Terms

[engvey00]

Sotra new at this and still learning terms. What is an ablation and wht does it do?

[CDreamer]

It’s a procedure done in a cath lab which involves feeding catheters through a vein in your groin into your heart and then using a very fine wire heating or freezing (cryo) the wire to a precise temperature until it destroys tissue the wire touches causing scarring to the inside wall of the atria (for AF). The scar tissue prevents the rogue electrical signals which cause AF to continue.

The success of ablation depends upon various factors - age and fitness of person, skill of the EP (Electrophysiologist) performing the procedure and the technology, especially the ‘mapping’ which shows a 3D image of the heart and the progress of the catheter - essential in order to perform the procedure accurately.

It usually involves an overnight stay and recovery varies from a week or so to 6-9months.

It can help many, but AF may and often does return so not a cure by any means - even though there is certainly one person who keeps posting on this forum who insists it is.

I have had 2 ablations - both done under sedation in 2013, 2014 and AF returned in 2017. As one EP remarked at AFA Patient Day - we burn but patients heal. If the scars heal the AF may return.

You can look up the procedure on AFA website and you will see videos of the procedure on YouTube.

It all sounds a lot worse that the experience and the majority of people find the procedure itself not traumatic - I actually found it fascinating but I may be a little weird!

[engvey00 in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks for the info. So far I have progressed to cardioversion which was successful.

[CDreamer in reply to engvey00]

That implies that you may be a good candidate for ablation.

[engvey00 in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks.

[baba]

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

[Hidden]

CDreamer and baba have offered some good advice, everything else written so far is best ignored as it is inaccurate and mis-leading. As far as terms used, I suggest you take a look at the "Pinned Posts" to the right if this page and click on Abbreviations and Acronyms.

[engvey00 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. I will do that.

[engvey00]

Thanks, I hope I don't need it but it is good to know it is there.

[doodle68]

'Blake Rodger ' Please can you post a link to trials confirming this information which I believe to be inaccurate and misleading ...

Thank you

[doodle68]

Hello engvey I am posting a link to our main site where ablation is discussed...

heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

[Hidden in reply to doodle68]

Sadly doodle, nothing will be gained by trying to reason with BR (this is today’s name). Better informed people than either you or me have tried to make him aware that he is not medically trained and therefore contravening the rules of this forum by giving direct medical advice on treatment for AF which is why he has been banned many times. Each time he rejoins, he uses the same kind of name and says, almost word for word, the same things for which he has been previously banned. God knows what his motives are, but one thing is for sure, he has no interest in helping folk with AF, he just wants to be noticed. He knows the site is not moderated over the weekend which is probably why he is so vocal, but trust me, everything he had said which could be potentially dangerous to Newbies or less well informed members has been reported.

As has been said many times, if we don’t add oxygen, the fire will eventually go out and I am also aware that some might think my reply hasn’t helped. Hopefully engvey00 will see through the charade, but will come away with the information he/she needs to move forward.

Long and short of it, he is best ignored, no doubt another new name will pop up tomorrow or the next day, just check the date joined and if it all sounds the same, ignore.

[JohnEagel in reply to Hidden]

Hi FJ,

I got a different theory, weird, but whats normal nowadays

BR is not a person, it is an AI based program that is being tested to research the ways how Artificial Intelligence can be applied in social media and chat groups

It may function on algorithm that reacts to opposing statements, identified through key-word selective programing

Is that too much SF or are we on to something

Wish you all a NSR week ahead and

Cheers from Bangkok.

J

[Hidden in reply to JohnEagel]

Joined 26 December 2018.....but who knows!

[engvey00 in reply to doodle68]

Thanks.

[doodle68]

Please post a link to where the details you have stated are mentioned on the Mayo Clinic site . Thank you,

[doodle68]

This is what the Mayo Clinic say about ablation......

Cardiac ablation is a procedure that's used to correct heart rhythm problems.

When your heart beats, the electrical impulses that cause it to contract must follow a precise pathway through your heart. Any interruption in these impulses can cause an abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia), which can sometimes be treated with cardiac ablation.

Ablation isn't usually your first treatment option. Ablation is a treatment option for people who:

Have tried medications to treat an arrhythmia without success

Have had serious side effects from medications to treat arrhythmias

Have certain types of arrhythmias that respond well to ablation, such as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and supraventricular tachycardia

Have a high risk of complications from their arrhythmias, such as sudden cardiac arrest

Risks

Cardiac ablation carries a risk of complications, including:

Bleeding or infection at the site where your catheter was inserted

Damage to your blood vessels where the catheter may have scraped as it traveled to your heart

Puncture of your heart

Damage to your heart valves

Damage to your heart's electrical system, which could worsen your arrhythmia and require a pacemaker to correct

Blood clots in your legs or lungs (venous thromboembolism)

Stroke or heart attack

Narrowing of the veins that carry blood between your lungs and heart (pulmonary vein stenosis)

Damage to your kidneys from dye used during the procedure

Death in rare cases

Discuss the risks and benefits of cardiac ablation with your doctor to understand if this procedure is right for you.

