Flecainide didn't fail after 8 months...

[adriatico]

Just came back from cardioversion. They also performed TEE and found that I am not in Afib and that the Flec is working. The found that it was Atrial Flutter that is causing the problem for the last 5 days. As Bob rightfully commented there is no place for crayo ablation in case of Atrium problem. My EP wants to ablate both areas and that is possible by RF ablation only. He believes that Atrial flutter was caused by mildly leaky valve (whatever that is) diagnosed by TEE today. I am a bit confused as I don't quite understand "leaky valve" thing and can it be resolved by ablation. I was still a bit dizzy after cardioversion to ask EP right questions.

Hopefully Bob and others with similar experience can probably shed more light on this. Thank you all.

[Beta44]

In the years before successful ablation I was on an increasing dose of Flecainide. One of the reasons that it was failing to control my episodes is that it was causing the AF to convert to flutter. On one occasion I was admitted to Addenbrookes in Cambridge where they diagnosed flutter and wanted to RF ablate for that. In the event I had cryoablation in London for AF which cured that and as I now off Flecainide I have never suffered from flutter again.

Worth asking questions.

Peter

[souljacs4 in reply to Beta44]

Can I ask who did your cryoablation in London

[Beta44 in reply to souljacs4]

Prof. Richard Schilling

[BobD Volunteer]

Between each atrium and ventricle is a valve so that when the atrium pushes blood down into the ventricle is should not be able to flow back again. If one of the valves is leaking it can over pressure the atrium which stretches it and may allow some rogue impulses to flow about. This is not something that can be treated by ablation.