When I had my ablation, I needed three tests, blood, cat scan (I forgot the name) of the heart to map the blood vessels, and a trans esophageal echo (TEE). The TEE was done about an hour before the ablation, so no extra planning required. The blood work was done in my usual lab and the results sent to the EP. I had the cat scan done in the same hospital as the ablation, but that is not required. That scan can be done anywhere and the results sent to the doctor.

Hi im from mpls too. Im gonna need a. Cardioversion. To get nsr back.Hope all goes well for you . Good luck my friend

Hi,

I recently went out of state for my ablation but the hospital was in my insurance network. If it had been out of network the cost would have been 0ver $60,000 for out of network expenses. Make sure you have coverage.

Good luck,

Paul

Travis,
Just my opinion but I would say if you have a chance to get an ablation from the best, do NOT let that opportunity pass you by! Unless as Paul points out, it is going to cost you 60K or more! In THAT case, maybe someone in the top 10 would do! Best of luck in your decision, my friend.

Bill

Just wanted to say best wishes on whatever you decide.

Travis,

I guess it all depends on the EP. As you may know, I was on stand-by for my ablation at Xmas eve. The hospital called me at 5 PM and they said be at the hospital at 5 AM. After checking in at 5 AM, a nurse got my medical history and they took me to the cath lab. They put me out within 2 minutes after I was on the table.

Apparently, every necessary test was done after they put me out right before the ablation. For blood test, I gave a copy of my month old blood test to my EP when I went to him two weeks before my ablation.

So, it all depends on your EP (Dr. Natale) and his team. They can make it very easy for you and get everything done right before your ablation. As the saying goes, if there is a will there is a way, right?

By the way, when my EP put me on stand-by for ablation, he told me if there is any problem with the TEE, he would not do the ablation. That was his biggest concern since I was NOT taking any pharma blood thinner. I had been taking only nattokinase for over 10 years since the start of my afib.

I hope my experience gives you some perspective. I wish you lots of luck for your ablation with the God of ablation, doctor Natale. Please keep us posted. Thanks.

Scott

Travis,
All you really need is a blood test and maybe be put on on Xarelto or Eliquis a month prior just in case you have a blood clot built up in your LAA so a TEE is not really needed. I never had a image of my heart using a CT scan, Natale felt it wasn't necessary in my case. The exposure to that much radiation should be avoided, the Carto3 imaging mapping system along with the Lasso catheter was enough for Natale with his skill set being the best in the world to locate the PV's, CS, LAA posterior wall etc.... Usually they superimpose the CT scan with the Carto3 mapping for a more precise image to plot the location of the RF catheter when doing burns. In more persistent cases or permanent he might ask for a CT image.
Many less skilled ablasionists also do a post up CT scan to check for stenosis of the Pulmunary veins, Natale stopped doing that 7 years ago as he just doesn't see it anymore with a;ll the modern mapping tools and his experience.
One trip down there to meet him, then get it done on a subsequent visit and followup with a local EP. Or just send him your records history, get on Xarelto, meet him one day, then get ablated the next.
I'
m17 months out, just had my stress/echo test, all good, heart is in great shape, Left atrium shrunk back to 3.5cm from 4.6cm from before abaltion, all valves normal with no regurgitation, Pulmonary Artery and Pulmonary veins all normal, EF 55% at rest 65% during exercise. Only issue was HR hit 160bpm after only 9.5 mins of exercise without beta blocker for a week, so she stopped the test.
Perfectly normal as my heart's natural pacemaker is rewiring, can take up to 2 years for HR to drop back down. No AFIB seen at all during that High HR either, but I knew that as I have been monitoring myself since my ablation.

This information represents my best understanding, I'm not a doctor just play one on TV.

McHale

Let the office staff know you're coming in from out-of-state. They should be able to line up any tests you need on the day before your procedure. I had an ablation with Dr Natale in February (still no afib!!). I live several hours away from the hospital, so I mentioned this to his office staff. Prior to my ablation, there was one test the day before the procedure, so I had one night in a hotel. They will work with you to make it as convenient as possible! After the procedure, there is a 6 month office visit (with possible TEE test). Hope this helps!

Thanks for all the replies everyone! I thought I would give an update in case there are others that have the same question. I talked to Natale's nurse and I will only need a TEE done the day before the procedure. She also said ideally they would like me "in the area" up to 48 hours afterwards "just in case." So all told, I will only need to be down in Austin for 4 straight days. All other tests, follow up, etc. can be done by my local EP so it won't be a big ordeal at all.

I'll keep you all posted.

Travis