How you prepare

Your doctor will evaluate you and may order several tests to evaluate your heart condition. Your doctor will discuss with you the risks and benefits of cardiac ablation.

You'll need to stop eating and drinking the night before your procedure. If you take any medications, ask your doctor if you should continue taking them before your procedure.

Your doctor will let you know if you need to follow any other special instructions before or after your procedure. In some cases, you'll be instructed to stop taking medications to treat a heart arrhythmia several days before your procedure.

If you have an implanted heart device, such as a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, talk to your doctor to see if you need to take any special precautions.

What you can expect

During cardiac ablation

Catheter insertion points for cardiac ablation

Catheter ablation is performed in the hospital. Before your procedure begins, a specialist will insert an intravenous line into your forearm or hand, and you'll be given a sedative to help you relax. In some situations, general anesthesia may be used instead to place you in a sleep-like state. What type of anesthesia you receive depends on your particular situation.

After your sedative takes effect, your doctor or another specialist will numb a small area near a vein on your groin, neck or forearm. Your doctor will insert a needle into the vein and place a tube (sheath) through the needle.

Your doctor will thread catheters through the sheath and guide them to several places within your heart. Your doctor may inject dye into the catheter, which helps your care team see your blood vessels and heart using X-ray imaging. The catheters have electrodes at the tips that can be used to send electrical impulses to your heart and record your heart's electrical activity.

This process of using imaging and other tests to determine what's causing your arrhythmia is called an electrophysiology (EP) study. An EP study is usually done before cardiac ablation in order to determine the most effective way to treat your arrhythmia.

Once the abnormal heart tissue that's causing the arrhythmia is identified, your doctor will aim the catheter tips at the area of abnormal heart tissue. Energy will travel through the catheter tips to create a scar or destroy the tissue that triggers your arrhythmia.

In some cases, ablation blocks the electrical signals traveling through your heart to stop the abnormal rhythm and allow signals to travel over a normal pathway instead.

The energy used in your procedure can come from:

Extreme cold (cryoablation)

Heat (radiofrequency)

Lasers

Cardiac ablation usually takes three to six hours to complete, but complicated procedures may take longer.

During the procedure, it's possible you'll feel some minor discomfort when the catheter is moved in your heart and when energy is being delivered. If you experience any type of severe pain or shortness of breath, let your doctor know.

After cardiac ablation

Following your procedure, you'll be moved to a recovery area to rest quietly for four to six hours to prevent bleeding at your catheter site. Your heartbeat and blood pressure will be monitored continuously to check for complications of the procedure.

Depending on your condition, you may be able to go home the same day as your procedure, or you may need to stay in the hospital. If you go home the same day, plan to have someone else drive you home after your procedure.

You may feel a little sore after your procedure, but the soreness shouldn't last more than a week. You'll usually be able to return to your normal activities within a few days after having cardiac ablation.

Results

Although cardiac ablation can be successful, some people need repeat procedures. You may also need to take medications, even after you've had ablation.

To keep your heart healthy, you may need to make lifestyle changes that improve the overall health of your heart, especially to prevent or treat conditions that can cause or worsen arrhythmias, such as high blood pressure. Your doctor may suggest that you:

Use less salt, which can help lower blood pressure

Increase your physical activity

Quit smoking

Avoid drinking alcohol

Eat heart-healthy foods

Maintain a healthy weight

Manage strong emotions, such as anger

Cardiac ablation care at Mayo Clinic

[doodle68]

Nowhere does the article from the Mayo Clinic confirm what you have stated in many of your posts, ablation should not be considered as a cure for AF and lifestyle changes and medication are not 'a waste of time 'as you have also indicated in other posts .

As the article states ''cardiac ablation can be successfull, some people need repeat procedures. You may also need to take medications, even after you've had ablation''.

Note the word 'can' not will and ''being'sucessfull' just means the symptoms may be removed sometimes indefinitely but they can also return quite quickly.

Ablation comes with a number of serious risks which research has found are greatly increased when the the person undergoing the procedure has other comorbidities or the EP /hospital carring out the proeedure lacks the necessary experience.

Having an Ablation is something that should be discussed carfully with a consultant Electrophysiologist not touted as a 'cure all' on a website, this risks misleading people .