PM / ablation question

While on the treadmill today, my wife was on her cell speaking to a friend who informed her that this friend's hubby has had an ablation (he also had a PM implanted 6 months earlier.) I never heard of an ablation being performed after a PM implant. In my case, after 3 failed Atrial ablations, my AV node was destroyed, and a 3 - lead Medtronic Consulta implanted. Anyone have more info on this type of scenario?
Also -- just curious -- another issue I have is testing positive for the antiphospholipid antibody, warfarin being the therapy - also the therapy for my paroxymal A-Fib. Anyone know of any site similar to this one for us Lupus folks? Luckily, it creates no symptoms for me other than low platelets (71,000 - 113,000)
Thanks,
Dave

3 Comments

Bradycardia and tachycardia

by golden_snitch - 2014-04-13 10:04:27

Hi Dave!

As the pacemaker only treats slow arrhythmias (bradycardia), it is of course possible that one undergoes a catheter ablation to treat some kind of tachycardia after the pacemaker implant. Some patients have both, bradycardia and tachycardia. In other cases, patients are first diagnosed with a bradycardia, and then later come up with some tachycardia. I had three ablations before the pacer was put in, and five more afterwards.

What you've had sounds like an "ablate & pace" approach to treat atrial fibrillation. But then I read through some of your previous posts, and you mentioned once that the pacer report showed no AT/AF episodes. Hm... Why did they ablate your AV-node then? Just wondering, because an AV-node ablation with pacemaker implant is usually the absolute last resort treatment for patients with Afib in whom no drugs, cardioversions, and PVIs have worked. And sometimes in cases like mine, where the patient has multiple atrial arrhythmias.

I had my AV-node ablated after 7 ablations to treat all kinds of supraventricular tachycardia (successfully, but I developed new arrhythmias all the time), and because the arrhythmia that bothered me the most at that time, originated in the AV-junction. A retrograde VA-conduction was part of the problem, too, and could only be corrected by ablating through the AV-node. And even in my case, after 7 ablations, all EPs involved said it was a very tough decision to make. So, I'm a bit suprised to hear that you had an AV-node ablation after just three failed atrial ablations.

Inga

Ablation

by Dave H - 2014-04-13 12:04:52

Hi Inga -- If I remember correctly, my first ablation early in 2011 was not successful and two months later, after the second try it appeared things were going well. The time frame of June, 2011 thru Jan 2012 was uneventful. Then I developed a 125 pulse (sinus rhythm) tachycardia that my EP did not seem concerned about. I stayed at that heart rate late Jan thru Apr, 2011. Other cardiologist (not an EP) put his .02 in stating my heart was never at rest during that period. After an out of rhythm ER run with a 260 pulse and a third ablation attempt was aborted since the EP discovered I had developed an allergy to Heparin and my BP dropped to 50/20 during the procedure. PM was implanted a few days later. The no AT/AF event info was about a year after the PM implant. Metoprolol seems to work well for me. And, yes I am PM dependent. Doc who implanted the device tried to talk me into a fourth try at ablation, but I threw in the towel. At the hospital, just getting up from the bed and walking 15 feet caused my heart rate to jump to 240.

--Dave--

Meds

by Tick-tock - 2014-04-14 12:04:20

I am one week post ablation, followed by pm revision, and lead extraction. I had my original pm implanted 6 months ago for bradycardia . After receiving my pm I then as many tachycardia episodes. Medications were not effective- hence the ablation.
I too have lupus, and would love to find a website like this for that. If you stumble across anything please let us know!
-Stephanie

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You invested in the Energizer battery company.

Member Quotes

I'm 35 and got my pacemaker a little over a year ago. It definitely is not a burden to me. In fact, I have more energy (which my husband enjoys), can do more things with my kids and have weight because of having the energy.