1st ablation failed what is the chance of success of the following Cardeovertion

[Spudly22]

hello

I have tried to search but can’t find this topic .

my husband has his first ablation in December and as he reverted back into permanent. AF on day 9 he was referred to go back and have a Cardeovertion within the 3 month blanking period so he had it done this week. Two months post ablation.

we are wondering about others experience of this and what are the chances of success. This will be his 4th Cardeovertion. Some held months one for 5 hrs! But this is his first post ablation.

anything that would improve success we are keen to do! They recommend rest for two days then back to usual ..

thank you all in advance

[jeanjeannie50]

The following day after my 3rd ablation I went into AF before I could leave the ward. I was kept in for an extra day when my heart suddenly returned to sinus rhythm. Six or so, weeks later I was back for another cardioversion. This was in 2016 and I've been fine ever since, though I'm now permanently in low level AF, heart rate is 60-90bpm. I've had no problems of a high heart rate and have felt fine since 2016.

So don't give up too soon on the ablation being a success.

Jean

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Sorry meant to say I've had lots of cardioversions, to be honest I like having them. You go in feeling rough and wake up cured - well that's always been the way for me. Like your husband some lasted a long time and others didn't and others days. I once walked up a steep hill the day after having one and immediately went back into AF. What I've learnt is not to do anything that requires effort for a few weeks afterwards, not to overeat or wear anything tight around your waist, oh yes avoid alcohol and caffeine too.

Jean

[petmice in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I just looked up cardioversion. I may have had two and didn't know it: when I was sent to the ER (2021) for atrial flutter, they pumped meds into me to get me back in NSR. Ditto for my second trip to the ER (2022) for afib. So those were both cardioversions? I did go in feeling awful (for the afib visit, I went to the ER because it felt like I was having a heart attack) and came out feeling sooooo much better.

Comments like yours are very helpful to a newbie like me; they give me food for thought and information to look in to. I have so much to learn about all this. Now checking out the files on this site.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to petmice]

What you had were cardioversions using medication. In general when most people speak of cardioversions they are talking about the electrical ones. You get a dose of an anaesthetic that knocks you out, then are given an electric shock to the heart area. Those are the ones I was talking about.

Jean

[petmice in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you for setting me straight.

[BobD Volunteer]

Cardioversion may help but is never a cure for anything. By stopping the angry heart from misbehaving it does, however, give it a chance to continue healing in peace.

[etheral]

There are various drug treatments available to increase the chances of remaining in NSR after a CV. The options would vary depending on what country you are in. Your EP should be able to advise you on the best course of action. Best, etheral

[DawnTX]

Perhaps they did not get the right spot. My ablations, still hold strong. Yes plural we can have more than one area acting up. I also had to cardioversions. The first held for 3 1/2 weeks. The second one never worked a shocked me three times. My EP does not believe in doing what has failed. Because a fib is so different for us. There is no telling your situation but for me it was having a pacemaker put in last week. It is a special pacemaker that did not exist a couple of years ago. They have more than one. It is not one size fits all it depends on what is going on in there. I go back next week for AV node. Ablation and connection of my pacemaker. Actually, I go back Monday. For me, this turned out to be the right choice. There is no cure for a fib. I will always have it along with a typical flutter, but it doesn’t matter because my heart will not be listening to all of that because the pacemaker controls everything. My doctor said if everything continues as the first part did he believes it will be life-changing for me. I have met the beginning of heart failure, and this could turn it around no guarantee, but it will keep it from getting worse if nothing else goes on with my heart there are variables to everything and we need to remember that. That being said, he will be setting my pacemaker/heart rate somewhere between 60 and 70 he has not told me yet we will talk again before the surgery. Even the tech told me I should find that I will have a similar feeling to my successful cardioversion. That was like a miracle when I woke up and my heart rate went from 158 to 82. To go into the hospital in a wheelchair and be able to walk out and walk again truly felt like a miracle that I was happy with. I don’t know how it will go yet but right now I feel like I am being given a second chance in life .

When at my bedside following the failed cardioversion, my doctor held my hand and told me we will talk in a couple of days about the next step to quality of life. We already spoke about a possible pacemaker previously, and I had been very unhappy, but what I discovered with my doctor is he wants to find the shortest route to us having a good life. Medication’s etc. had not worked for me. They don’t know why but everything has been resisted.

Your Dr should have a plan for you. I can’t speak for anyone but myself or state what any other doctor would do but I am happy that mine does not want to drag this out because it’s just a failure of the cardioversion broke my heart and I cried he said my heart and I have already had enough, it’s true. We are exhausted. This doctor is the first one that seems to really get what a fib does to us. Better yet is he cares and is passionate about giving us a better life.

[BlueINR]

All of the 18+ cardioversions were successful and got me into NSR. Unfortunately, they did not prevent future episodes, nor do I think that's its purpose. Purpose is to get back to NSR, how long that may last is unknown. Ablation is probably better for staying in NSR, but no guaranty with that either.

[UnhappyAF]

Had my first ablation on Nov 18th, went back into AF Nov 22nd only 4 days post ablation, then I did cardioversion Dec 19th (so only a month post ablation) and have been out of AF since (2 months now). Feeling great - hope it stays this way.

[Spudly22 in reply to UnhappyAF]

Good to here and hope it continues!

currently he is taking it really easy and treading on egg shells when to resume normal activities like walking the dog, golf , gym etc .. we’re you given any tips on how to take care of yourself?

[UnhappyAF in reply to Spudly22]

to be fair I am relatively young for this message board I think. I’m 51 yrs old. And so I am fairly active and was not told to restrict activity much at all. The one thing I did cut back on (some not all by any means) was alcohol but otherwise living as I did prior to ablation.