Ventricular fibrillation ablation

[Franksluckypants]

I'm due an op some time soon, after previously surviving a cardiac arrest in May 2017. Post arrest an ICD was fitted, which has now fired 3 times since.

Just looking for people's experiences of the electrical remapping of the heart procedure, which I understand is rarer than a 'normal' ablation, perhaps because I will be put into VF during the op? (The idea is to get me off amiodarone and still provide protection from wayward heart rhythms which might put me into VF/ cardiac arrest again).

At least it will break the tedium of lockdown, though on reflection an exciting jigsaw puzzle might have sufficed...

Cheers

[Alice_Ro]

Hi

I have some similar experiences to you. Survived a cardiac arrest in 2018 and then had ICD fitted, which successfully fired 1 time.

I also had an ablation. I don't think it sounds like the same type as what you are having, as my heart was not put into VF in surgery, rather they just turned my pacemaker off and waited for my heart to start misbehaving which (conveniently/worryingly) was pretty constant at the time. The ablation made a massive difference to me and I was able to come off a very high dose of bisoprolol, which was making me super sluggish previously. Life changing.

I really hope you have a positive outcome. I understand it is very common to need to attempt the procedure more than once before it is successful, and also to sometimes need top ups over the years.

Good luck,

Alice

[Franksluckypants in reply to Alice_Ro]

Thanks for the reply Alice.

My bisoprolol dosage was cut from 3.75mg to 2.5mg when I started the amiodarone. I also felt better, but, as I'm a relatively young guy, I gather amiodarone is not recommended to be on long term if possible, as it has a few potentially nasty side effects.

Best of luck to you too for the future!