Sean,

I don't have any concrete info about how long an ablation would last before one has to get another one. I have heard from some members here saying that they are into their 4rth year and no problem. But, I think the duration depends on the person.

Now, as far as your ablation in July, this information should NOT affect your decision to get it done. Even if you have to get it done again in a few years, it is worth to get it done and enjoy your life afib free for a few years.

I am sure just like everything else, there will be a lot of advances in ablation technology and/or treatment of the afib in the future. In my opinion, no matter what, getting an ablation now is a win win situation for you. Meaning, either it will last a long time (or forever), or you have to get another more advanced and better treatment in a few years. That is the way I looked at it when I got mine in December of 2013. So, go for it confidently.

I hope everything goes well for your ablation and it lasts forever. Good luck with it.

Scott

Nothing worked for me so I had to have a pacemaker put
in.

Anyone else have a pacemaker ???

Unfortunately there's very little data to show the efficacy of ablations beyond the 2-year mark. Some people do just fine, others have their afib return. I guess "it all depends" is the best answer.

In a little over a month, I go back in for ablation #2. I specifically asked my EP about my prospects past the 5-year mark, and all I could get out of him was, they're "very good".

Guess I'll need to take that for what it's worth and hope I'm one of the lucky ones.

duder
I will pray that you are one of the lucky ones .. I'm marking your ablation day on my calendar and you will be in my thoughts and prayers for a complete healing...

Charlene

Thanks Charlene :)

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/735306

medcape wants me to log in or become a member. could someone give a synopsis?

"Sobering" Long-Term Outcomes Following Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation
Michael O'Riordan

January 05, 2011











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January 5, 2011 (Bordeaux-Pessac, France) New data from one of the groups that pioneered the catheter-ablation approach for the treatment of atrial fibrillation provides a revealing look at the long-term results of the radiofrequency procedure. Arrhythmia-free survival rates after a single catheter-ablation procedure are relatively low at five years, just 29%, but the long-term success increases to 63% when outcomes are measured after the last ablation procedure.

Investigators report that most AF recurrences occur in the first six to 12 months and that there is a "slow but steady decline in arrhythmia-free survival" in the later years. Overall, the group contends that the ablation strategy--with repeat interventions as needed--provides "acceptable" long-term relief from the arrhythmia.




"Clinical implications of these results are substantial with regard to the care of patients with atrial fibrillation," write lead investigator Dr Rukshen Weerasooriya (Hpital Cardiologique du Haut-Lvque, Bordeaux-Pessac, France) and colleagues in the January 11, 2011 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. "First, empirical long-term follow-up data should be presented to patients to inform the decision-making process and provide reasonable expectations. Second, ongoing surveillance is warranted, even if catheter ablation was deemed initially successful."

Commenting on the results of the study for heartwire , Dr Hugh Calkins (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD), who was not affiliated with the study, said the gradual attrition rate in arrhythmia-free survival--in this trial there was an 8.9% annual recurrence rate following the last ablation attempt--confirms results observed in other studies.

"The bottom line is that everybody's results show the same thing, that atrial fibrillation is a complex arrhythmia, and that the longer you follow patients, the more recurrences they have," said Calkins. He added that those arguing ablation "cures" atrial fibrillation have been disproven. "Catheter ablation treats atrial fibrillation, it doesn't cure atrial fibrillation, at least in many patients," added Calkins. "And yes, you have to continue to follow patients, and this has important implications in terms of anticoagulation."

Moving From 29% to 63% After Last Ablation

The new data are the results of ablations performed at a single center in France. The electrophysiologists, including senior investigator Dr Michel Haissaguerre (Hpital Cardiologique du Haut-Lvque), one of the pioneers of atrial-fibrillation ablation, treated 100 patients with catheter ablation between January 2001 and April 2002 and followed them prospectively to determine the long-term outcomes. The analysis included patients with symptomatic disease and/or atrial fibrillation complicated by stroke, transient ischemic attack, or heart failure. Nearly two-thirds of patients had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, while 22% had persistent and 14% had long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation.




