cryotherapy

[Guest guest]

Has anyone had the procedure, Cryotherapy?? It freezes cells

instead of using heat. Would like someone to respond that has had

procedure. Thanks!

[Guest guest]

> Has anyone had the procedure, Cryotherapy?? It freezes cells

> instead of using heat. Would like someone to respond that has had

> procedure. Thanks!

Joyce, I haven't had the procedure but I have some information. My

EP, Dr. Greg Feld, has been performing Cryotherapy trials here in San

Diego CA at UCSD Hospital. I spoke with Dr. Feld in the Spring and

he was optimistic about the procedure at that time as it provided a

reduced risk of stenosis. He felt that candidates for the procedure

should be those with lone AF with no structural heart damage and with

no prior ablations within at least the preceding year. About 6 mo's

ago there was a television program about a lady who had Paroxysmal AF

who had the procedure and found it successful.

Hope this helps,

JIM

[Guest guest]

I'm interested, as well.

I've had AFIB (at least that's what one Cardiologist has said - I tend

to agree) continously for about 6 months. It used to be ventricular

palputations about 4 or 5 times a year (started about 25 years ago)-

MDs said not to worry - very common. Have done LOTS of reading -

actual cures seem to be abnormal. Have tried several different drugs

for rate control - currently using Corgard (stepping up to 60mg 2x

day). Did try Cardizem LA for awhile, but made me feel very tired (or

is it just the Afib?). Seems to be worse at night - I'm really

getting tired of sleeping on my right side! Sometimes wakes me up and

I stay awake for several hours. Most of the time I don't actually

FEEL the Afib, but the ventricular stuff sure is annoying. After I

started the Cardizem, there were times I could feel the very fast

AFib, but it's usually just the ventricular rate that bounces around.

The only cardiologist I've been able to see here, wants to use

Betapace, but I've not read anything good about it OR it's

applicability to AFib. I'm getting a second opinion in a couple of

weeks.

Something that I've recently tried that helps A LOT! Ambien! I sleep

all night - do not wake at all until morning. It is great! Too bad

it's slightly addictive.

Anyway, beginning the first of November we're wintering in Arizona

(we're full time RVers currently working in Branson) wherein the

Arizona Heart Institute is located. They are assisting in the trials

for Cryocor. I'm hoping that I might get involved in that. Cryocor's

press releases (http://www.cryocor.com/news/pressrel.htm) sound

promising.

Anybody have a recommendation for a specific cardiologist at the AHI?

Thanks for reading my, all too common, story.

Steve

[Guest guest]

Steve wrote:

<<wants to use Betapace, but I've not read anything good about it OR

it's applicability to AFib>>

Betapace is a " first line " drug for afib. It preserves NSR and serves to

control rate at the same time. The rate control aspect, especially,

tends to bother some folks. But it is relatively safe and has a long

track record. If it happens to work for you, that would be great.

I'd be careful about participating in trials. You are literally a guinea

pig. That said, the freeze approach is said to have some advantages. It

is said to be less likely to generate a stroke event during the

procedure and in theory they can poke around looking for unwanted

electrical activity, then cool it down and check it out, before they

actually freeze it to death. The tip will also stay in place once it is

fixed in the beating heart, much like a finger sticks to a very cold ice

cube. Other claims are made for it as well. But it does not have the

history of successful use that the standard heating approach does.

I looked at Cryocor's web site and was a little alarmed to see how deep

inside the opening of the pulmonary vein they showed their catheter

going. They claim it is less likely to produce pulmonary stenosis, but I

wondered if that alleged advantage was not at least offset by going so

deep inside a single vein.

Thanks for the tip on Ambien. I had never heard of it and it appears to

be an interesting alternative to Valium and related drugs.

- OU alum in MI

[Guest guest]

Steve wrote:

<<wants to use Betapace, but I've not read anything good about it OR

it's applicability to AFib>>

Betapace is a " first line " drug for afib. It preserves NSR and serves to

control rate at the same time. The rate control aspect, especially,

tends to bother some folks. But it is relatively safe and has a long

track record. If it happens to work for you, that would be great.

I'd be careful about participating in trials. You are literally a guinea

pig. That said, the freeze approach is said to have some advantages. It

is said to be less likely to generate a stroke event during the

procedure and in theory they can poke around looking for unwanted

electrical activity, then cool it down and check it out, before they

actually freeze it to death. The tip will also stay in place once it is

fixed in the beating heart, much like a finger sticks to a very cold ice

cube. Other claims are made for it as well. But it does not have the

history of successful use that the standard heating approach does.

I looked at Cryocor's web site and was a little alarmed to see how deep

inside the opening of the pulmonary vein they showed their catheter

going. They claim it is less likely to produce pulmonary stenosis, but I

wondered if that alleged advantage was not at least offset by going so

deep inside a single vein.

Thanks for the tip on Ambien. I had never heard of it and it appears to

be an interesting alternative to Valium and related drugs.

- OU alum in MI