Guest guest Posted August 20, 2004 Report Share Posted August 20, 2004 Hello everyone, I have not posted in a while but I have been reading your posts with interest. Some of you may remember that I had an electrophysiology study done back in May. My EP found the area in my heart causing the AFIB, surprise! near one of my pulmonary vein openings. He tried to get the catheter to go through the septum but it would not go. I now have to wait for another cardiologist to go into the cath lab with my EP to do the trans-septal part, the EP to do the actual ablation. My EP said this procedure would be approximately six weeks after the May EPS - HA, HA. I got a letter from the hospital saying the ablation would be in September, four months after the original EPS, on my daughter's birthday. I did not want my daughter thinking about this on her 19th birthday so I called the hospital to re-schedule. The booking lady said 'It's funny you called to day, I was thinking I would have to cancel you for that day anyway; if the EP can get an anaesthetist, he will be doing ICDs that day. " When would they have let me know I wonder? I was told to call back in August to see if they were any clearer on the bookings. You know it - they still don't know when I can be booked. This is not a full fledged PVI as some of you have had done. This is just a zap of the area said to be causing the AFIB. Now I do not know if I want to go through with it. When I think about the delays, the fact that I have never met the doctor who will push a sharp catheter through the septum in my heart, nor am I likely to until I am in the cath lab. Also in the past month my drugs seem to be holding me pretty well. Is this the start of something good with my drugs after two and a half years? Or have I just hexed myself and my heart rate will revert to irregular any minute now? Your thoughts would be appreciated. Germaine (52) Canada propafenone, atenolol, warfarin ______________________________________________________________________ Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 20, 2004 Report Share Posted August 20, 2004 In a message dated 8/20/04 11:39:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time, germainefisher@... writes: > My EP found > the area in my heart causing the AFIB, surprise! near one > of my pulmonary vein openings. He tried to get the > Germaine, Welcome back. Your above EP's statement concerns me. Finding the area of the heart where the AF is located. Granted, most AF starts in the left side of the heart where the pulmonary veins are. As I understand it, the EP has to be in the left side with a mapping catherter to locate the hot spots. Once located, he ablates them. How he found your hot spots, without be in the left side concerns me. He might be saying, there is nothing here on the right side, so it must all be happening on the left side. A simple deduction. What do you know about the EP who is going into your left side? Have you checked him out or are you just relying on your EP's word. I would do my homework on this one. Two things. 1. You want a safe procedure 2. You want a successful procedure. Rich O Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 20, 2004 Report Share Posted August 20, 2004 In a message dated 8/20/04 4:26:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time, germainefisher@... writes: > With regards to the other cardiologist who does the trans- > septal " push through " for want of the proper technical terminology; > he is not an EP. But my EP did say that this other doctor > specializes in this procedure. Why does he? - beats me! Then my EP > would do the actual ablating. I really like my EP, he really made > the EP Study very comfortable. I did not feel a thing. Now I am > wary of putting so much faith in this other guy as well. Can't > these decisions ever be simple Hi Germaine. Question. Where are you having your work done? Your EP has to be in the left side to map and locate the hot cells and ablate them. How many PVA's has he done? He obviously doesn't do many full PVA's, if he can't get to the other side by himself. Remember. You want a safe and successful procedure. Don't mistake a gentle bedside manner for skill in the OR. We always say in my business " Don't mistake motion for productivity " . I would suggest talking with your EP and find out how many full PVA's he's done this month or any month for that matter. PVA= Pulmonary Vein Ablation. Full PVA= A right side, left side and flutter ablation at one time. I think he is a right side and flutter ablater only EP. Also what his success rate is, based on what criteria. Rich O Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 20, 2004 Report Share Posted August 20, 2004 Re: To do or not to do! I really don't understand what goes on during the electrophysiology study but my EP was very pleased that he had pinpointed the area in my heart that is causing the AFIB. I just take the working of the electrical system of the heart on faith. You mean you can't pick up signals from the left atrium when you have anywhere from 3-5 catheters in the right atrium? I know I have 5 little insertion site marks remaining in my right groin. I just thought it would work somethig like an EKG where they can pick up electrical signals while not even in your heart. I need to find a " How the EPS Works for Dummies " book! This may be what you need. I'd click on the " EP Study " button, the " Ablations " button and the " FAQ's " button. http://www.londoncardiac.ca/pages/educate.htm (and Canadian content too!) Bill Manson " Wouldn't you hate it if the future weren't the best thing you ever did? " -- Rauschenberg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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