I recently had a phone call following up an echocardiogram which had revealed a small pericardial effusion. I assumed I was speaking to a minion of the cardiologist who had made me feel like a gross hypochondriac but when I received the follow up letter I found it was from an ‘Interventional Consultant Cardiologist’ which is not a term I had heard before but turns out to be a doctor who uses catheters to perform minimally invasive versions of procedures such as placing stents, repairing valves and generally treating structural heart disease - but not treating AF. I am slightly puzzled as to why he might be appropriate for me but as he ended with ‘I would be more than happy to see her if there are any concerns’ (in future) I am also more than happy!
Something new every day…..: I recently... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Something new every day…..
Pericardial effusion is not usually (ever?) related to a-fib, and the skill set required to deal with each is very different. Did you get told a likely cause of the pericardial effusion?
No, it was a bit late for that because the echo didn’t happen until well after the ‘event’ which was suddenly developing LBBB which I noticed on a Kardia recording during an episode of AF. When the weird tracing continued I had an ECG at my GPs and was immediately sent to A&E in case of a heart attack. I suspect it started about then but A&E didn’t find anything out of the ordinary so I didn’t have an echo at the time. I’ve been prescribed furosemide to use if I notice signs of fluid retention and breathlessness.
I’m guessing the ‘interventional cardiologist’ would be the guy to drain the fluid if it suddenly increased to a dangerous level.
My consultant in the University of Wales Hospital is National Professional Lead for Interventional Cardiology, Professor Richard Anderson. I am waiting for him to repair my Mitral Valve using a procedure called a Mitraclip. This is felt to be less risky than having valves replaced etc by open heart surgery, my consultant cardio-thoracic surgeon in Morriston Hospital, Swansea Mr Kumar referred me because he was very concerned that I would not make it through the surgery, or the recovery afterwards.I've been waiting for this procedure since June 24, but it's been cancelled in July and again last week, now rescheduled for Nov 5th.
If it doesn't take place then, I could be well on the way to countering the phrase we hear so often "AF doesn't kill you" because, in my case, the damage it's caused, will almost certainly do just that.
I hope you get the op when scheduled this time. I have a leaky mitral valve but was told most people over 70 do and fortunately it’s still okish at 79. Best wishes ❤️🩹
Hi, my mitral valve is basically torn from its surrounding tissues, the mitraclip will anchor onto the remaining tissue and heart tissue will actually grow over the artificial part.My tricuspid valve is also leaking quite badly as both my atrial are greatly enlarged. Professor Anderson feels the valve is actually causing the AF, which is very symptomatic, rather than the other way around.
He only started doing these procedures autumn last year, and none have taken place since April. I've been top of the waiting list since June.
So I don't know what will happen if it isn't done next month.
🍀
Thankyou!
Stuck in limbo (not a good feeling !!)
Second opinion 
New to this
Meds vs Ablation
