Ablation experience

January 29, 2005

I will repeat some background info from a previous message on a

different subject just for completeness.

History - afib for 1 1/2 years, and paroxsymal until 2 months

ago(typically in the 2 days in/2 days out of fib) when I went chronic

(or persistent - can't ever remember order). My cardiologist had

originally suggested tambacor (flec) but after research on side

effects and considering quality of life at time, I concluded no and he

agreed.

With constant afib I now am still not badly affected, tho I do have

less endurance, have given up running although all other exercises go

fine. But I decided it was time to move up to an EP for a second

opinion. I am seeing Jie Cheng in Houston at the Texas Heart

Institute. He has performed about 500 PVI operations and currently

does 3-5/week. I will say I was satisfied with his 'bed side manner',

very open and very communicative about risks/rewards, his protocol

logic etc., but of course what really counts is his 'surgery table

manner', i.e. experience and success.

He is not prepared to make a recommendation until I get an update

echocardiogram to see if any remoding(sp?) has occured. He did want to

put me on Toprol beta blocker since his read is my heart rate is a bit

high. When I was in NSR and running (only a mile a day) my resting

heart rate was 52-60; according to the EKG (and similar to my heart

monitor I have) my HR is pushing 90 when in fib.

My questions: Anyone here had a PVI by Dr. Cheng? Those who have had

Natale do one, recall how many of these he has done in his career?

Thanks.

January 29, 2005

In a message dated 1/29/05 8:30:47 AM Eastern Standard Time,

ColonelBlip@... writes:

> My questions: Anyone here had a PVI by Dr. Cheng? Those who have had

> Natale do one, recall how many of these he has done in his career?

>

> Thanks.

>

Natale?

Thousands.

Rich O

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