Permanent afib

[Salvatore68]

Does anyone know what are the chances of a Cardioversion being successful With cases of permanent afib?

[CDreamer]

Won’t know until you try.

Permanent means that all attempts to convert have failed so that you and your doctors have agreed it is not possible to convert to NSR. If that is the case then it will not be possible however if you are in Persistent AF it will depend upon a whole lot of variables such as atrial remodelling, length of time in AF, underlying causes or other conditions.

Normally you would be offered Echocardiogram and other screening prior to be offered a cardioversion and of course you would need to have been on anticoagulants for a period of time. Often drug therapy is offered prior and following to the cardioversion to give the best possible chance of success.

Persistent AF = when you have been in constant AF for a period of time but you haven’t given up on returning to the NSR goal.

Part of the reason for offering cardioversion is to test whether or not you can be converted to SNR - even if it only lasts a few seconds it is an indication that it is possible. My husband’s cardioversion lasted 8 seconds - but with drug treatment he converted a few weeks later - has now maintained NRS for more than 10 months. So never give up hope.

[Salvatore68 in reply to CDreamer]

Is your husband still

On the drugs?

[CDreamer in reply to Salvatore68]

Yes - Maintenance dose of Amiodarone - but he was in HF with aortic stenosis. His QOL is now 100% better.

[CDreamer]

Hi Salvatore - didn’t you have a cardioversion a while back? Has anything changed since that time?

[Salvatore68 in reply to CDreamer]

Hello

Yes a couple years ago i had cardioversion- did not last long, only a day or two

You ask me what has changed? Not much

I still have no symptoms

I now have 2 contrasting opinions:

Do ablation or watchman device

[CDreamer in reply to Salvatore68]

Even if you have ablation it is unlikely it would be advisable to come off anticoagulants so if that is your aim Watchman - but that won’t stop your AF.

I had 2 ablations & was only able to stop a/c s for a few months & in that time had a TIA.

Watchman is restricted in the U.K. to those unable to tolerate anticoagulants but is more common in the US.

[Dawsonmackay]

Everybody's heart is different. Cardioversion for me did not work. Ablation worked.

[Salvatore68 in reply to Dawsonmackay]

Before your ablation were you persistent or permanent ?

[Dawsonmackay in reply to Salvatore68]

I was persistent. I was diagnosed twelve years ago as being in persistent AF.

[Salvatore68 in reply to Dawsonmackay]

So u remained persistent for 12 years before your ablation?

[Dawsonmackay]

Yes.

[madametobacco49]

Hi--I have no idea--Ive been in it for a long time and though Ive grown used to it--some days it is very irritating--Im going to talk to Dr when i go in --Im tired of it --Im 71 . Ablation didnt work--Dr got in there and said unable to do it--dont really know why--Just remember though it is uncomfortable at times--dont focus on it--You will not die from it--and actually persistent you get used to--paroxysmal is a toughie--Best-MmeT

[madametobacco49]

what is watchmen? I dont think we have that in US--I take nattokinese for blood thinning--with serrapeptase--good results- MmeT