what is ablation

[brunlea]

[TheStand]

brunlea,

OK... Start with the basics that cause AF. The electrical pulse that tells the heart to beat enters the heart at about 60 to 80 times per minute at a regular interval. With AF that pulse is (for lack of a better term) is echoed via extra internally developed pathways (short circuits) and causes the atria to beat irregularly at a much higher rate causing the heart's chambers to be out of sync. It is actually much more detailed but that is a basic explanation.

An ablation is a method of removing those short circuits in the atria. You are put under and wires are inserted into the veins. These wires are routed into the heart and across into the atria. There are a few different methods but normally an RF pulse is used to burn areas of the atria around the pulmonary veins which are believed to be the areas where the short circuits happen. While those stray electrical pulses can be passed along the surface of the heart the signal will be stopped by Scar Material. So by scarring those areas, the stray signals can be stopped and the heart will now beat normally and in sync.

This is not a "for sure" procedure but has proven to be very successful in many patients at either stopping completely or lessening the effects of AF.

Here is a good article write up on the procedure:

stopafib.org/catheter.cfm

There are many of us here who have had the procedure done and are willing to answer any questions you might have about it.

Tim

[brunlea]

Thank you for the information , I hope to be having this procedure in the near future , I am a frustrated active 71 year Old - Who is beginning to feel old .

[TheStand in reply to brunlea]

AF doesn't mean you're old. I was diagnosed with it at 46. And I know kids under 18 with it.

Tim

[brunlea in reply to TheStand]

Thanks Tim

[BobD Volunteer]

Hi Brunlea, I'm not going to try and better Tim's explanation although after three ablations I am something of an expert on the subject. What I would say is that doctors are not very good at telling you all the ins and outs of a subject and one thing few every mention is that it takes three months for the scar tissue to properly form so during that first three months you may well have some AF episodes and other odd rhythms. This is quite normal! I still get odd sessions of ectopic beats (when you think your heart skipped a beat) after four years but no AF is still no AF and at 68 that is great,

Bob

[brunlea in reply to BobD]

Thank's Bob