Does a pacemaker stop afib episodes?

[DizzyD]

Hi all I'm still looking for way to control or stop recurring episodes of afib. According to cardiologist ablation is out of the question due to LAD. Also I was refused medication due to being so sensitive to anti arrhythmias. EP had already informed my daughter via telephone that pacemaker is the next option to deal with my afib. Have consult with the EP next week to discuss pacemaker issue. My question is: Will a pacemaker stop AFib episodes?

Really would appreciate some feedback

Have a rewarding day whatever you are doing

[BobD Volunteer]

No, Generally not on its own. A pacemaker and AV node ablation make one depedent on the machine but isolates the atrium from the rest of the heart allowing the PM to control ventricular function and maintain a regular heart beat. This should remove much of the fatigue felt by AF sufferers but any fibrillation can still occur and maay well be felt.

That said some people have had greatly improved QOL using a re-synchronising pacemaker.

[DizzyD in reply to BobD]

Bob is fibrillation the same as tachycardia or is it just a fluttering sensation in chest area? I cannot have an ablation only the pacemaker so is it more unlikely to improve AFib that much?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to DizzyD]

Tachycardia just mean fast heart beat. Why can be for a variety of reasons. Atrial fibrillation happens as the name suggest in the atrium (left one) so instead of beating in a regular manner the atrium writhes like a bag of worms. Some of the electrical signals reach the ventricle causing that to beat irregularly which is what you feel at your pulse.

AV node ablation is quite different to what you are thinking and severs the link between chambers which is why PM required. .

[DizzyD in reply to BobD]

So if I do need a AV mode ablation and the link between chambers are severed does this mean pacemaker is for life in order to keep the two chambers working together?Sorry for so many questions! When the pupil is ready, the teacher will appear.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to DizzyD]

Correct as I said ,you become PM dependent though in fact because all heart muscle cells can beat independently, you wouldn't die if it failed. just have a very low heart rate. It is just the ventricles that pump anyway. The atria would normally fill the ventricle and being by then independent can continue in their own way.

[CDreamer]

I wouldn’t say a definite either way as there are so many variables, not least the type of pacemaker. Mine did stop Af - from the moment of implant. I then decided not to go ahead with the ablation of AV node.

Whatever, most people find your QOL will improve because your pulse will be stable so less symptomatic.

[DizzyD in reply to CDreamer]

I cannot have ablation only the pacemaker. What type of pacemaker is yours CDreamer?

[Gumbie_Cat in reply to DizzyD]

It could be the left atrial ablation that you can’t have. The AV node ablation for pace and ablate is a much simpler procedure.

A pacemaker can help without that, as others have said. If your heart rate has a tendency to go very low, that can set off episodes of AF, so a pacemaker can prevent that. It also enables those with lower heart-rates to take rate control medications,

That is apart from the resynchronising type that have been so helpful to others.

[CDreamer in reply to DizzyD]

RST - 3 lead resynchronisation. NICE only recommends if you have Heart Failure - my EP had to fight for the funding after my private health insurance refused to cover the procedure. 🤷‍♂️

[Buzby62]

Hi, here’s a link to all the treatments on the AFA website. From there there are links to Pacemaker and Pace and Ablate.

heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

Hope this helps, best wishes