Soon to receive a pacemaker and AV node ablation

[Superdreamer]

Hi. I'm just wondering if anybody on here has had the same procedure. I don't quite understand why some people just get the pacemaker and others need the ablation too? Also, approx how long between the two procedures and why the wait? Thanks in advance 👍

[Hidden]

Dear Superdreamer.

I think that it has to do with how much damage there is the AV node after the ablation, sometimes the node stops working or is still out of sync and therefore a pacemaker replaces the heart rhythm making it pump as normally as they can set it to.

Are you sure your not being offered a CRT Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy { with or without a built in defibrillator} ? And not just a pacemaker?

The reason I ask is that I was not offered the ablation because they thought that it would be a waste of time and after the bypass did its thing I was implanted with one of these extraordinary units to make my heart beat in a better way.

Maybe you need to find out from your heart team the information you need, certainly someone needs to explain exactly your procedure to you and then you can decide what is best for you to go ahead with.

take care and please keep us informed.

[Superdreamer in reply to Hidden]

Hi Yes I'm sure its not a CRT. Thanks for your reply though.

[Palpman]

There are 2 common arrhythmias requiring pacemakers.Severe and constant ectopics and Afib arising from the sinus node or surrounding veins and arteries.

Many of these rogue signals together with the normal signals get to the ventricles via the AV Node after causing chaos in the atria.

This causes distress to the patient so the AV Node gets ablated and no signals can pass to the ventricles.

The pacemaker then takes over to pulse the ventricles.

The pacemaker and associated leads get inserted first before the ablation to allow for the wires to attach permanently to the heart muscle.

The other is done for Bradicardia. For obvious reasons no ablation is done. The pacemaker merely injects extra beats to pick up the pace to around 60 average.

[Superdreamer in reply to Palpman]

Thanks for your time. That does explain more fully what I was imagining was the case. Much appreciated,

[pottypete1]

Also look at the AF Association forum on Health Unlocked a lot of members there have experience of pace & ablate.

Pete

[Superdreamer in reply to pottypete1]

I will do. Thank you.

[pirita7]

I had the same procedures Pacemaker first then Ablation in March/April 2022 and wondered why! It was never explained, just that I had to have it done. The reply given by Pulpman has explained it perfectly. Thank you 🙏🏻