Ablation

[123Abc123]

Until reading everyone's post I had never heard of ablation. My consultant only said something about 'sealing off' something in my heart to stop the AF. I don't have to see the consultant again. Is ablation a general operation done in the U.K.? How bad does your condition need to be to have it?

[Rellim296]

You will find that many forum members have had one or more ablations. It is not in fact an operation (the only incisions are tiny nicks, usually in the femoral vein) but a procedure. It's carried out by an electrophysiologist who is a cardiologist who specialises in treating the heart's electrical system.

Until fairly recently it was thought to be appropriate to try control to AF by medication first but now it is felt that early intervention by ablation could be more effective. This shift may be because AF is more easily treated when not too entrenched and / or because the success rate has proved to be high. Your condition does not have to be burdensome but there are risks, although most complications (not all) have short term impact only.

Ablation is often not entirely successful first time and you may have to travel some distance to a hospital which has the staff and facilities. It usually involves one night in hospital, but not if you have an early start and it gets accomplished quickly and easily. Some waiting lists are quite long.

Hope this is helpful.

[BobD Volunteer]

Ablation procedure (not operation) is a minimally invasive one where a catheter is inserted through a vein into your heart and the rogue electrical signals which causes the AF are stopped by making a small scar which is non conductive. Sometimes this works first time but on other occasions it may need repeating to catch all the little blighters.

I have had three over a number of years but AF free these last nine.

For a more full explanation go to AF Association main website where there is a downloadable booklet all about the various forms of ablation.

[123Abc123 in reply to BobD]

Thanks for both replies, I guess that's what the consultant was on about!

[Buffafly in reply to 123Abc123]

Some consultants are very condescending 😒