Ablation Redo: Hello All, I was... - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Ablation Redo

perkman profile image
59 Replies

Hello All,

I was scheduled for my afib ablation redo on Wednesday April 3rd at 11:30 AM. I was excited for the ablation hoping this would do even better than my first one which I was afib free for about 1.5 years.

I was wheeled into the cath lab on time and briefly spoke to my EP. I was then given the sedative to put me under, no anesthesia.

I woke up 4.5 hours later in the Intensive Care Unit with a drain extending out of my pericardium sac. I had suffered a bad Cardiac Tamponade, causing my blood pressure to drop to 70/20 at the end of the ablation procedure

The EP and his team had frantically worked to get the drain in but had trouble since my heart extends a little higher under my breast bone than others. I was told I almost didn't make it.

I watched all night as the drain from the pericardium filled up and the nurses would empty it. I was told I lost 1 litre of blood during this episode. In the morning I coughed up a big chunk of blood and phlegm. I asked the doctors if this was normal and I was told no. A chest xray was immediately ordered.

It seems in their attempt to install the drain in the pericardial sac, they punctured my lung and it had collapsed. They then installed a tube between my ribs into the lung to remove unwanted air so the lung would inflate but it did not work. I was then wheeled down to the CT scanner lab so they could grid the exact spot to put the tube and another was inserted between my ribs and in the lung again. This time it worked. The tubes remained between my ribs in the lung for 4 days. This was extremely painful and I was administered morphine to help manage the pain but it was very bad.

On Saturday they pulled out the drain from the pericardium and I thought I was having a heart attack. The pain was unbelievable. I was told it was because the pericardium and heart were rubbing against each other and it would take some time to adjust back to normal. More morphine but not fun.

Sunday morning both air tubes were removed from my lungs and chest xrays were done periodically throughout the day to insure the lung remained stable. This morning I was given one last xray and found all was clear and I was released from the hospital at noon.

I am at least thankful they finished the ablation and also through all of the 5 days I remained in NSR. If needed I have another ablation but reluctantly so. The odds are low this would happen but it did to me and I did not die. The complications listed for ablation are low but real and Cardiac Tamponade being the largest contributor to death.

Luckily I had an EP team who reacted quickly to save my life. I'll keep you posted on my progress from time to time.

Best Wishes to All

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perkman
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59 Replies

What a terrible experience for you. And you would have another ablation??! I certainly wouldn't 🤤...

Sending all good wishes to you in your recovery. Do let us know how you progress.

Sandra

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to

Thanks Sandra

Alessa69 profile image
Alessa69

Reading through your news, how lucky you were that you had an excellent Cardiac Team who saved you. I know it’s very rare, but a friend of ours wife died as a result of a Cardiac Tamponade2 years ago.......At the time , I was not aware of her death & I was due to have procedure for SVT but kept dragging my heels & delaying. I eventually got my courage up and had planned Ablation in 2018, when they discovered that I had PAF not SVT, after re-starting me 4 times, and now am on Rivaroxaban. Cardiac tamponade is something that is rarely mentioned when you weigh the odds, but sadly, it is a risk that exists. I wish you a speedy ongoing recovery from such a frightening experience

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to Alessa69

Thank You

Kellyjelly profile image
Kellyjelly

I don’t think I breathed when I was reading your post. It sounds like a very frightening and incredibly painful experience. I’m so glad that you are home and can start to recover from it all. It was really good to read at the end that your ablation seems to have worked and your heart behaved well despite the extreme circumstances. I hope it stays that way for a long time to come, you deserve it after all that.

Take really good care 😊

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to Kellyjelly

Thanks Kellyjelly

Kellyjelly profile image
Kellyjelly in reply to perkman

Just wondering how you are getting on after everything that happened? Hope you are recovering well 😊

Kaz747 profile image
Kaz747

Sorry to hear that you’ve been through such a horrid time. As I said to Debbie who posted yesterday about cardiac taponade, we’re often told there’s a 1 in 1000 risk of something going wrong which is good odds as long as you’re not “the one”.

It’s strange how with something so rare we’ve had 2 posts about this topic on the forum in 24 hours.

Take care and rest up.

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to Kaz747

Thank You

F-M-C-MM profile image
F-M-C-MM

Sorry to hear what happened to you, and the pain you suffered during your time in hospital. Most outcomes of ablation are ok, but had I read your post before my procedure might still be on

medication! Wishing you the best and hope this ablation will be a great success.

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to F-M-C-MM

Thank you.

It must have been very frightening. I am glad you came through it all okay. Good wishes for your continued recovery.

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to

Thank you

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

What a horrible experience, so glad you had such a good team and hope you are now on the road to recovery.

Wishing you continued NSR, I think you have earned it. Take some time to process the emotional experience which will be considerable after being in so much pain, I believe that is also part of the healing process.

Very best wishes CD.

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to CDreamer

Thanks CD

A stark reminder that an ablation is not without risk but we are told that although incidents of Cardiac Tamponade are rare, EP’s and their teams are trained and equipped to deal with them effectively as you experienced. It must have been a very scary time for you and it is good that we’re able to tell us about it in such a positive way. Hopefully you will be able to put the experience behind you an focus on making a speedy and successful recovery, best wishes........

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to

Thanks Flapjack

irene75359 profile image
irene75359

I read your account with mounting horror. I am so glad you are through it now, relatively unscathed, physically at least. Now be very kind and easy on yourself. Just sometimes the trauma of what has happened, whilst not apparent at the time, will come back to haunt you (PTSD) so do look out for that. Thank you for posting this account of your experience. I wish you all the very best.

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to irene75359

Thank you

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

What a dreadful experience you had! After reading the first few sentences I thought you were going to say they had to cancel your ablation for some reason, but as I read on I soon realised that wasn't the case. Phew, you have my sympathy!

