I was astounded at the stats here regarding avoiding complications with AF ablation - well known that having an EPwho coinducts a high number of procedures is better BUT this study found that 81pc of ablations carried out by low volume operators.....worth a look.
Written by
dmac4646
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Thanks, really interesting article!! Although slightly out of date I don't think much has changed except that equipment has improved since then. I was very struck by the point that in the long term ablation is safer than treatment with medication and ablation for PAF is easier and more likely to be successful than ablation for permanent AF. It answers many questions asked by those considering ablation and I thought was mostly reassuring. The description of complications would also be useful to those wondering/worrying about their post ablation symptoms.
Very interesting - Professor Keane is widely recognised as one of Ireland's top EP's and I can imagine how knowledge and good practice have evolved further in the three years since that lecture.
I wonder if that is why EPs seem so keen on ablations (practice makes perfect) the first ablations were done nearly twenty years ago and still most people seem to need more than one and then it doesn't always work and we don't know what the long term affects there may be. Medications so called dirty drugs that are given seem be the only other options. My mum had AF that lead to heart failure and her death sixteen years ago. and now my sons mum in law has also been diagnoses with AF and heart failure and she is receiving the same treatment (amiodarone) as my mum had. There has been so much progress in other areas of medicine over the last sixteen years and although heart disease is the biggest killer in the UK we seem to lag behind in new treatments more money and research is badly needed
As always,we have to look out for ourselves and try our best to find out as much as possible before undertaking potentially serious procedures. Thank you Dmac for posting this. Very interesting and informative.
It certainly should make you determined to find out exactly how much experience your EP has had before any procedure - that would appear to help to ensure that you do not experience some of the problems discussed in the same article.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.