’s done the better otherwise the heart can remodel, in my case I remained on a maintenance dose of Flecainide for almost a year and PiP the following year to keep AF at bay.
I’m sure that they would not proceed with a second ablation unless they we confident it was necessary…..
I think that applies more to an RF ablation as that tends to be more targeted. A Cryo wouldn’t have worked on me because one of my pulmonary veins is atypical so if I’d had one they’d have probably realised straight away that it would need an RF as well.
My EP was part of the St Bart’s team and after my first ablation, AF returned with a vengeance within a few weeks so I was offered a second within 12 weeks.
There was I believe a trial a few years back on the efficacy of treating with 2 ablation within 12 weeks of 1st, if AF was significant. Unfortunately I have no idea of what the results were but all I can say my second worked for me but AF giving me 3 years of AF free bliss.
I was also unsuitable for a Cryoablaiton because, like Buffafly, of co-joined Pulmonary Veins, which is not that rare. My understanding is that RF ablation is often used as a follow up to Cryo to reach the parts the Cryo may have missed.
Good luck and I hope that it works for you.
60% of the time says it all! Probably need RF to tidy up after Cryo. Reading thru past posts it seems normal for this to happen. Good luck🤞
After my first ablation (pulmonary vein isolation) for AF, I had second ablation 7 months later for atrial flutter. So not all ablations are exactly the same procedure.
I have read that, in general, doctors consider 3 months as the period for healing and maturing of the ablation scars. The US Facebook site likes to say much longer, I see.
I did read a major study but have lost the link, which showed that many people experienced arrhythmias even up to a year or more, but at 2 years were generally free of them.
Steve
I believe it's quite common after a Cryro ablation to need a 'tidy up' with RF ablation. So I wouldn't worry that the first procedure had failed as such. Ablation isn't always a one stop shop anyway.
I do wonder why they do cryo ablation when they have to do an rf one to tidy up
Hi Ethel103
I’m with you , not sure I have heard of anyone yet where the cryo alone worked 1st time
Hello! One cryoablation no AF since 28th January 2018!!!
As has often been pointed out, the majority of the people who have succesful ablation move on and don't say active on the site.
I am the one who still joins in! Not sure even why myself! 🤔🤣.
Anyone else fixed but still online?
I don't know but I suspect that a large number of the cryos are succesful first time and stop AF for years, or else I can't see why they would be done at all!
Anyone medical with a more detailed knowledge of the success rates on line?
So far so good,7 weeks on and in NSR 100%, so hoping it carries on.
7 years with no AF after cryoablation. Peter
You are now my minimum target!
So long may your NSR last!
Unfortunately, it didn’t. I had a three hour episode in March which spoilt my record but happily nothing since.
Restart the count! TBH, people who don't have AFIB could have a random 3 hour episode and not even notice unless they were very symptomatic. I didn't notice when I was diagnosed and I had 165BPM resting . I only noticed when I put on my Garmin running watch and it told me my heart rate!
Cryoablation worked first time for me and kept me AF free for size years This recent heatwave has unfortunately triggered a whole range of arrhythmias include occasional paroxysmal AF
Are you settled now the very high temperatures have gone??
Thanks for asking . Not really - only a couple of short episodes of AF but it’s left me with virtually Persistent PVCs and supraventricular ectopy . Weirdly all at lowish heart rate . Waiting for a 72 jr ECH and an appointment with cardiologist - not likely before October because of coif backlog !
I believe that medics see it as a low risk, quick procedure which is nearly always carried out with sedation rather than under a general anaesthetic. I think success rates are actually pretty good, it needs to be remembered that we only hear about the ones that falter, thousands are carried out every year in the UK alone so the ones which require a follow up are probably quite low. Those that do need an RF follow up are normally much quicker to treat and again the risks are lower because of the work done by the cryoablation.
I agree with you what is your heart rate when you’re in Afib?
It is possible that they are doing different areas, PV isolation by cryoablation is often the first procedure and is lower risk given no risk of bleeding etc. stage 1 in our hospital is a pretty standard cryoablation procedure and they don’t use any of the coloured electrical tracking that allows them to identify other areas that they need to target. Stage 2 is the specific targeting guided by the coloured imaging which is often different to the PVs and due to cryoablation being a balloon these areas are normally ablated with the RF pen.
I had a Rf ablation with a heliostar balloon at St Barts in December. For afVery quick and has so far worked.
Terribly disappointed 
Atrial flutter/ ectopics
Query about Travel Insurance
Waiting time for ablation 
Relieving symptoms when in AF?