After a single ablation procedure, arrhythmia-free survival rates were 40%, 37%, and 29% at one, two, and five years. Most recurrences occurred within the first six months, while arrhythmias recurred in 10 of 36 patients who maintained sinus rhythm for at least one year. The only predictor of a recurrence in a univariate analysis was the type of atrial fibrillation, with long-standing atrial-fibrillation patients 1.9 times more likely to have a recurrence when compared with individuals who had the paroxysmal or persistent form of the arrhythmia.

Among the 100 patients, 175 ablations were performed, with a median of two procedures performed per patient. When researchers examined recurrences since the last ablation, the arrhythmia-free survival rate increased, with investigators reporting rates of 87%, 81%, and 63% at one, two, and five years. Overall, 77 patients were arrhythmia-free at one-year follow-up, and 19 of these patients presented with a later recurrence. The presence of valvular heart disease and nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy were independent predictors of recurrent atrial fibrillation in multivariate analysis.

The authors pointed out that the population was not representative of patients with atrial fibrillation in the real world, as these patients were predominantly younger, healthier, and not obese.

The Implications . . .

To heartwire , Calkins called these long-term results "sobering," considering the investigators performing the ablation procedures are part of the group who pioneered the therapy. That said, these results are in line with other reports, he noted, and the procedure has improved since 20012002. These results are likely the worst-case outcomes, and better equipment, including the use of irrigated catheters and the increased use of the circumferential pulmonary vein isolation technique, would have a beneficial effect on the long-term outcomes of procedures performed in later years, he added.


Overall, Calkins said the findings should not be interpreted negatively considering that other issues need to be judged when assessing the merits of atrial fibrillation.

"It isn't that catheter ablation doesn't work," he said. "This paper didn't look at atrial-fibrillation burden, which is a quality-of-life issue. You might have a patient that was in afib all the time, and you do an ablation, and they have a recurrence three years down the road, but that patient is still as happy as a clam, and their quality of life is better. Looking at recurrence as a yes-or-no question doesn't provide a full view of the benefit."

Regarding anticoagulation, Calkins said clinicians should continue to follow the Heart Rhythm Society consensus document that advises the use of the CHADS2score to guide long-term anticoagulation strategies, and not use ablation as the guiding factor in their decision.

I'd have to agree with Dr. Caukins. At 15 months post ablation, I am not AFIB free. But the quality of my life has improved greatly. And, almost all of the AFIB episodes I get are caused by me overdoing it, or getting too stressed, overheated, or dehydrated. I be thrilled to be able to remain in this status with my AFIB.

Everyone has to make their own decision, but I personally don't think the rewards outweigh the risks. I think a lot of EPs push this on patients the way back surgery for back pain used to be pushed on people. Sometimes I think these doctors just do these procedures to make another payment on their Porsches.

They're definitely not perfect, but ablation procedures are advancing and getting better all the time - it's one area of medicine where there's a lot of research being done. It's still the gold standard of treatment for afib and probably will be for a long time.

The only treatment more effective than ablation is the Maze procedure, which has a very good success rate (if you survive it) - as it's serious, crack-your-chest-open-and-cut-on-your-heart surgery.

Written in 2011

I had my ablation a little over two weeks ago and have been NSR since...I still have some time to heal, but I'm kicking myself for not having one earlier...my quality of life has improved greatly, because my AFib had recently turned persistent. I can't remember the last vacation I had without having an AFib episode. I'm really looking forward to this summer vacation not worrying about AFib.

had ablation last month still go into afib now and then but there is a healing period .. but they go back to normal ryhthm on there own and getting less every week.. i was never told it would be cure just a treament that hopefully will improve life and for the most part i think it will .. i would do it again if have to but cant say how its done this early in recovery but this is just me sure lot depends on life style and changes sleep apena

I had my ablation on March 31 and have felt great ever since. Couple PAC's but nothing crazy. With that said I still expect to go back into afib at some point in my life. It will always be around (I am still coming to this site, right?). I am just picking the best way to manage it for me. I am hoping I get 5 years out of this though...

I think what Petey posted were results on ablations done in 2001. I am hoping they have been able to perfect it a bit since then for my sake.