I had an ablation for flutter as well as Afib 10 months ago. My EP abated the right atrium for flutter and the left for Afib.. On the report I saw, he abated the left atrium first and then worked on the right for flutter.
From what I understand, an ablation for flutter is pretty easy and has a 90% plus success rate, because the doctors know exactly where to ablate. With a flutter ablation you go home the same day of the procedure and it does not require full anesthesia.
I could not tell if the recovery time was more difficult or took longer, with my dual ablation, since this was my very first ablation. Quite frankly I thought it was a pretty easy procedure for me. Went back to the gym the second week for light work outs, increased duration and intensity slowly. Four weeks post op I stopped the meds, but during the second months I had 2 Afib episodes which lasted about 2 to 3 hours. Now I am flutter and Afib free since Xmas .

Don't know if that answered all your questions, just let me know if you need more info.

Thanks Sanibel, how long was your procedure?
Full anesthesia? How long on thinners after the ablation?
Ecofr

Yes I had full anesthesia. i really don't know how long the actual procedure took. From what i remember and reading the hospital report, i was brought to the EP lab at 8:30 and i woke up in the recovery room at 1pm. i was awake only a short time at the beginning, had just enough time to see all the amazing equipment in the lab. While i was out they placed the line in the groin and my neck, performed a TEE and then of course both ablations.

I know you will be amazed, but i was never on blood thinners . Not before, nor after the ablation. This is quite uncommon, but not unheard of and is at the discretion of the EP. Of course for the procedure I received a Heparin bolus followed by a Heparin infusion and all this required me to lie flat for 12 hours post ablation.

Sanibel,
yes, I'm amazed you were not on thinners, although the TEE gave good insurance of lack of previous clots.
thanks again
ecofr

I had a Maize for afib 2 years ago. It pretty much took care of the fib, but I have flutter now. I saw another EP 1 week ago. I told him the other EP I saw said the flutter was an easy fix. Mind you they are in the same group and the best in tis city. He told me it was not an easy fix for me and my odds were 50% and that was if he could induce flutter while he was doing the procedure.

My problem may be from the fib Maize procedure being an incomplete procedure and it's hard to detect where the flutter is coming from. I have had 6 cardioversions so far and am looking at a pacer as well. Doesn't seem all that great to me. I admire people who have had ablations and are doing well.

Good luck whatever you do.

I am having another ablation in a mo. or so. I had one last Oct. for A-Fib, which left me with some A-Fib and added A-flutter to the mix. My EP will tackle the flutter first and the A-Fib secondly. I'm going to have conscious sedation as he doesn't want to lose contact with me at any point. He said the best help is communication with the patient....but he guarantees I won't feel a thing...I'm believing him:) We shall see. They have to use catheters on both sides because flutter is the right atrium and A-Fib the left atrium.

Tomorrows,
Thanks for the info. I understand you only had afib, no aflutter before ablation, am I right? I have mostly aflutter, sometimes afib. Did you have full anesthesia on the first ablation? How long?
Thanks again
Ecofr

When I had my first ablation I only had A-Fib. The A-Fib no longer shows up, but the flutter deoes. It's supposedly easier to cure, but my Dr. also thinks I still have some A-Fib with it. I did have general anesthesia the first time, but I'm very glad this time I've decided to go with conscious sedation. The EP tells me the patient can be a lot of help in his decision on where to ablate, so I'm OK with it.

I too was conscious throughout the whole procedure. I did not feel anything. They did both the flutter and fib. It did take 6 hrs however. All is well almost 2 years later.

Excuse me but Colleen you stole my picture. Sorry but could you please choose another one. Thanks.
Moy...

I had an ablation for a flutter about two years ago. I was under conscience sedation, and was told that the ablation for afib was more involved and so they were only willing to do the easier procedure first.

I have been on a small dose of Sotalol since. And if I have symptoms of afibI am to take another half. I did have one occation that I had to just that, and I am not on on any blood thinners.

Any comments on this?

If you have afib or even had an afib ablation (without 24 7 monitoring), your CHA2DS2VaSC score determines your need for anticoagulation. In most cases the answer is yes. petey