How are you feeling today, what medication are you taking and do you still have soreness in your chest?

Wishing you well.

Jean

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to jeanjeannie50

Thank you.

I am currently on Eliquis and have flecanaide should I go into afib but using as PIP

mavart profile image
mavart

I thought I had a rough ride after ablation with a Pseudoaneurysm and arteriovenous fistula which required surgery but your experience was incredible. So sorry and hope that everything goes well from now on. Very best wishes

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to mavart

Thanks mavart.

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Yes s--t does happen sometimes and we have both been lucky to survive very rare events but the important thing is we did survive! Lucky for me I was away with the fairies when my strange event occurred but still suffered considerable pain for a very long time afterwards. I hope your experience heals faster and at least it doesn't sound like they broke any ribs. Take it easy now and let yourself heal gently.

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to BobD

Thanks BobD

AIW58 profile image
AIW58

My goodness what an awful thing to happen. Thank you for sharing, the fact that you are feeling well enough to post is positive and that you are in SR. Have they explained how it happened? As someone else mentioned do look after your mental health in case of post trauma blues.

I hope you can have plenty time at home to recuperate. Keep us up to date.

All the very best

Amanda

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to AIW58

The EP team stated it was odd it happened at the end. Usually it happens near beginning they stated. Thank You

AIW58 profile image
AIW58 in reply to perkman

Hmm 'odd' that's one way of describing it!!

I was wondering if they'd gone through a weak area of cardiac muscle since you'd had an ablation before but perhaps they don't know for sure.

take care

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to AIW58

They don't know

Spoiler profile image
Spoiler in reply to perkman

Yes, my cardiac tamponade happened when they were in the beginning, the left atrium PVI and were unable to complete the ablation☹️

VeeT profile image
VeeT

What a frightening experience for you. Like Kellyjelly above I think I stopped breathing when I was reading your post.

I too had a cardiac tamponade during my ablation but mine was fairly straightforward compared to what happened to you. My biggest problem afterwards was lack of confidence to go anywhere or do anything and it wasn't until I'd seen the EP again and he told me everything was fine I felt I could get on with my life.

I hope you have a successful and speedy recovery.

Very best wishes

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to VeeT

Thank you. Best of luck to you as well.

Spoiler profile image
Spoiler in reply to VeeT

Was your ablation finished when it happened?

VeeT profile image
VeeT in reply to Spoiler

The EP said to.me afterwards that he managed to carry out the ablation so I don't know whether he'd finished or carried on.

Shoshov profile image
Shoshov

Oh poor you. What an ordeal. Isn’t science wonderful. Yes you had a terrifying experience but you survived to tell us all about it and it is scary but we’re all in the medical professionals hands and we have to have faith in them. Onwards and upwards perkman. Have a great day and speedy recovery ❤️shiona

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to Shoshov

Thank you

Eirecara profile image
Eirecara

I’m sorry for what you’ve had to endure. Thank you for relaying your experience to us. We need to hear the bad as well as the good. Wishing you an uneventful recovery☘️

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to Eirecara

Thank you

Lesleyray profile image
Lesleyray

So glad you made it, it must have been very frightening for you and wish you a speedy recovery, I’m off to the hospital tomorrow for a heart scan and ecg Friday so fingers crossed. Be better asap and lots of rest x

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to Lesleyray

Thank you. Good Luck.

Eastwick profile image
Eastwick

What a bad time you had. Don’t think I would have another ablation after that. Hope you keep well in the future.

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to Eastwick

Thank you

Jc24 profile image
Jc24

Thanks for sharing your experience and so sorry for the pain you experienced. I am so glad you are on the road to recovery now! 😊

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to Jc24

Thank you

Gowers profile image
Gowers

Wow! You have been through such a difficult time while having ablation - it has been difficult to read your post and cringed when you described the pain experienced. Take it you had more than a little sedation to get through all of that?!

Do let us know how your recovery is going - and thank you for sharing your experience

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to Gowers

Thank you Gowers

perkman profile image
perkman

Thank you. Glad you are doing well.

Cally53 profile image
Cally53

Blimey what an experience, and thank goodness you have lived to tell the tale! My best wishes for a speedy recovery.

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to Cally53

Thank you Cally53

Tracyrdh profile image
Tracyrdh

Take care. Hope you continue to improve and feel better soon. Your body has been through so much. Very scary.

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to Tracyrdh

Thank You

solarjdo69 profile image
solarjdo69

Wow! What a harrowing experience! I send healing thoughts your way and wish for you a speedy recovery.

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to solarjdo69

Thank you

meadfoot profile image
meadfoot

Wow what an experience, so pleased you are in one piece and on the mend.

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to meadfoot

Thank you

Jupiter33 profile image
Jupiter33

Thank goodness you are ok after that experience. It just shows that when they tell you, beforehand, it only happens to 1 in a 1000, somebody has to be that one. If you ever need another ablation the odds are on your side. You surely can't be that unfortunate again.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to Jupiter33

Thank you

Spoiler profile image
Spoiler

I also had cardiac tamponade on my first pvi ablation, they only accomplished the left atrium, I had a drain tube and was in icu, but no other complications. I had a difficult airway so that added to the extreme pain afterward. I had no problems with the second surgery to finish the pvi ablation, although the right atrium is not the difficult area. I am told it is uncommon, but is one of the risk factors. I was at the #1 heart center in the US, Cleveland Clinic, so they were experienced to handle it. I thank God that I pursued going there, we lived 16 hours from there, so we flew for the trip. Please keep us informed of your recovery, bless you it can be tough.

perkman profile image
perkman in reply to Spoiler

Thanks Spoiler. Glad it worked out for you. I am still in NSR.

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