Hybrid ablation. Mini-maze six months ago. Now its time for the catheter.

[johnMiosh]

I am part of a clinical trial testing the effectiveness of a minimaze follwed by a catheter ablation compared to repeated catheter ablations. The minimaze was completed in April to great effect, my heart settled down after two weeks and only one short periods of AF in May since then.

After two cancellations; one in August and one two weeks ago (after I had been admitted and blood samples taken) I was finally set for the catheter ablation.

By 7:45 a.m. I was gowned up and wheeled off to the waiting room outside the catheter lab. Thirty minutes later I was walked into the cath lab. It was quite impressive, I was in a highly technical environment, lots of white shiny stuff, 50 inch monitors and banks of electronics making ping noises. Although I was surprised to have to use a supermarket shelf-stacker style hop-up as a ladder to access the operating table.

It took quite a long time to be prepared, but everything was calm and reassuring. I was given the anaesthetic and suddenly it was 12:15 p.m. and I woke to find the catheter sheaths were about to be removed. Everything appeared to have gone well.

I wasn’t looking forward to the next four hours of compulsory lying still. However, I barely noticed it, I was in and out of consciousness and the time was up before I knew it. I was cleaned up and moved to a normal ward bay.

The Electrophysiologist came to see me and was very happy with how it how gone; he had discovered electrical reconnection on two of the pulmonary veins, so ablated these and performed a CTI for Atrial Flutter (which I wasn’t aware that I had) and a box lesion set on the posterior atrial wall.

It was a long procedure, so he wanted me to stay in overnight. I would need an echocardiogram at 8:00 p.m. to check for fluid around the heart; as long this was OK, I would be allowed to go home in the morning.

Three days later I feel wonderful, quite bruised and a little breathless compared to normal, but nothing like I was after the last procedure.

[meadfoot]

Wonderful news John, have been wondering how you were doing. Here's to a af free future. Take care, be well.

[johnMiosh in reply to meadfoot]

Thanks Meadfoot. After the two false starts, I didn't bother to post prior to going in. I do feel confident that i am now as sorted as it is possible to be. I will be at the af group on the 16th.

[rosyG]

great to hear this has gone so well and that you are feeling good! Well done