Six weeks ago I had a rather aggressive ablation. It is on an area called vein of Marshall if you are not familiar it is an area behind the pulmonary artery. Don’t quote me on that it’s around there somewhere lol. As long as my surgeon can find it I’m OK. I have permanent a fib and flutter or did . Monday I had my follow up. It was later than it should’ve been but my fault not the doctor. I have had some issues that really had me depressed. One thing it is not is my a fib. I am 115/68 and no a fib when my doctor did the ECG on Monday. I am still having some issues with breathing and walking so I get an echo cardiogram next week. Again my fault it’s taking so long it is due to scheduling with my ride. Dr. thinks I may have fluid along with inflammation or infection of the heart wall but it is not my a fib he was more than happy with my ECG as he is one of the pioneers of this procedure. He was not happy I waited six weeks to tell him what’s been going on although I did call and speak with his staff twice. It seems to me they need to be the one to tell him what’s going on.
My previous two ablations seemed so simple and I felt so much better even the next day I was reminded it is my heart and there is no such thing as a simple ablation I was very blessed I guess to feel so well so fast. This ablation is actually done with ethanol and is quite involved but it is doing something the others can’t seem to do in this area of the heart. PS I am already off one of my medication Multaq It may be six months or more possibly up to a year but eventually I may be off medication. This seems to be one of the few procedures that seem close to a cure but there still is no cure for a fib. The problem with the electrical system in there is it can pop out somewhere else that is what has happened with me and possibly with others who is needed other oblations. My original two held fast it was a new one or several I should say in an area that is not often looked at.
Don’t give up this was the lowest I have felt and I’m still frustrated because I don’t have answers yet but I should after the echocardiogram. My doctor stated he feels sure that he will find out what it is and fix it. He is not cocky he is just really good and though not warm and fuzzy he has a way of making you feel safe.
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DawnTX
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DawnTX,Wow, you have been through an AFIB success stiry. That’s great news.
I too am hVing my 4th ablation in 12 days. Guess what my EP, super doctor is considering taking out my Vein of Marshall. Too. Yes it’s a fairly new peocedure and seems maybe simple to perform with an ethanol injection.
May I ask who was your EP name was.?
I’m in my final <2 weeks 12 day count down.
If you coukd mention who your EP was I would be really appreciative.
Hi Doug. I am tickled pink right now and today I’m actually going to venture to the grocery store with my cousin. As one who has been unable to walk from the bed to the kitchen without pain this is a big step.
My doctor is Dr. Miguel Valderabano he is at Houston Methodist in Houston Texas. I just moved to Texas in October and was lucky enough or I should say blessed that one of his trainees is now working for my EP in Florida.
He is part of DeBakey Cardiology which is also part of Houston Methodist. I wish you the best of luck please keep us in the loop every time one of us has success no matter how large or small it is a step forward.
So please you seemed to have found your magic bullet, not an easy ride you’ve had and I was aware that the area you have had ablated has been a thorn in the side of many an EP because it’s very difficult to ablate that area safely. 👏👏👏👏. This post will give others hope.
That’s saying it wonderfully !My next abltion is June 24th…
Looks like I’m in line for vein of Marshall ablate too. Hope that’s true. My EP consukt was with one of the yop EP’s in the US May 17th. My 4th ablation is in 12 days. But I have an Virtual visit with Dr. P’s colleague this Tue.
He does ablations on the ‘vein of Marshall!
Amazing! Plus complete total PV study and maybe superior vena cava area too.
Wish me well? Will know the main EP study plan this Tue.
I cut it short as far as what I had done. If you go through Houston Methodist they have a terrific application and I could even read my doctors notes. Yes I had all kinds of tests before hand however during my very first appointment with him he took a reading of my loop recorder that is implanted and he was often running because of what he saw. Unfortunately I have learned not to depend on my loop recorder or I should say the company that made the one I have. If he had not taken the reading that day I would’ve thought I was crazy with what I was feeling because when I checked with the one that gets the reports on my implant I was told it was nothing. Devices are only as good as the humans that control them and I am not impressed with Biotronix. Sp? For one thing I’ve discovered that my machine was a 3G yes when I called the company they sent me a new one right out. The only way I knew it was the tiny label on the back of it. As most of you know 3G no longer exists for the most part. My implant is only two years old shame on them.
