Atrial Flutter ablation blanking period?

[Sanpet]

I had a PVI ablation at the end of July, which my EP says is 'going well' in that a Zio monitor fitted because of continuous tachycardia that developed and what I thought were AF episodes, has shown NO AF, just Atrial Flutter. Good news!I do however now need a 2nd ablation to deal with the Flutter which is being carried out in a week's time.

Are the 'rules' for the right atrium ablation for Flutter the same as the AF ablation, i.e. is the rest and do litttle for a couple of weeks, then gradually build back to normal the same and is there a blanking period associated?

I'll ask the EP of course, but I was curious to hear of others' experiences.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Peter

[BobD Volunteer]

IMHO yes. Your heart has been assaulted regardless of which side.

[Sanpet in reply to BobD]

Thanks, I agree. I suppose my question was more about blanking than actual recovery.

[mjames1]

"Are the 'rules' for the right atrium ablation for Flutter the same as the AF ablation, i.e. is the rest and do litttle for a couple of weeks...and is there a blanking period associated?

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You are asking two questions. One regarding a recovery period and one regarding a "blanking period". And while they often get lumped together, they are not the same thing.

The "Blanking Period" is a 3 month time frame following an afib ablation ablation where any afib episodes are not counted by trial researchers when determining whether or not an ablation is a success. That doesn't mean it's a free pass, because research has also shown that early occurrences of afib during blanking are positively associated with failed ablations, but not to the extent that late occurrences (after 3 months) are.

But specific to your case, there is no blanking period following a typical right-sided aflutter ablation, at least according to several ep's I spoke to. Either it works right away or it doesn't. Blanking is afib specific.

That said, the healing and recovery "rules" are similar for both types of ablation. They are both an insult to the body, involving scar tissue formation and groin wounds. And while recovery from an aflutter ablation is generally shorter and with fewer complications, the body still needs to rest and recovery.

This recovery, regardless of which type of ablation you have, can vary significantly from individual to individual, so in addition to following whatever "rules" your doctor gives you, or found on various fact sheets, the best rule is to also follow how your body feels. Keeping in mind that even if you feel well after a few days, there can be a relapse if you don't take it easy for the prescribed period. So when in doubt, play it conservative.

I've had both an afib and an aflutter ablation and while it took over a month to fully recovery from my aflutter alblation, it was closer to three months for my afib ablation. Others have different experiences.

Jim

[Sanpet in reply to mjames1]

Thank you. That's interesting about the blanking period. There seems to be a difference of opinion on this forum, but the consensus seems to fall into the 'no blanking for AFl ablation' camp.Let's see what my EP has to say.

[Jajarunner in reply to mjames1]

I agree, Jim, each of my ablations left me unable to do anything for months - four months to be able to walk a brisk four miles. Ablation number 4 is for atypical flutter so it'd be great if the recovery was shorter. It'd be even greater if it worked!! None of the others worked for more than a few months 🙄. I always find your posts very interesting and informative 🙂👍

[mjames1]

That's interesting about the blanking period. There seems to be a difference of opinion on this forum, but the consensus seems to fall into the 'no blanking for AFl ablation' camp

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Lots of "opinions" here, however no studies or papers I'm aware of that discuss "blanking" in regards to a typical aflutter ablation. Yet numerous papers talk blanking regarding afib ablation.

Hopefully, this will be simply academic in your case, as the success rate of AFL ablation is over 90%.

Jim

[Sanpet in reply to mjames1]

Yes, hopefully I'll be in the 90% not the 10%! Thanks for the reply Jim

[Ppiman]

I was told by my EP that there isn't such a thing for the atrial flutter ablation. The word "blanking" itself refers to the period when the heart might have other rogue arrhythmias caused by the ablation catheter disturbance when the doctor "blanks" his mind to such occurrences, i.e. ignores them. With AF itself, this seems now to be around a month or just under.

In terms of your being back to normal, then that might be much longer, but I was, again, told, that life could return to normal as soon as I felt better in myself, but with no undue strain from physical exercise for a while.

Steve

[Sanpet in reply to Ppiman]

Thanks for the reply Steve. Thats a new explanation for the derivation of 'blanking' I'll ask my EP about that

[Ppiman in reply to Sanpet]

It might not be correct. I heard it on a video from the famous Dr Gupta!

Steve