Hi all,
went back to Broadgreen today for an appointment with my doctor, and he,s booked me in for my second Ablation in 3 weeks time...
Said they will do it under General anaesthetic , has anyone had one this way?
Kind regards
Robby.
Ablation No 2.: Hi all, went back to... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Ablation No 2.
Written by
rob1878
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60 Replies
•
BobDVolunteer
All three of mine. Best way in my view.
Bob
Hi Bob,
I didnt know that mate...i had a Cryo one in 2013, and i was awake..although very uncomfortable i was aware of what was happening.Although 5 1/2 hours is a bit much to take. I thought they where always carried out awake.
Just the fear of being asleep when they are fiddling with your heart frightens me a bit if i,m honest.
Or am i just frightened of another Ablation anyway....
Last time i waited about 6 months...but today booked in for 3 weeks time....
SRMGrandmaVolunteer
Oh yes, I was asleep. Can't imagine going through that 9 hours awake! I had the best anesthesia team and didn't even have so much as a sore throat afterward. Good luck!
Hi Thanks for that, yes it sounds the way to go.I
All 4 of mine. Best way to go especially with the TOE before.
I had only one and that was under GA. best way for me and did not have any after effects.
Good luck🍀
No way get knocked out nothing to be proud of suffering
I was sedated for mine and do recall at one point trying to get off the table because of the pain. I was away with fairies on whatever they pumped me full off, but my EP gave me a right telling off, I do remember that much. He did say if I felt pain I was to say something, but prior to it I don't recall anybody on here stating they felt the same, so thought it was me being a wuss 😞 If given a choice for my pending second one I may opt for general. All the best with yours.
Yes I had all my ablations under general cause it was lasting about 5 hours so could get very uncomfortable lying in same position also I have arthiritus so would have been painful
Hi Rob, my first was done whist I was awake. The next two were done under anaesthetic. Even after this, I was still having a rare AF attack and frequent ectopic episodes, most of which were uncomfortable. My new cardiac consultant suggested increasing my daily dosage of Flecainide Acetate from 2 x 50mg to 2 x 100mg and this seems to have done the trick. I have been clear of symptoms since September.
When he explained about this increase in medication, he also said that if this did not work he would recommend a fourth ablation. He also described the two areas in my heart which could need ablating, one of which would be done under anaesthetic, but the other would have to be done with me awake, so I can take instructions and react. I guess your doctor uses the same considerations depending on the nature of the ablation.
I hope you are as well as I am now feeling after your procedure.
Wow, some people have really been through the mill, hope you stay well now.
thank you.
Had both and wouldn't know which to choose for a third if I ever get offered one. When sedated, you're awake but very relaxed and time flies by and it's truly fascinating. With GA you go to sleep and wake up, that's about all I could say about it.
Felt brilliant after both as I seem to like whatever drugs they give you 
.
Have a good one.
Koll
rob1878• in reply to
Haha..." the drugs dont work"... (verve).
Thanks for the reply, yes i hope it goes like that.
Mine was 7 hours under under GA, you sleep .....you wake and yay...it's all over. Best way to do it!!!!
rob1878• in reply to
Sounds about right...
Cant thank everyone enough for these replies...immense strength taken from them...
Bless you all. ..
My ablation was done at Broadgreen under GA. EP said he chose that because he wanted an anaesthetist to look after me whilst he concentrated on the ablation. The first 30 secs on waking were grim, I felt atrocious but quickly felt fine. It takes longer to recover as effects can last for up to 6 months - mainly tiredness.
Take lip salve with you as something makes your lips dry out.
What effects did you experience afterwards...
Thanks for reply.
Tiredness was a problem. Two nurses at our local hospital both agreed that the effects of GA can last 6 months. I had a dreadful cough for several weeks after. I did not have a TOE. I asked why not and was told " you already had a tube down."
The anaesthetist came to see me before the ablation and wanted to know exactly what state my teeth were in, which were crowned etc. I had awful trouble with my lips drying out and the nurse commented that bruised and damaged lips and teeth were not unusual.
I think that you need to accept that recovery after a GA is going to be slower.
Had a cryo ablation under general a year ago. Would definitely like it this way again if needed. All the best
Ask your doctor about the after effects of GA. I had open heart surgery and have had some a difficult time coping with the after effects including a broken relationship. They never warn you beforehand.
I had my first two under sedation each 4+ hours. and the third one for flutter mainly under GA. Have to say I got over the sedation ones much quicker but of course the GA makes it easier for the EP. I recall being told to keep still and having painkillers topped up .
Sandra
rob1878• in reply to
Sounds like the Cryo one i had..tried to get off the bed with severe brain freeze..ha.