Where are located Doug? Wait until you see the mapping of your heart that they do with everything else. Hopefully they will share that with you. I even got copies of that on my app with them. They don’t just dive in there they truly died their I’s and cross their T’s. If you put my PE into Google you will see his writings including JAMA. What I love about him is you can actually understand most of it. I’m sure if you wanted to study up more you could but I leave that for my doctor.
PS I had Covid the end of March I think it was and I really believe it not only triggered things but also may be the root of the complication I have had with breathing. Next week with the echo we will see if there’s fluid around my heart or anything else and then Dr. V will take care of it from there. I can tell you I feel better today than I did even a week ago. Big hugs be patient I wasn’t lol
Like the Beatles sang ‘with a little help from my friends’ I gained an hour long visit with Dr Eric Prystowski a top or one of the top EP’s in the country May 17th. Wonderful education reviewing my 3 past ablations, cardioversion short term failures, med failures.
Tue this week is a big day. 07:30 virtual visit with Dr Parin Patel, Dr Prystowky’s younger EP colleauge.
But skilled in newer newest Ablation procedures. Right now my mind is racing 1,000,000 miles an hr, not quite.
All options are on the table, as they say, the EP lab table. Oh my third ablation 01/04/2022 was a Cardio Focus Heart light Laser PV type. I thought and so did my Ft Wayne EP that it was successful.
Only for 6 weeks them back in AFIB/A-tachycardia.
Here is a photo of my common pulmonary veins pre and post ablation.
My left common pulmonary veins pre and post laser ablation
I love to know that your doctor reviewed everything. My doctor would not even set an appointment until he had all of the documentation so that he could review it. I think in the beginning he thought one of the other ablations had failed but they did not. My doctor in South Florida is also very skilled. He is the one that now has the doctor my doctor here trained. Just think each time these doctors train someone it is giving others a chance had a better life. I have good feelings about your procedure so please make sure you let me know how you are doing. Just keep saying in your head for the long-haul just in case you don’t feel quite right in the beginning but as I said I think The complication will be found in the echo as to why I really was not feeling well. Between the two of us and others who have had this procedure and Mummy Luv and others with the maze we are going to show people that we can get quality of life back after a fib.
Dawn what super news! So pleased for your success and NSR 🥰 I had my ligament of Marshall ablated as part of my mini maze as mine was large and a reason for my misfiring.
Take it easy now lovely lady, you have so much going on I know. Look after you x
Thank you so much I am glad you are doing so well also. Do you know the last time we spoke I was very down and out about things what a difference a few weeks make. I think seeing my doctor did it for me. Not only being told about the NSR by being removed from Multaq already. I guess we have to keep the faith especially if you already like your doctor and feel that you can trust in him. Since my first a fib event where I woke up on the floor facedown I have been very blessed with both of my PE‘s.
You and I and hopefully Depot Doug and others are going to give other people hope. I keep reminding myself long-haul not instant relief. I saw another picture of you you look amazing
My PE is Dr Miguel Valderrabano He is with Houston Methodist medical center in Houston Texas in DeBakey Cardiology which is part of this. All you have to do is Google him or if you Google Vein of Marshall his name will come up. Some of his latest writings etc. include the person he is now training who is also part of my medical team. He is almost finished and will be heading back to Alabama I think it was.
Prof Schilling ablated my ligament of Marshall (of which the vein is part) as part of my combined RF & cryo ablation and it was that that finally fixed my AF. I was in AF 80% of the time and heading towards persistent. It seems as though AF can spread from the PV's to the vein/ligament of Marshall in long standing/persistent cases. See: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/329...
Mark your a great help. I hope my newest EP who is skilled learned in vein of Marshall ablations will address mine. I’m going to surely ask Dr Patel @ Tues V/V. Thxs for giving me hope.Doug
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