Laser Ablation for Afib?

[Ruza2020]

Hi guys! Wishing you all Happy New Year!

I have a short question. Has anyone undergo Laser Ablation for their Afib? If yes, please share your experience.

Thanks.

[BobD Volunteer]

Interesting that you asked that as I answered a question last week about laser ablation. I know that it is mentioned in our (AF Association) fact sheet /booklet on all types of ablation but I have never come across anybody who has had one.

[Ruza2020 in reply to BobD]

Thanks BobD.

[jimb7174]

I’ve had ablations for atrial flutter which I was diagnosed with prior to AFib. What’s the question you have maybe I can help?

[jimb7174 in reply to jimb7174]

I’ve had ablations for atrial flutter which I was diagnosed with prior to AFib. Regarding the experience; relatively painless procedure. Given sedative rather than GA, catheter ablation was inserted from groin up to heart and procedure was completed. I actually had 4 of these within a 7 month period before my surgeon finally got the correct part of my heart that was causing me to go into atrial flutter. I was kept in for a few hours or overnight depending on what time the ablation was done (ie morning / discharged same evening). The last ablation I had was in 2015 and so far other than going into AFib Jan 2019 for 48 hours I have been absolutely fine since. I now regularly cycle between 150-200 miles per week and do a lot of walking with my two dogs. Please do let me know if you have any other questions, as it stands at the moment, I’ve never felt healthier. All the very best.

[Ruza2020 in reply to jimb7174]

Thanks Jimb7174. I just recently heard about Laser method ablation, and was wandering if it was superior to the RF catheter ablation. What type of ablation did you have, and was it successful? Any did you have major side effects? Thanks.

[jimb7174 in reply to Ruza2020]

Hey Ruza2020 - yes I had the standard RF catheter ablation and after the 4th attempt it was successful. The cause of my atrial flutter was scarring on my heart from an ASD repair, so the surgeon was very careful in not doing too much ablation at once as it is not reversible. But since the fourth procedure (touch wood) I’ve been all good and no there have not been any adverse side affects. Hope it goes well for you.

[Ruza2020 in reply to jimb7174]

Thanks Jimb - - - Wow! Four ablations! I fear ablation procedure - I can't imagine the idea of an instrument being sent through the veins and into the heart. I pray the God your fourth ablation is hundred percent success.

[jimb7174 in reply to Ruza2020]

It has been for the past almost 6 years and tbh I’ve actually never felt healthier, I cycle between 150-200 miles a week. Don’t be worried about it, modern medicine is amazing and the people that dedicate themselves to becoming specialists in their fields are super hero’s in my mind. And the outcome is allowing us to live normal or as close to normal as we can with our various conditions. Wishing you all the very best. Keep us posted in how you get on.

[Ruza2020 in reply to jimb7174]

Thanks Jimb for the reassurance - - - 150-200 miles/week, that is a lot of biking😲

[cuore]

I asked about laser ablation in 2017 in western Canada. The answer was that they didn't do them.

I did fine this article that may be of interest:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Ruza2020 in reply to cuore]

Thaks cuore. I just read the article - interesting conclusion... "This is the first study that qualifies the laser method as an intriguing technique superior for ablation of l-lpAF as compared to the hitherto routinely used AF ablation techniques,..."

[Barny12]

Interesting thread on laser ablation on this American afib forum:

afibbers.org/forum/read.php...

"I would call this Heart light laser system an incremental upgrade over Cryo, but not at all necessarily a game changer by any means, especially with it not really being able to address non-PVI triggers effectively"

[Ruza2020 in reply to Barny12]

Thanks Barny12... I just spoke to my cardiologist regarding laser method ablation - - - he said he is not qulified to talk about it, and that I should consult with my electrophysiologist.

[mrgwair567]

There was an article on this in the Daily Mail last week.

[Ruza2020 in reply to mrgwair567]

Thanks mrgwar567. I think you referring to the same article that my neighbour forwarded to me... And it is this article that prompted me to seek more information on the subject. I was bit disappointed that my cardiologist did not feel comfortable commenting on this procedure.