Has anybody here had a pace and ablate?

[abbababy]

Has anybody here had AV node ablation aka 'pace and ablate' (as opposed to 'cateheter' ablation)? If so and you don't mind telling, did it improve your symptoms of afib and to what extent? Has the pacemaker affected your life? Thank you.

[Hidden]

Hi abbababy

If you put “pace and ablate” in the AFA search box you should come up with several threads on this topic.

I have been reading up on this because I am likely to need another pacemaker at some point, and if I thought P&A was very likely to be successful I might well go for it if I find my permanent AF continues to impact my previously active lifestyle.

I have read here about how some have really benefited, and others whom it has not helped at all.I’ve also read a study which mentioned a 98% success rate.

I have a suspicion that this may be a procedure where the experience and skill of the EP and the competence of the pacemaker tecnichnicians impacts the probability of success. It may pay to do the research and to be prepared to travel out of area. I will certainly do that when the time comes.

[Jennywren2953]

Hi abbababy,

I first got AF 2 years ago which led to heart failure. I have tried most of the drugs mentioned in this forum and have had 5 cardioversions plus pulmonary vein ablation that lasted about 5 weeks.When I was admitted to hospital this time, as heart rate was in 170 bpm I was told that they wouldn’t attempt ablation again as they found I had a lot of scaring on my heart, evidently caused by a virus, which is why I have the AF. I was in hospital for 16 days and they tried various medications to get it down before they cardioverted me again but then my heart went down to 28. I was offered a duel lead pacemaker which I had put in a year ago tomorrow. My cardiologist tried various medications for the following 6 months but none worked, at my pacemaker check, they’re wasnt one day when my heart wasn’t up to 150.

After all this I had the AV node ablation, apart from feeling so drained and having no energy and dragging myself around I was concerned my heart was getting worn out. I know a lot of people don’t want to have it done, but I had no quality of life, it was like I’d aged 20 years, I’m 64

And felt like my life was over. It was the best think I have done, I’m 80% better that I was and apart from apixiban, and spirilactin I don’t have to take any medication. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[abbababy in reply to Jennywren2953]

Thank you very much for sharing, jennywren