It's always "We don't know."

I think everyone has to be their own advocate - a lot depends on the experience of the EP and his/her success rate, how AF is affecting you, and know that every procedure you take with any doctor for any reason has a risk factor.

In my case, I had already had one stroke and did not want to chance another. The EP I went to has a high success rate and is knowledgeable and experienced in current procedures. I was willing to take the chance twice and so far I have been AF free since October. We'll see what the next step is.

Like Petey says, they don't always know and they won't recommend or not recommend it, the decision is always yours. Sometimes that's a heavy burden.

Good Luck.

I'm delighted to hear you're afib free! :)

I'm not even considering ablation... not yet anyway. I'm just doing research about afib.

I've only had one big afib attack so far... looking back, I've had a few short ones over the years, but nothing like "Big Bertha" a couple of weeks ago that sent me to the hospital.

Keep well, and I'm so happy for you!

Joan - Glad to hear you're doing so well.
Welcome back from your trip to LA.
Hope to see you soon in SF.

Annette

Congratulations Twinsisters. It must feel wonderful to be free of "The Beast".

I hope you can keep up the good beat!!

Pam

I always scratch my head when I hear afib being called a "beast". For me it is more like a snake that sneaks up on you un-noticed and can affect you later without a sound.

That's the difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic. Mine came on like a freight train.

Ditto, IslandLuvr. I thought I was going to die.

That was 1996. I didn't die.

Yep, this beast is tricky. It attacks people in different ways.

I'm just trying to decide between cryo and RF ablation, let alone all these new things...

Sounds like on this board, those with cryo had an easier recovery. Some docs don't even do cryo since they see no advantage. I just don't know.

Hey Heart: From what you've read, is Cryo less likely to cause PV stenosis? Or Petey, maybe you know?

There are also inherent risks using radiofrequency energy in the relatively thin-walled left atrium including the risk of cardiac tamponade due to steam pop phenomenon as well as the risk of injury to adjacent structures including the pulmonary veins (stenosis), oesophagus, nerve plexi, aorta, bronchi, pericardium, phrenic nerve, and lungs.1 Added to these problems is the observation that the procedure is extremely demanding in terms of operator competency and dexterity with a somewhat steep learning curve with better results seen in experienced higher volume centres.Given these limitations, it is not surprising that alternative energy sources and delivery platforms are under investigation to more specifically target pulmonary vein muscular sleeves. At present, cryoenergy is the only alternative energy source available in the clinical setting and is probably much less likely to cause pulmonary vein stenosis or oesophageal damage, although this has not yet been proved in a direct clinical comparison.


http://europace.oxfordjournals.org/content/10/11/1251.full#ref-2

Here is my take on this question - and it is a rule I have used in many domains of my life...

Do your research to find the person who is the smartest in a given area and then go with their recommendation.

Try to understand the basic issues and know that, at the end of the day, everything is a risk.

For afib, I went to a friend who is a very heavy hitter in the community. CEO of a Fortune 50 company. I have known him since high school. I asked him to find me the best solution. He referred me to the head of executive health for the top health care provider in our region. I talked to him and he referred me to the top afib surgeon in the region. He specializes in afib and has done over 2500 procedures.

I have been trying things for about a year (drugs and cardioversion). We have talked and I have made my assessment of him and his judgment. There is no way I can educate myself on all the issues.

I have done my "due diligence" and am moving forward with cyro-ablation.

At the end it may not work and I will be riding horses into the mountains instead of backpacking and climbing.

I have a friend going in for heart valve surgery tomorrow. He has no kidneys and his INR was 16! Now it is down to 12 or so. His platelets are screwed up and when I talk to him he asks me about MY heart. I have no worries - I am a lucky, lucky guy.

Let us know WHO will do the cryoblation. That matters too.