anyone had PFAblation at Mass General

[37Polly]

I have had aflutter, afib, and tachycardia since fall of 2017. I am happy to be scheduled for a combination ablation of both aflutter and afib at Massachusetts General in August. I will travel for hours to get to this outstanding hospital, but am confident. I would appreciate anyone’s input, especially if you have experienced anything similar.

[37Polly]

added thanks to this group

[37Polly]

two years ago I asked opinions here and got the best, thoughtful responses. I decided to forgo ablation at the time, and feel this was the best decision, at the time. Since then, recently I’ve had more difficulty and a prolonged period of persistent aflutter, really debilitated.

Pulse Field Ablation is now being done in a handful of outstanding US hospitals. An excellent consultation with surgeon at Mass. General Hospital has convinced me it’s my time. I will have a hybrid procedure, using both Pulse Field Ablation as well as traditional on delicate areas.

I am very thankful to those of you that helped me make my decision two years ago. Most of the past two years my quality of life was as hoped. Now I think I will have my best shot despite looking at my 84 th birthday. No major other health issues, thankfully . Fingers crossed, and again thank you.

[mjames1]

Also from the US. No personal experience with Mass General, but it has an excellent reputation and is nationally ranked #8 in Cardiac Hospitals which is what you want.

PFA is an excellent choice for your afib PVI and I assume they will use RF for the right-sided flutter ablation at the same time.

As good a hospital as it is, always prudent to ask how many ablations the ep who will be performing the ablation has done, including how many PFA's. PFA is relatively new, but idealy I would be looking for a number at least above 50 PFA and someone who does hundreds of ablations every year and over a thousand lifetime.

Jim

[37Polly]

thanks Jim. Good advice on asking number of PFAs. Will do .

[kdra in reply to 37Polly]

Good luck and let us know how the PFA went.

[mollymmk]

I was in MA in Oct when I wound up in MA General after collapse. They were very very good. Didn’t catch the afib on an ekg but they were strong with me about following up when I got back to Charlotte . Without their excellent advice it would have taken me a long time to get diagnosed. I had an ablation for both afib and aflutter in March and today I am 3 months post ablation with everything normal so far. Only on Eliquis for now. I would trust MA General.

[Leilani63]

mass general is outstanding. They are the best of the best. Dr Bob Sauer is extraordinary. I understand it is now an outpatient procedure.

[Fblue in reply to Leilani63]

Thanks for this name. I’m in the area and could only find a William Sauer at Brighams Hospital who is chief of cardiology but doesn’t sound like he does procedures. Can you send contact info for the EP. Thanks!

[amajul]

I live in Boston and am heading for my 2'nd ablation after a reoccurrence after 6 years AFIB free. I will be having a Pulse Field Ablation at Brigham & Women's next month. All the EP's there are top notch. It is my understanding that they are all still in the "learning" phase with the PFA so I'm not too concerned as to which doctor does mine. As they just started using PF l don't believe any of the doc's have done 50 of them. I've done a lot of research and I feel confident that any of the docs will do a great job. Dr. Sauer is the head of EP but to get an appointment with him would take 10 months. My doctor is Michael Tadros but Dr. Nathaniel Steiger is doing my procedure as Dr. Tadros was booked out till the fall and I want to get this done sooner than later. Best wishes to all

[Leilani63]

that is the dr. He does do ablations but think at MGH.

[amajul]

Dr. William Bauer does ablations at Brigham and Women's. Mass General and Brigham and Women's are partners in Massachusetts.

[CheriAlli]

I think that you’ll be in good hands, wonderful hospital.

I was scheduled to have it done for the same thing at Bay State hospital in Springfield but decided to wait and go the easier route, a cardio version for the time being (knowing that it will not last as long).

I had an ablation done for SVT 7 years ago so it was definitely worth it. This time around I want to investigate other possible causes (sleep apnea, thyroid issues in past) before I get this more complicated ablation done.

Good luck to you!

[37Polly]

thanks for responses. Very reassuring. I am on cancellation list for earlier date, but definitely scheduled for late August. By then my EP will have done over 100 PFAs. The fact that it’s generally a faster, and outpatient procedure is moving the wait list along. All good news. My combination procedure and long drive home is requiring an overnight. I am eager to get on with it. Thanks again for the encouragement.