Has anyone had thoracoscopic atrial fibrillation ablation?

[left-of-center2012]

I see my heart doctor again Monday.

I think he will tell me he wants to do that procedure soon where they put me under anesthesia
and destroy little pieces of my heart and cut off a tiny section of it.

I guess I should do it, but part of me says why bother.
Every time they fix one thing, something else goes wrong.

Well, at least hospital food will be a change from my own cooking.
Maybe I’ll get some of that famous green jello.

https://www.ottawaheart.ca/test-procedure/thoracoscopic-surgical-ablation

[onecaliberal]

1. Do it and please take care of yourself. People are counting on you.

[skylucy]

2. I don't know anything about that procedure but I wish you

well and send positive vibes to you.

[nancy1942]

3. I admire your attitude.

[unc70]

4. Good friend had the procedure

He had had a lot of episodes through the years. I was often summoned to the hospital during the severe ones. Since the surgery, no full blown episodes, only a couple of trivial incidents -- like skipping a beat or two.

[lapfog_1]

5. I think so

I have (still) something called WPW or Wolfe-Parkinson_White.

20 years ago now (has it been that long?) I underwent then what was called ablation therapy for my heart (experimental back then).

I was fortunate to have the doctor that pioneered this surgery operate on me.

I had 7 catheters inserted into my heart. 4 from the femoral artery and 3 from the jugular. I know because they stuck this imaging system over my chest... and I could watch the operation on a monitor. All of the doctors were in another part of the room where they remotely moved the catheters into my heart. One catheter had a microwave tip... two had cameras, and the other four were electric "triggers" to cause my heart to go into and out of rapid heart beats... they would move the four around searching for places in the walls of my heart that had extra nerve bundles that would cause arrhythmias. Then they would move the microwave over and burn the interior wall of my heart. I think they did this like 6 times. I was in and out of it. Anyway, no WPW attacks in 20 years. took about a week to recover from having my veins sliced into so they could put all the equipment into my heart. He did find one extra "node" that he wasn't able to "seal" (burn away) because it was too close to the normal AV nodes that allow your heart to beat. He said that this might cause me problems later.

Knock on wood...

[left-of-center2012]

6. Hopefully ...

Today it's improved from 20 years ago.

[lapfog_1]

8. mine was one of the more difficult because on the number of extra AV nodes in my heart

I was on the table for something like 8 hours.

I'm sure the operation has improved.

a few years before I had my operation some cardiologists at Stanford wanted to use lasers... but when he told me that there was a 5% chance of a negative outcome... and I asked "what's a negative outcome?" and he told me "well, you die"... I decided to live with my WPW and going to the ER if I had an episode for a while longer.

microwave is much much safer!



Anyway, the trips to the ER with my heart at 300+ BPM and my blood pressure at 60/40 (basically in shock) had to stop so I took the risk with the then experimental surgery.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. I underwent a different sort of ablation.

The doctor made an incision in my right femoral vein, and advanced the catheter up into the right atrium, and then into the left atrium. From there they used cryotherapy to freeze the ectopic nodes. I too was intubated, but my procedure was considered day surgery.

We'd gotten a late start and so I did spend the night in the hospital. I had a few weeks of continuing at fib and then they stopped. I've had one breakthrough since, but no others.

The procedure was done a year ago.

You really owe it to yourself to do this. Of course, it's normal to be apprehensive! I hope you'll have great success.

[left-of-center2012]

9. I am 72

Every time they put me to sleep,
I worry I won't wake up.

But, I guess I wouldn't know.

[pangaia]

10. My advice, after all the other advice and support, is.. do NOT eat the green jello !!

[left-of-center2012]

11. But ...

sometimes they put shredded carrots in it

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. There is a small risk of that.

But it's very small. Your doctor wouldn't recommend this procedure if he thought that you wouldn't do well.

I've had a bunch of surgeries: both shoulders replaced, both knees too, hysterectomy, gall bladder removal. Always did well. And I'm a bit older than you are.

Tell your doctor you're worried, and he should address those.

If you respect and trust your doctor, then that will help you a lot.

[Freddie]

13. My sister in law had it

It fixed whatever her heart was doing wrong and it was not an especially arduous recovery. And she has loads of health problems including diabetes, kidney and orthopedic issues. She says it was a relatively simple fix and was glad she had it done. She’s 65. Best of luck!

[left-of-center2012]

16. Was it an overnight procedure?

I had the electric shock ablation two years ago and I was able to go home in about 2 hours.
Thanks

[Freddie]

17. No it was outpatient at a hospital

[left-of-center2012]

19. Thanks

I know if they keep me overnight for "observation",
I pay 100% of the bill.

If I get "admitted",
I pay 20%.

I prefer outpatient.

[Squinch]

14. I know nothing about it and can only offer you my best wishes for a return of good health.

Good luck!

[sweetroxie]

15. This procedure is in my future.

I hope you have good luck with it. Come back and report to us.

[lostnfound]

18. Magnesium? Close relative had ablation, ended up with an ICD

Pretty healthy his whole life. We both suspect he had severely depleted his magnesium, he got afib and they threw a bunch of drugs at him (he went from zero to 6!} which he rejected a fair number of, ended up hospitalized for a couple weeks and THEN he died twice on the same day (Torsades). Great attentive nursing care (including a steady supply of IV magnesium) and stopping one of the medicines gave him a rapid recovery, then the doc implanted an ICD and he is doing GREAT.

We learned that not only does Magnesium deficiency often cause afib, but severe deficiency can bring on Torsades, a usually fatal type of heart attack. Magnesium tests aren’t accurate, because it will show normal or even elevated levels in the blood (where it will concentrate itself) when the rest of body is critically depleted. I also read how important it is to give certain patients in hospital on parenteral care magnesium, for example exactly the reason that they can get depleted of magnesium so critically it can bring on Torsades. One of the drugs commonly used to treat afib also is known for depleting magnesium.

I guess ablation works well for some, but not for him. The ICD seems to be regulating his heartbeat nicely (no big shocks but I think modern ICD also provide a low signal mode that quietly keeps a rhythm if the afib appears); he discarded all of his meds (but not his magnesium...), and is feeling 95%. About a six month journey.

[smirkymonkey]

20. Best of luck to you!

I hope all goes well!

[left-of-center2012]

21. Thanks

I'll know monday

[DFW]

22. Never had that but have had cardiac adventures for 14 years now

Either I survived them all, and modern medicine is remarkable, or else I've been on the most unbelievable drug-induced final journey ever for the last 14 years. Either way, you have grounds for optimism.