Ablation gone wrong?

[twominutewarning]

Wondering why people would do a second, third, fourth, ect ablation when it didn't work. Ablation isn't cheap. My first one didn't work at all and left me worse than before the ablation. I can't even stand without going into afib. Surgeon made me wear monitor for 24 hrs. But i don't think i want to go that route again. I was awake the entire time with no pain meds during or afterward. I was sick for days and now if i move my heart speeds up and i'm back in v-tach.

[robboian]

Sounds terrible, and I hope things improve for you. This is certainly not a common experience. Maybe you should seek a second opinion from another EP cardiologist if you aren't happy? Good luck.

[pottypete1]

I have had 7 ablations. 5 of which were for AF.

Repeated ablations are adding to previous work by the EP. It is rarely a case of the ablations failing as such. With modern mapping techniques your EP can identify gaps in previous ablation lines.

I developed Atrial Tachycardia after the 6th ablation and then had an ablation to address the Tachycardia which was successful.

I have been AF free now for 8 weeks.

Regarding the trauma or otherwise of having the ablation with sedation ask if you can be offered the procedure under a General Anaesthetic.

I would not dismiss the suggestion of repeated ablations if I were you.

Pete

[CDreamer]

Exactly the same thing happened to me and I was admitted to hospital - but I did go that route again and second time around it did work and I was AF free.

PoottyPete has answered your question very well and for me personally the procedure itself was hardly a trauma, I have had worse experiences at the dentist.

It also sounds like that either there was no anaesthetist present, which sometimes happens, or that they didn’t do their job properly because I dozed in and out of sleep and had no pain whatsoever.

What made you sick do you think?

I think your title is a little misleading as sounds like it didn’t go wrong but it didn’t work.

[twominutewarning in reply to CDreamer]

I think you misread the title it says "ablation gone wrong?" A ?. Just asking if everyone else thought it was wrong or right

[RobertELee]

You need to look at an individual procedure as a part of 'ablation therapy' and, like 'chemo' therapy for cancer, the number of procedures we need is a variable. For many lucky folk, like me, one procedure seems to have been enough but if AF does return, perhaps because the mapping missed an area last time, then its simply time for the next one. It is certainly not a time to give up.

Freedom from AF is the goal isn't it? Hopefully for the rest of our lives. And for now and the foreseeable future, ablation therapy is the only road to freedom available - and it's a lot less bumpy than chemo!

[jedimasterlincoln in reply to RobertELee]

That is an excellent way of putting it, thank you Robert!

[Barb1]

My EP explained to me that ablation is a journey and you don't know how long it is before you get there. I have had 4 and would have more even with complications because it so improves quality of life after recovery period. But I would always have a GA.

[jedimasterlincoln]

I've just had number 3. It sounds like your experience of one wasn't particularly pleasant and would have put me off 2 and 3 for sure. However, a short term discomfort and recovery (in the grand scheme of things) is worth the risk to be symptom free or reduced AF episodes in my personal experience.

[Ktomoph_]

Ablation is a good way to help treat what we are suffering. It took me a little while to digest what it entailed.

I was offered and accepted the Hybrid Ablation. As an absolute squeamish phobic of anything related to medical procedures, I repeatedly asked what it involved.

The Hybrid involves 2 procedures performed approx 3 months apart, the first by the cardiologist who works on the hearts exterior and the second by an EP cardiologist who works on the inside of the heart.

It was described to me as - creating scars in lines to cover the area where the heart is misfiring. To begin with, these are open 'burns' which will have the overall appearance of one mass when performed. Once they heal, within that 3 month period, they will be able to see the gaps that may have been missed.

This helped me enormously and also helped me comprehend why I had read many posts on here about having to have a second, third and so on.

And just to say, I didn't notice the difference until after the second part of the procedure was carried out.

[FyldeWhite]

I am one of the unlucky few on here who have had serious complications after an ablation. However I continued my journey and had a 4th Ablation in January this year. So far I would consider this to be successful and I am able to live life to the full with my young family again and that was what I was aiming for. Don’t let the bad experience put you off but learn from it and insist on changes next time

[Buffafly]

I think I would be looking for a different and better EP if I were you. I am a bit confused because you mention Afib first and later V-tach?

[twominutewarning in reply to Buffafly]

I started out in a-fib and did a stress test and went into v-tach and straight to the hospital from doctors office were they said i needed a ablation and was lucky i didn't die. I am lucky to have the kind that doesn't kill you where you stand like it did my mother. Now when i stand and move around very little i feel like i am back in v-tach or a-fib

[Buffafly in reply to twominutewarning]

Scary....

[lms0006]

Have had 3 ablations...in flutter...EP says no more ablatiions only a 3p percent chanve it would work. So will be living in flutter...not happy

[twominutewarning in reply to lms0006]

Understand your frustration. A good friend said one day at a time and one problem a a time work on the worst first and find what works the best to deal with it. I am sorry and hope you will have many better days

[silviageci in reply to lms0006]

I had four ablations, two for afib and they cured it but left me with aflutter, EP told me the scars they made produce it. My first EP at one point told me that in some time I was going to be on permanent aflutter, and will stop all meds except Xarelto, I did not like it and went to another Medical Center, there I had my fourth ablation, they thougth that it was over, but not, I still have episodes, but now they stop spontaneously, I am waiting to have the fifth one, since they did not entered the left atrium thinking it was not necessary, but we know now that it was, I have to be off meds for a while so that they can induce any other point that its triggering the episodes, but I must say, the so far, it has been a big improvement, I am no needing cardioversions now.