Hi ,
Had my second under GA as tried to move around the first time but recovery was miserable only because I was sick though!
Third was done under sedation again so to be honest both have ups and downs!
All four procedures took around 6 to 7 hours but you soon forget about them .
I m sure whatever you go with will be fine, Good luck
Wendi
Thank you. Wendi.
I had my 3rd one 2 weeks ago again under GA, the first one was under local that had to be aborted due to discomfort so wd definitely recommend GA. It does however take longer to recover but worth it. Good luck.
Hi thanks for the reply, when you say longer to recover, what do you mean exactly...
longer for the ablation to heal?
I wonder if the longer "recovery" is dependent on what type of anesthesia is used. I was under for five hours with my first ablation, and other than unusual (for me) headache, had no recovery problems at all. I think the headache may have been partially due to dehydration and position, though it was never explained to me. Only relieved by elevating head, so maybe anesthesia, too? Even that had subsided by the time I left the hospital the next day. Best wishes. I think you'll be glad for GA.
Both recovery and affects are different for different anaesthetics and different sedations. Also different types of both are used for different operations / procedures.
Dehydration is an "issue" for both anaesthetics and sedations.
It would seem so.
Hi Robby,
I had an ablation under general anaesthetic last November at Derriford. I was slightly nervous about the whole thing as my only other experience of being in hospital (other than an overnight stay in casualty) was when I was two years old!
In any event I needn't have worried. The team who carried out the procedure was brilliant: calm, reassuring and incredibly friendly.
I was in theatre for about five hours (I think) but don't recall anything about it. The next thing I remember was waking up in the early evening in the recovery ward feeling a bit woozy and with a slight cough - perfectly normal I believe.
The worst bit of the whole procedure was a disturbed night with monitoring alarms regularly going off in the recovery ward so I got very little sleep. Other than that, I recovered quickly, experienced virtually no pain and was discharged late the next afternoon.
Based on my experience I would advise you not to worry and go ahead; you will be in safe hands! I wish you well and hope the procedure is a success.
I know what you mean about the monitoring alarms. You are supposed to try to remain calm whilst you are suffering from AF but that is difficult when your own monitor keeps sounding Armageddon. I was pleased when they silenced it and placed it out of my line of sight so that I could not see the lights either. Point is, when you suffer from AF, you don't need an alarm or light to tell you,
BobDVolunteer
For what it is worth, my EP prefers his patients under GA as somebody else then looks after them (anaesthetist) and he can get on with his work in peace.
Bob. That is exactly what my EP said Plus I don't want you moving around when I am in your heart. I've also had ablation in both sides under GA
I've had 2 and a surgical ablation, all under GA at Liverpool, who's your EP ?
I think they prefer GA if the operation is likely to take longer since they do not have to keep topping you up. It takes longer to shed the after effects of a GA but, to be fair if like me you get anxious then this is the way to go. They sneak it in without you realising and by the time you do, it's goodnight.
Yes I had the first one with sedative and never ever again. I have had three now and cannot have any more having the dubious accolade of the person who had the most extensive burning ever at my hospital!
Hi!
I have had three ablations and with all of them general. Can't imagine being awake.
I understand that it firstly depends on the EP and then exactly what they are doing as part of the procedure and then the actual patient BUT ONLY IF there is an option (sometimes there is no option).
Personally I had sedation but my only "complaint" was that I was out with teh fairies for too much of it and would have rather been awake to have seen more as to what was being done!!!!!
I was petrified after the pain I went through with my first so had GA second time sooooo much better , they told me they use sedation and amnesia medication when they sedate you so it erases you're memory!!!!! That in itself scares me to death.
Had mine 5 years ago at Broadgreen (Dr Gupta) and wasn't given the option of a general but I'm happy I didn't after reading some of the posts above. I experienced a bit of discomfort but was told I could ask for more sedation at any time. It lasted about 3 hours and I had few after effects apart from some soreness in the chest area for a week or so. As I was in AF during it they did knock me out at the end and shocked me back into sinus. I remember waking with a jolt as if someone had dropped a tray on my chest!!
If (probably when) I have a 2nd I'll opt for a local again if given the choice.
Best of luck with yours.
Thanks Frank...How have you been since?
I've been absolutely fine since. Had a relapse a couple of weeks ago but took 100mg flecanide which sorted it, but realistically I expect to need another ablation at some point. I'm 58 and quite fit. Cycled London to Paris last Sept. with no symptoms whatsoever.
Can't speak highly enough about Dr G and his team at Broadgreen.
I had mine under GA at the beggining of December. I would highly recommend this method. I I did not have any adverse effects at all. The worse part of the whole experience was the noise of the monitoring alarms ! Headphones will be a must, if I need it done again. Wishing you all the best.
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