He is considered one of the best CA ep's in the country. Has done over 8000 ablations. He works out of Austin Texas at the Texas cardiac arrhythmia. Just google his name.
Trent

Travis,
Not sure where John McHale has been lately, but hopefully he will see your post and respond. He had surgery done by Dr. Natale and is a big advocate of his. I understand that he will make an appointment with any interested party....of course I don't know how long your wait might be, since from everything I have read about him he is one of the top guys. Hopefully you wouldn't have to wait too long. Good luck!

Bill

I had an ablation with Dr. Natale in February in San Francisco. He also works in New York and Austin, Tx. Spends one week in each location doing ablations. I called their office in November, got an appointment in Dec. then the ablation in Feb. CPMC in San Fran is considered one of the three best hospitals in the world for the treatment of afib. He is truly dedicated to helping those of us with afib and is a pioneer in the use of certain technologys. To read about his background just Google him and you'll find his curriculum vitae. This was my second ablation (first by him). At 5 months out, I haven't had any afib (just some flips and flutters at the very beginning). He has taken me off all meds except Xarelto. When I go in for 6 mo apt I will have a TEE and he will decide if I'm staying on Xarelto. I feel so good, even started a Zumba class. Now that would never have happened before....(too freaky about getting my heart rate up!). Hope this helps!

Susie

Travis, this sounds like you are very much considering an ablation. Im hoping all of your research will pay off for you! Best of luck in finding the right EP to do the best job.

Susie did I understand correctly; you had 2 ablations by Dr. Natale? How long did the first one last? What were the signals that you needed another one? Glad to hear that the second one is going so well. NO a-fib at all??? Super. AND a Zumba class, Im jealous. I guess it just goes to show it can and does happen. WooHoo.

ATP: No, my first ablation was by a different doctor. My second ablation was with Dr Natale. My first one lasted about five years. Then afib came back. I am so symptomatic (fainting or near fainting, very high HR) that each episode ended in an ER visit. I'm keeping my fingers crossed but I'm realistic enough to know there are no guarantees. So I'm just taking it a day at a time and doing what I can to enjoy this bit of "freedom"!

Hi Trent, I also had my two ablations with Dr. Natale. He is considered one of the pioneers in the field, and I understand he developed the technique (I'm sure with many others) at the Cleveland Clinic before moving to Austin. His forte is in the research realm, so he and his crew focus on the science of ablation, afib, and the meds that control afib, or not. I actually checked his publication recorded and if you're into that sort of thing, you'll be impressed by 40-50 publications per year and an H-index of 40. I would also say that he's extremely busy and I've essentially avoided making appointments to see him after the first post-op meeting; my day is also busy and waiting hours for a consult wasn't effective for me.

I prefer to see Dr. Burquardt, one of Natale's lieutenants; he's very good too, and will give you honest feedback. He also does CA procedures. I wish you and others here the best of luck.

Michael

Thanks for the info. I'll have to do more research on him but you guys have given me a good start. I have a feeling getting an ablation done by him these days would be like getting an appointment to meet the President. That's the thing about these "All-Star" doctors...the good ones are hard to get to.

I wonder what his success rate is...and how he defines success. My local EP says his team's success rate is about 70% but they define that as going 2 years after the blanking period without an episode.

Travis

Only two people will I allow to ablate my heart it's GOD or Dr Natale. Since I prayed to God he sent me Dr Natale literally out of the Blue one May 28, 2013 last year for a for first time consultation that lasted 45 minutes at St Luke's in New York City. Being booked the next day and flying out the following day after back to Texas he asked me a question.....are you free this afternoon...sure I said what's on your mind Dr Natale I asked with curiosity....We do you want to get ablated now!!!????? Without hesitation I yelled with excitement YES lets do it now. Off he ran to get anesthesiology and off I went to get prepped.
Then on the long walk to the modern EP Labs built especially for Dr Natale by the likes of the Sheik of Kuwait I walked by Dr Natale sitting on stool talking away in his native Italian to someone I assume from his country. As we crossed paths I looked down at him and with a nod and a smile from him I knew I was in GODS hands as I elated with uncontrollable excitement that I was truly Blessed.
They said Clapton was GOD......I say Natale is GOD!

Simply the Best

Any Questions :)

McHale

John:

Thanks for checking in with your opinions about Dr. Natale. Can you provide more details regarding your situation? Like how bad was your afib and how long had you been suffering from it prior to having him do the procedure? What type of ablation did he do - RF or cryoballon? And how have things been the past year? I'm assuming no complications or medications based on your opinions of him.

Travis

Travis,
Diagnosed Memorial day weekend 2009, suffered 4 years of paroxysmal afib, frequency was about every was 2 weeks, then about 7-10 days with episodes lasting 24-48 hours, stroked out Labor Day weekend 2012, put on Xerelto, condition worsened to weekly then 2-3 a week then Natale literally cam out of nowhere to St Lukes. I received an email from Shannon from another forum informing Natale is expecting you in his office in 2 weeks to see you when he arrives in New York to start ablating. So I was becoming persistent not good.
In any event he abalted my Pulmonary veins, moved to my back wall where he found more activity, broke up my posterior wall with a roofline that broke up the area that can sustain afib then moved on to my coronary sinus where he found lots more foci and rotors that was still triggering afib, finally shutting it dowm that last of it.
Only RF Thermocool catheters, doesn't feel cyro is durable and lasers are too unpredictible in controlling the burns. He's the world 's preeminent researcher while still ablating around 40-50 patients a week. All the top centers and everyone mostly else use RF I believe 97% of the time. Cyro has it's own complications especially phrenic nerve damage so it's not as safe as you may believe in inexperienced hands. Natale's complication rates are rare and his reconnections are now almost non-existent. His success rates are the highest in the world t even topping the the French in Bordeaux , he takes on the most complicated cases and botched ablations from other centers. He's one of the few that challenges his burns with isoproterenol stimulation for 20 mins to make sure his lesions are solid and trasmural meaning deep enough not to reconnect..
Check your PM

McHale

Travis,
There are also many other good EP's out here and other methods using cyro which now have become better too with the second generation so this is not a knock on any other doctor or center. It's just if you can get to the best especially with a more persistent case the chance of one and done is better. Most EP's always just do a PVI and stop there but the truth is in more frequent afib cases there is acivity outdie the PV's where the diseaseddsubtrate has spread to because maybe we waited too long. .Always be prepared for a touch-up no matter who you go to.It's the most complicated disease!!!
Now I'm late for work!

McHale

John,
I just wanted to make sure..so you LIKE Dr. Natale? To be honest, I have heard/read so many good things about him that I was almost shocked to read that Mike needed two ablations by the guy. Amazing success rate! I was also a bit surprised to read that his success rate is higher than in Bordeaux...God bless him! Glad your ablation is holding up. Hopefully it will be a lifetime success!

Bill

So far I'm fine with just my cardiologist. Glad to know Dr. Natale 's office is just down the hall at CPMC if/when I may need to see an EP.

Annette

Bill,
In more persistent and permanent cases cases two ablations are most likely needed as he holds off on a total isolation of the LAA that is the source of stubborn cases especially if you wait too long.
Problem is most likely your flow velocity from the appendage is greatly compromised so after after a total isolation after 6 months a TEE is performed where he determines the flow and if you need to be on permanent blood thinners for life. That's why waiting till the disease has spread outside the PVs and diseased other areas of the left atrium is in nobody's interest.
Correction he performs about 40 a month depending on his schedule.
That whole team in Texas is a fine tuned machine and all highly trained by the Master himself.

McHale

Thanks for checking in McHale, your Story is Amazing!!!!!!