[afibsucs in reply to lms0006]

Constant flutter? Wouldn't they just destroy the node and put in a pacemaker so your heart beats normally?

[RichMert]

I will take a deep breath with this one.

I was in the same situation following my first ablation. I was told before my ablation that there was a good chance I would need more than one and that is considered 'normal'. I had my second ablation 3 1/2 years ago...... so why wouldn't you have a second?????????

[twominutewarning in reply to RichMert]

I don't think that ablation with pots now would work very well for pots. I am upset that it didn't work out the first time as the doctor lead me to believe and couldn't even consider why i would try one or more time more. I know that coming out worse than before the first ablation made me never want to do it again and now feel stuck because i did it the first time and now have something else because of it. I regret ever doing it the first time. But that's me. Glad it worked for you and wishing you years of good health.

[RichMert in reply to twominutewarning]

I think you need to approach this from a different angle. As mentioned, I was great for a month following my first ablation but then like you I ended up worse than I was before the first. I ended up with regular SVT along with persistent AF. I realised that I could not live my life sitting in front of the TV or travelling to hospital. I was pre warned that you may need a few ablations and believe it or not, it is easier for them to resolve the problem when the problem becomes persistent. They are able to see and target the rogue areas easier if it is playing up whilst they are working on you.

It will come down to confidence in the surgeon and in yourself. Let me tell you that there is not one person here that went in for their second ablation more confident than they did for their first. You have a sense of feeling lucky that you was not one of the 1% and fear the risk that a second ablation puts you at higher risk of being a member of the 1% club.

Lets be realistic, it is a 1% risk. You have a 99% chance of coming out better or remaining the same.

I feel for you and trust me I fully understand your concerns. You have to consider quality of life and long term risks if you do not have the ablation. I was 49 when I had mine.

Best wishes.

[pip_pip]

Feeling disillusioned. ? Don't be. I had same as Richmert and 3 1/2 years after my third ablation , I have not looked back. Life saver. In my case I opted for General Anaesthetic all three times, and never went thru 5 hours of watching the screen etc... which is what I suggest to most people facing ablation.

One needs to be more optimistic

Phil

[RichMert in reply to pip_pip]

I came to a few times during my first ablation (sedation only). It was not what I could see on the screen it was the really hot burning gas sensation that I could feel in my throat. For anybody reading this, do not be alarmed, as soon as I groaned, a guy said hit him and that was it, I was out instantly. They laughed afterwards over just how many times they sedated me. I had a general for the second. Well done Phil.

[Barry24]

I had three, and if l could turn the clock back l would do it in a heartbeat. Nothing but problems since.

[twominutewarning in reply to Barry24]

So sorry to hear tis. Wish there was a better way for us. I also wish doctors could explain things all the way before doing the procedures. Wishing you good days ahead.

[Barry24 in reply to twominutewarning]

Thanks twominutewarning, l am one of the unlucky ones, it seems to work for most people, having said that some need 2, 3, 4 ablations to correct the heart rhythm. As BobD says it is not a cure.

Best Wishes

[Emsysy]

I’ve had 2 unsuccessful and been advised that anymore would be a waste of time and cause unnecessary risk. Cardioversion also failed. Possibly I’m just a hopeless case as many others have done well. However, just how 5 + ablations can be considered a success I fail to understand. Seems they have a limited ‘shelf life’. My permanent AF troubles me little so maybe the ablations worked to some degree. Is this possible ?

[Joberton]

My EP explained to me he would do PVI initially and see how i respond to that as if they do too much burning it can cause complications later in life. It seems like they are creating more work but its by far the safer option! His justification was that this type of treatment is relatively new and they wont have long term forecasts. Lets hope they continue to research and improve their techniques for the procedure. I wont hesitate to get mine done again if/when required.

[twominutewarning in reply to Joberton]

Prayers for you when you do have it done. Good luck

[checkmypulse]

My EP also 'did' a PVI first time and AF returned after 3 weeks worse than before, mapping indicated where the touch up was required and so far the second is holding AF at bay. I also wouldn't hesitate if I do need further procedures.

[twominutewarning in reply to checkmypulse]

So glad to hear that someone came out on the positive side. Good luck to you

[twominutewarning]

You all have had so many different experiences with your ablations. I think i needed a better explanation of what to expect before i did mine. I never thought i would be worse coming out the other side. I now am being told i have PoTs. Me thinking how can this be? I thought everything was going to be fine never being told that something like this could happen and no cure for it and no explanation of how it happened. Oh i can learn to deal with it and try to make symptoms easier but Damn it I am furious to know that i went in for a so called simple procedure of svt and now something worse to deal with. Don't know what to do now. I am happy for your thoughts and prayers and wish everyone here the best with what they are going through. I knew right after the procedure that something wasn't right and told the surgeon and he blew it off as symptoms of the ablation.