is it routine

[thejepo]

had my third catheter ablation just over a year ago and had telephone follow up call last November with my cardiologist who said “will keep you on my books a little longer to see how you go” then today out of the blue phone call from the hospital saying “come in Saturday for an echocardiogram”

cannot remember if this was normal procedure on my previous ablations

any thoughts anyone?

[Hidden]

sounds a bit unusual from my experience but also encouraging. I wouldn’t have thought that your EP would have become aware of anything concerning from a telephone appointment but I guess he may have seen something worth monitoring during your last ablation. My last ablation was back in 2018 and I still get annual phone appointments which suits me fine because you never know what’s around the corner! Hope all goes well on Saturday……

[thejepo in reply to Hidden]

thanks

[jeanjeannie50]

I don't remember having an echocardiogram before any of my ablations. Did have an angio-cardiogram before my first. I thought you were going to say that you were called in for another ablation. That's what happened to me. I think it was the Friday they rang to say come in for a third ablation (didn't even know I was on the waiting list) and I had it the following Wednesday. Mind you I'd made the AF nurses very aware of how much I appreciated any advice they gave me, so if they were asked to recommend anyone they would have known my name. I think my symptoms and the fact that I'd already had two ablations that didn't help much, made me a good person to try the new piece of equipment my EP and his Registrar had designed, this went down the throat to monitor the outside heart area.

Jean

[etheral]

In the US an echocardiagram would be routine after a third ablation. etheral

[thejepo in reply to etheral]

thanks

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to thejepo]

Thinking about it I had an echocardiogram after my third ablation. Before I could leave the hospital my heart went into flutter. I had to stay in another day and then had the echo before going home

[Gersky]

An echo before ablation and a few months after is routine in some countries

[Speed]

Are you on Flecainide? I believe it is good practice to have an Ecocardiogram every 6 months if so. I’m intending to chase up my cardiologist for one.

[Afibflipper in reply to Speed]

I wasn’t aware or even thought of that - never been mentioned thanks for the nudge

[Desanthony]

I would just be thankful that my EP had time to check up on me like this. He may have noticed something that he wanted to keep an eye that has prompted him to do this but thats all to the good. All the best for Saturday.

[Afibflipper in reply to Desanthony]

Maybe request one from your GP

[ETHEL103]

Hi I would get in touch before you go just to make sure.

[momist]

Well this is interesting to me, as my ablation was in June 2021 and I've recently had my beta blocker dose reduced. I wonder now if an echo is in my future any time? Please let us know what comes about with you.

[Crgj]

I had an echocardiogram after my first cardioversion just as a precaution but it did pick up I had a mildly impaired left ventricle, glad I had it done, the arrhythmia nurses told me it's not a worry but will keep an eye on it.

[MarkS]

It's worth asking after the scan what the shape of your left atrial appendage is. The shape determines how much risk of a stroke you have. People with a cauliflower shape LAA have 5 times the risk of stroke than those with a chicken wing shape. See: ahajournals.org/doi/full/10...