PVI ablation for PAF next month

[giitus]

My cardiologist wants to do RF ablation but based on what I have read cryoablation carries less risks during the procedure and post. Can someone share their experience with cryoablation?

Thank you

[tibetan36]

All of my Abatlions have been RF and one AV.

I've read where some folks have suffered coldness in the chest........😊

[rebecca70 in reply to tibetan36]

I had cryablation two years ago with no problems .The hard part was having to lie still for about six hours after.

I spent the night in the hospital and no a fib since. Good luck with yours!

Rebecca

[AnticoagulateNow]

As I understand it Cryo only works for ablating the area around the pulmonary vein, the area where most arrhythmia originates. However if there are rogue signals in other parts of the atrium these can only be resolved with RF.

[Mazza23]

I had cryoblation in sept no problems tok 51/2 hours. Seems to have been successful had a bit of AF but no visits to ED

[beardy_chris]

As I understand it - and I'm not medically trained - RF ablation is a more precise method that allows the practitioner to ablate precise areas. Cryoablation is better for first ablations and allows ablation of a larger area more quickly - in particular, it is used to ablate the areas where the pulmonary veins enter the heart and so cryoablation makes it easier to ablate the whole of the vein. RF ablation may be more appropriate for more established or persistent AF.

So, in summary, they do different jobs and are better for different situations. I would recommend trusting your cardiologist to know what s/he is doing.

[BobD Volunteer]

As I try to explain whenever this comes up, this is not which is best but which is suitable. Cryo ablation can only deal with the four pulmonary veins so if other areas of the heart are producing rogue signals then you would need RF ablation. OK yes cryo is faster and easier for both EP and patient with less exposure to Xray etc but not always suitable.

If you have lone Paroxysmal AF in the early stages then Cryo may well sort it out but if your AF has become more complex then RF would be needed.

[giitus]

Thank you all so much. My AFIB is considered paroxysmal and I am doing it for the further time.

Another thing I would like to ask. The EP asked med to be on Xarelto for 4 weeks before the procedure is this typical. He also asked me to have CT scan of the heart done before for 3 D image to be imported for guidance during the ablation. I told them that if I can do cardiac MRI instead to reduce risk of radiation exposure but he said CT scan done on the latest machines are very safe and that they can only import CT scan into navigation system and MRI would be useless to them. I just want to make sure that it is the normal pre procedure steps and that the centre follows the latest pre procedure practices and not behind the current tech.

And the last thing. I was referred to the EP by my cardiologist and he considers him to be very good. I did some research and through some AFIB recommended EP directory list in my country I came across of a more famous EP who pioneered the procedure in my area. The problem with him is that wait time to have ablation done is up to a year.

My EP is is only mentioned by some patients on a Dr ratings website but gets the same 5 star feedback on ablation and he can do it next month. I am torn. Should I switch my EP and wait or not. My afib episodes became more frequent and my quality of life is diminished. I am on 50 mg of flecanaide but It does not do me any good . It only shortens the duration of each episode. I tried 100 mg twice a day but it makes me feel sick.

Any advice on all of this is greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.