ablation failure

[Guest guest]

>

>

> Date: 2004/04/20 Tue PM 02:53:34 EDT

> To: AFIBsupport

> Subject: Re: Re: ablation failure

>

> Hi Bob

>

> Thank you for the info. It was great to hear your results were successful.

>

> Your numbers are about what I expected. My EP indicated that there is a 60%

chance of a cure or some improvement for Atrial Fibrillation with the PVI. He

also said there is a 1 in 100 chance of some real serious complication. He

still feels very unconfortable with these numbers and I agree.

>

I was talking with my EP at the University of Western Ontario. That's where Dr.

Natale did his fellowship to specialize in Electrophysiology after becoming a

cardiologist. These folks have a long track record, needless to say. The 1%

number for serious problems/death seems to be pretty standard wherever the

potentials for success/failure are presented. (UWO has had no such, however. I

think (they certainly did not say) that there is a degree of hyperbole involved

to insure that no one enters into the procedure too lightly.

The success rate is a little sloppier. Their estimate of full success is around

75%. That appeared to be a fairly solid number. They expect that about 15%

will have a touch up. That also has about a 75% success rate. Part of the

reaining 10% will find that the ablation has improved their quality of life to

the point that they find it acceptable. The rest would be defined as failures,

whether because the procedure was inappropriate or because of side effects like

stenosis.

As you say, the key to the decision is an individual weighing of risk/reward.

In my case, amiodarone seems to be the drug therapy that works to control afib.

It (like all other treatments) has its own set of risks. Rate control alone

leaves me with an unacceptable quality of life. For me, it's very clear that

the ablation route has the best risk/reward balance.

If ever there was a time when the traditional " Your mileage may vary " caveat

applied, it's in the case of choosing the right long term treatment for afib.

The timing is also an indeterminate. On one hand, the sooner the better. On

the other hand, the later the better the technique will be. It's risk/reward

again. In my case, I'm getting in line now. And it'll probably be 10 months to

a year before anything happens.

Bill Manson

Guelph, Ontario

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/20/04 4:40:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

bookman00@... writes:

> On the other hand, the later the better the technique will be. It's

> risk/reward again. In my case, I'm getting in line now. And it'll probably

be 10

> months to a year before anything happens.

>

Bill, I think your reasoning is right on the money. Your success numbers and

variations of, are right on the money as well.

The Canadians killed us!

Rich O

Bruins Fan

[Guest guest]

Enter Dr JSGill who as well as being an NHS Consultant, also does

private work in London.

Congratulations on your successful ablation and your persistence.

What are Dr. Gill's address and phone number?

A-FibFriendSteve

[Guest guest]

Enter Dr JSGill who as well as being an NHS Consultant, also does

private work in London.

Congratulations on your successful ablation and your persistence.

What are Dr. Gill's address and phone number?

A-FibFriendSteve

[Guest guest]

Enter Dr JSGill who as well as being an NHS Consultant, also does

private work in London.

Congratulations on your successful ablation and your persistence.

What are Dr. Gill's address and phone number?

A-FibFriendSteve