Failed fourth ablation

[msharon]

My husband just had his 4th ablation (first one was way back in 2007), surgeon just shrugged and said it was a no go, too much scarring from previous ones...told pacemaker next...so sad. He's in constant flutter mode right now and we don't know what to do? If it flips into fibrillation, do we go back to er for cardioversion? Left in the dark, no hope....any ideas?

[jeanjeannie50]

I would contact your GP's surgery this morning. Hopefully, they'll do an ECG there and direct you on what to do next. Is the flutter making him feel ill?

[CDreamer]

Pacemaker. If the ablation failed then little or no hope for a cardioversion.

I have to say that Flutter was far more symptomatic than AF for me so commiserations.

Pacemaker was my saviour and had longest periods of no AF/AFl since implant so do talk to your specialist about what they would advise.

[MummyLuv]

It may be possibly still to do a surgical ablation from the outside of his heart. This is only offered in pockets of the NHS Sheffield, London and privately here thekeyholeheartclinic.com

[Poochmom in reply to MummyLuv]

Yes I agree. Do some research on this. There is very very high success rate with that procedure here in the US as many believe AFib originates from the outside of the heart in the vagal nerves and not inside the heart in the pulmonary veins which after three failed ablations would make sense to me. It is successful even with multiple ablations and cardioversion as well as after persistent AFib.

[Ppiman]

By "flutter" do you mean runs of ectopic beats or palpitations? I had atrial flutter in 2019 and it is very different from palpitations, but did feel very similar.

My son's friend is 76 and he, too, has had four ablations, with the fourth now failing, sadly. He can't have any more, either. He's coping well though with occasional PAF. I hope your husband finds a way though his as they are such anxiety-inducing things!

Steve

[msharon]

Definitely atrial flutter...yes, it's the fear of the unknown, well or not .... we've lived with it for 20+ years but not getting easier!

[CDreamer in reply to msharon]

If it’s definitely AFl and is Typical ie: in the right atria and previous ablations were for AF in the left atria - would there be scarring?

Of course there maybe other reasons why ablation would not be offered but sounds like you need to go into more detail with the specialist.

Sometimes it’s worse for the people looking on than the sufferer, I know my husband becomes very concerned sometimes and I’m rarely bothered.

Unfortunately it doesn’t improve with age, speaking for myself I have less Resiliance these days. I wouldn’t give up all hope of finding some sort of resolution which would improve QOL but explore all of the options on the table with your specialist.

[Fullofheart]

I know what you mean about it not getting easier. I've had AF coming up 18 years. After the intial shock I learned to live with it pretty well but the last 2 years has been one thing after another.And it doesn't feel easier to absorb.

It does sound like there are options still though msharon and wishing you well with the next steps.

3 members of my family have pacemakers with mixed results, but for one it was "life changing" (in a good way).

Hang on in there! 🌸

[KMRobbo]

A Fib is left atria.Atrial flutter is generally right atria, ( typical) but not always. Left atria flutter is Atypical

Was this advised to you?

I ask as I understood left atrial flutter is more rare, but if it was right atria I would not expect previous scarring to be an issue so it seems it is left but you need clarification.

Was the 4th ablation for A flutter or for AFib?

Did the surgeon advise your husband had flutter or has it developed during / post ablation, or only since the ablation?

If the latter how has it been diagnosed ?

Sorry for the many questions but I think this is what you need to understand when trying to formulate your next steps

Apologies if you already know all this!

I am not medically trained but had an ablation for AFib and 9 days later developed Atrial flutter in the right atria for which I had another ablation a month after the first. But mine was right atria. ( typical) .

I had not had any recorded flutter up to that point and am pretty sure I had not had any as I was so breathless with flutter but was asymptomatic in AFib.