How many ablations has anyone had for permanent AF

[shwills]

Hello

How many Ablations has anyone had? I have had 4 both cyro and balloon. I have permanent AF, rate controlled but rhythm not. I have left side heart failure due to this and I am due to have a small hole in heart repaired at some time when Barts can do it, but with permanent AF it is a major problem and heart failure will possibly get worse. I do have a pacemaker as well

I don’t see how another Ablation could work as 4 have failed

Any help comments grateful

[Hannah-Hay]

We seem to have very similar heart problems. I have had 2 pulmonary vein isolation ablations one cryo in 2009 lasted 3 years. The 2nd one was the heat one rather than cryo in 2014 & lasted 4 years. My AF was, can’t think of the terminology, but comes & goes not persistent. Was in hospital for a 3rd ablation in Dec 2018 when heart went into different rhythm & cardiologist did cardioversion instead this only lasted 2 months. In July last year again woke to rapid heartbeat. Cardiologist Upped my drugs dosage to help. Have had AFlutter at times too. So Jan this year another cardioversion which again didn’t last. Now I have been diagnosed with heart failure & my breathing is bad can just climb stairs then have to sit & get my breath back. Heart muscle is weak & left ventricle impaired. I was pinning my hopes on ablations. Maybe we are unlucky that they don’t last long for us while for others one ablation sorts the problem. Last week I had a CDI (pacemaker/defibrillator) fitted & in 6 weeks time will have an ablation on my AV node (natural pacemaker in my heart) to stop it working & the pacemaker will take over to control my heart rate. Am told I will still have AF but won’t feel it & get quality of life back. Very scary thought being totally reliant on a pacemaker for my life but then if go into cardiac arrest the defibrillator aspect will kick in & shock heart back to life. My heart problems seem to have started up at heart attack 21years ago. It was at the same time discovered I was type 2 diabetic. So don’t know if heart failure is a natural progression over the years with heart problems or diabetes is the cause or a combination. I’m not sure if my comments are of any help to you but what I like on this group is everyone’s helpful comments on their experiences. You don’t feel so alone. Like you I would be wondering if 4 ablations didn’t work would another one. Wishing you all the best.

[PeterGabriel in reply to Hannah-Hay]

Dear Hannah, so sorry to hear of your longstanding problems with AF. Do you know what caused the heart attack? Was it the heart attack that brought on the AF or the other way round, perhaps undiagnosed AF? Anyway, I hope the pacemaker fitting gives you back your life. Wishing you the very best of health.

[shwills in reply to Hannah-Hay]

Hello

Yes it does sound similar my consultants have been wanting to ablate the AV node for years now but I have resisted. I think I will only have it done if there is no other option

I think I have read on this site people having more than 4 Ablations but we are all different and complex and our conditions are similar but unique

How long ago did you have the AV node ablation?

I haven’t had a heart attack I have had AF and atrial flutter for around 10 years which has got worse and now permanent

Heart failure diagnosed just over a year

[Jack_O]

Hi, it may be stating the obvious but I would advise caution when comparing one persons cardiac journey and treatment plan with another persons, even where the underlying diagnosis is broadly similar as we are all such unique and complex beings. For what it's worth though, I have had 2 cryoablations for persistent AF (after countless DCCs) neither of which lasted more than a few weeks and my electrophysiology consultant takes the view, in my case, that there is a law of diminishing returns in terms of doing another. He proposes another DCC and change of meds but of course this doesn't mean he would never contemplate doing more than two ablations on another person who presents with similar problems but different history, physiology, comorbidities, etc etc. Whatever happens, I wish you well

[Hannah-Hay in reply to Jack_O]

So true we are all different. Our bodies react differently to drugs & procedures. We are all unique.

[Lilypocket in reply to Jack_O]

Hi Jack

I'm just wondering why your second ablation was also Cryoablation especially as your Af is persistent. It seems that according to posts on here the 2nd is usually an RF to target rogue points other than the PVs . I'm just interested to know if there are particular reasons ( i.e. can't have general anaesthetic?).

Take care x