Zero percent success with 1st ablation!

[Eliza2]

Peterfl made a statement stating his EP consultant said first time ablation so have zero percent of success. I find this statement to be irresponsible and unfounded since the the statistics say it is at least 50/50 and could be as high as 60/70. Depending where and whom is doing procedure. Many factors involved. Putting out unfounded and misleading statements to say the least is certainly not helpful and is distressing and disturbing.

[johncb]

Get another EP. If you have Paroxysmal A Fib, your chances are 70%+ with no other heart issues. Even with persistent you have a reasonable chance. Make sure your EP has done at least 500 or more ablations so he is competent.

[jeanjeannie50]

Under what heading is Peterfl's statement, don't think I've seen it.

[BobD Volunteer]

OK So that is two miss-leading statements in two days.,Where do we find these people? I was told 70% nearly ten years ago. Now I think they tend to say 70 to 80% but may need more than one procedure.

[Eliza2 in reply to BobD]

Who is doing the procedure, where it's being done and what the patients specific symptoms are all enter into a success rate quote. Like I said before, this is a personal agenda being carried out with the heading meant to scare. Too bad there is no screening for who writes what. Thanks bob for all your posts. They have been honest and helpful.

[Rellim296]

This harks back to Back in AF after two days.

Peter will doubtless come back to you, Ronnie, but I think he meant that for him specifically there was a 0% chance first time. Many factors involved as you say and I assume that Peter's EP was just warning him not to have any high hopes first time round and more procedures would be essential.

Anyone offered an ablation can assume that there will more than likely be a good or excellent outcome but it will vary. Complete success first time can happen but often doesn't and total disaster can very very rarely occur.

Total disaster can and does also occur during a routine and fairly minor procedure that is usually very ordinary and trouble free and doesn't involve the heart.

[Eliza2 in reply to Rellim296]

I have absolutely no desire or interest in hearing or seeing any post from Peter. I know an agenda when I see one. Stay away.

[Jason1971]

I was quoted a 60 -70% chance of a successful ablation overall. Whether that be one, two or however many procedures. I had my ablation in February and after a couple of months things settled down. Unfortunately I have had two episodes in the past 10 days, so I guess I'll be looking towards a second procedure.

[Hidden]

Well my EP was very confident that my first ablation would be a success. I think he said the 70% figure as well, but added that in my case, because it was so constant , he would know whether he had got it right there and then. And he did . No AF and no drugs for 8 years.

I think using any blanket figure is probably a bit meaningless.

Koll

[NooNoo14]

I saw an EP for the first time yesterday and he told me that ablations rarely work first time!

[dedeottie]

Well,I hope they work better 2nd time!

[Thomps95]

Thanks for raising this! My feeling is one should consider all posts on this forum just an informal discussion and not facts - useful for sharing personal experiences and perspectives, supporting each other, and maybe pointing fellow members in a direction so they can do their own research (or question their cardiologist).

The post from Peterwh is interesting (I did not see it). Though obviously an extreme perspective it does raise the question: what does "percentage success" mean? Does it mean no further heart problems for the rest of your life? If ablation stops your AF but increases risks of other heart problems arising from scar tissue, is that "success"? If a patient gets AF occasionally but doesn't report it, is that success? If the patient gets no further AF but needs to remain for life on anti-arrhythmic or rate control drugs, is that success? Is success "no AF for 6 months"? 1 year? 2 years? What are the long-term (10-15 year) risks of destroying heart tissue? Is success rate defined identically in a standard way for all ablation centres in the world?

Based on posts in this forum, my impression is (a) the procedure itself is not "hard" for the patient, even if the idea is worrying; (b) one can be cautiously optimistic it will improve your condition, if not eliminate it; (c) it may take a while to recover from the ablation, for some at least; (d) one should be mentally prepared for more than one procedure, so just stay optimistic and determined.

[dedeottie]

I believe it is good to have open and Frank discussions on this forum as long as no one gets abusive. I do however understand that when you have just had ablation the last thing you want is to read that it might not be successful! My E.P. told me that if I had one I should mentally sign up for a second as a third didn't work. I am glad he told me this because as it turns out, I need a second and I am glad I was mentally prepared for this. However Ronnie , don't forget that that means 2 thirds ARE successful and there are loads of people who can testify to this. Good luck with your recovery.x

[dedeottie]

I didn't mean to say a third didn't work I meant to say " in case a first didn't work!! Oh dear, I think I've started the decline into senility. It's time I went for the train so signing out you will all be pleased to hear. Have a nice day all.x