SAF meeting

[nigelfarruca]

I attended the Surrey group meeting at Epson Wed 3rd DEC. I would like to say thank you to the organisers and to Dr. Julian Jarman. 2 hours of first class information. Regards Nigel

[meadfoot]

How wonderful to have a medic committed to attending sessions like yours it must be so informative and helpful.

Dee

[beardy_chris]

It was a good presentation, wasn't it?

I didn't take comprehensive notes but the stand-out messages for me were that ablation of paroxymal AF is much easier and likely to be more successful than for persistent AF, that two goes at ablation are usually required (and should be expected) and that it gets even harder to do an ablation for persistent AF over time. I was really impressed with some of the imaging and techniques available. I was also acutely aware that it may look nice and almost straightforward in a photo but, in reality, they are working on a heart that is beating and wriggling around all the time as well!

He expressed personal preferences for "...xabans" over Warfarin, for TOE for cardioversions and for GA during ablations rather than sedation and was clearly motivated by the motto "do no harm" - which is what I like to see in a surgeon! He also suggested that all the centres performing ablations in the UK are good but he wouldn't necessarily say the same about the US.

Dr Jarman didn't dumb down the presentation but explained things really clearly - as you say, Nigel, 2 hours of first class information. It was clearly not just an intellectual exercise for him!

[rosyG in reply to beardy_chris]

Good summary Chris!!

[rosyG]

Glad you liked it Nigel- I agree he was an excellent speaker- we've been lucky so far to have had a series of very good consultants and been pleasantly surprised they've been willing to give their time. I think Dr Bogle has been great at asking speakers to come and someone in my family works at the Brompton so was able to ask Dr Jarman.We're hoping he will send his slides so we can distribute them.

I am giving serious thought to what he said about Apixaban and may well change from Warfarin as need to lose weight for knee problems to avoid second operation and much harder when can't have spinach and other high Vit K greens without having very high Warfarin doseage- which of course is fine if you have the same veg each day but that's not always possible. I felt he was very clear about different types of ablation- really enjoyed getting all the information

[Barb1]

Dr. Jarman was a wonderful speaker not talking down to us and addressing us with respect and honesty. I had so many more things I wished to ask him and I am sure that I am not the only one.

[rosyG in reply to Barb1]

Barbara if you send the most pressing to me by private message I'll see if we can get a reply for you