Guest guest Posted March 19, 2004 Report Share Posted March 19, 2004 > I had 2 ablations already, none of them worked. I think there is a 80% change they told me. My first ablation they put me right to sleep, on the 2nd one I wasn't drugged at all because the doc. said the drugs make the arrhythmia's go away. It was real painful for me I started to cry. You could feel the burning and it made you feel like you couldn't breathe and lots off pressure on the side of my neck. I don't mean to scare you, your doc. might give you some drugs. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Bridget, it's inexcusable for you to have that kind of pain and I hope you told the doctor about your displeasure with the whole situation. I've had several operation....baloon angioplasties and two bypass surgeries and a bunch of electrical cardioversions and never experienced pain like you described except for one time in the ER during a cardioversion and when I told my EP about the whole thing he was very apologetic. I told he didn't need to apologize because he wasn't even involved in the conversion but he still said he was sorry and that someone dropped the ball. P <MI> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2004 Report Share Posted March 19, 2004 > I had 2 ablations already, none of them worked. I think there is a 80% change they told me. My first ablation they put me right to sleep, on the 2nd one I wasn't drugged at all because the doc. said the drugs make the arrhythmia's go away. It was real painful for me I started to cry. You could feel the burning and it made you feel like you couldn't breathe and lots off pressure on the side of my neck. I don't mean to scare you, your doc. might give you some drugs. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Bridget, it's inexcusable for you to have that kind of pain and I hope you told the doctor about your displeasure with the whole situation. I've had several operation....baloon angioplasties and two bypass surgeries and a bunch of electrical cardioversions and never experienced pain like you described except for one time in the ER during a cardioversion and when I told my EP about the whole thing he was very apologetic. I told he didn't need to apologize because he wasn't even involved in the conversion but he still said he was sorry and that someone dropped the ball. P <MI> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2004 Report Share Posted March 19, 2004 Bridget: How long ago was your second ablation ? I had one 5 weeks ago & didn't experience anything like you described. I was conscious, but sedated. There was some discomfort in my chest as they did the procedure, but not anything that reached the " painful " stage. I hope for the sake of others considering a PVA that your experience isn't typical, because it sure doesn't sound like fun. IMO, It sounds like your experience has more to do with the skill of the Dr. who performed it than the procedure itself. I've never seen any articles that describe a PVA as a painful experience. Overnight stay in Hosp, 3-4 days of no heavy lifting, then you're good to go. Pretty simple. Thor NSR 5 weeks & counting Re: ablation > I had 2 ablations already, none of them worked. I think there is a 80% change they told me. My first ablation they put me right to sleep, on the 2nd one I wasn't drugged at all because the doc. said the drugs make the arrhythmia's go away. It was real painful for me I started to cry. You could feel the burning and it made you feel like you couldn't breathe and lots off pressure on the side of my neck. I don't mean to scare you, your doc. might give you some drugs. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Bridget, it's inexcusable for you to have that kind of pain and I hope you told the doctor about your displeasure with the whole situation. I've had several operation....baloon angioplasties and two bypass surgeries and a bunch of electrical cardioversions and never experienced pain like you described except for one time in the ER during a cardioversion and when I told my EP about the whole thing he was very apologetic. I told he didn't need to apologize because he wasn't even involved in the conversion but he still said he was sorry and that someone dropped the ball. P <MI> Backup web page - http://afibsupport.proboards23.com List owner: AFIBsupport-owner For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email, send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be acted upon without consultation with one's physician. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2004 Report Share Posted March 19, 2004 Bridget: How long ago was your second ablation ? I had one 5 weeks ago & didn't experience anything like you described. I was conscious, but sedated. There was some discomfort in my chest as they did the procedure, but not anything that reached the " painful " stage. I hope for the sake of others considering a PVA that your experience isn't typical, because it sure doesn't sound like fun. IMO, It sounds like your experience has more to do with the skill of the Dr. who performed it than the procedure itself. I've never seen any articles that describe a PVA as a painful experience. Overnight stay in Hosp, 3-4 days of no heavy lifting, then you're good to go. Pretty simple. Thor NSR 5 weeks & counting Re: ablation > I had 2 ablations already, none of them worked. I think there is a 80% change they told me. My first ablation they put me right to sleep, on the 2nd one I wasn't drugged at all because the doc. said the drugs make the arrhythmia's go away. It was real painful for me I started to cry. You could feel the burning and it made you feel like you couldn't breathe and lots off pressure on the side of my neck. I don't mean to scare you, your doc. might give you some drugs. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Bridget, it's inexcusable for you to have that kind of pain and I hope you told the doctor about your displeasure with the whole situation. I've had several operation....baloon angioplasties and two bypass surgeries and a bunch of electrical cardioversions and never experienced pain like you described except for one time in the ER during a cardioversion and when I told my EP about the whole thing he was very apologetic. I told he didn't need to apologize because he wasn't even involved in the conversion but he still said he was sorry and that someone dropped the ball. P <MI> Backup web page - http://afibsupport.proboards23.com List owner: AFIBsupport-owner For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email, send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be acted upon without consultation with one's physician. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2004 Report Share Posted March 19, 2004 Bridget: How long ago was your second ablation ? I had one 5 weeks ago & didn't experience anything like you described. I was conscious, but sedated. There was some discomfort in my chest as they did the procedure, but not anything that reached the " painful " stage. I hope for the sake of others considering a PVA that your experience isn't typical, because it sure doesn't sound like fun. IMO, It sounds like your experience has more to do with the skill of the Dr. who performed it than the procedure itself. I've never seen any articles that describe a PVA as a painful experience. Overnight stay in Hosp, 3-4 days of no heavy lifting, then you're good to go. Pretty simple. Thor NSR 5 weeks & counting Re: ablation > I had 2 ablations already, none of them worked. I think there is a 80% change they told me. My first ablation they put me right to sleep, on the 2nd one I wasn't drugged at all because the doc. said the drugs make the arrhythmia's go away. It was real painful for me I started to cry. You could feel the burning and it made you feel like you couldn't breathe and lots off pressure on the side of my neck. I don't mean to scare you, your doc. might give you some drugs. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Bridget, it's inexcusable for you to have that kind of pain and I hope you told the doctor about your displeasure with the whole situation. I've had several operation....baloon angioplasties and two bypass surgeries and a bunch of electrical cardioversions and never experienced pain like you described except for one time in the ER during a cardioversion and when I told my EP about the whole thing he was very apologetic. I told he didn't need to apologize because he wasn't even involved in the conversion but he still said he was sorry and that someone dropped the ball. P <MI> Backup web page - http://afibsupport.proboards23.com List owner: AFIBsupport-owner For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email, send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be acted upon without consultation with one's physician. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2004 Report Share Posted July 14, 2004 > Hello, I am new to this forum (and have not done other forums). Following a progression of 13 years, I am now in afib most days of the week. I has not yet become chronic. I am now on tikosyn with little effect. > > I am scheduled for a circumferential pv ablation in Dec. with Dr. J. Marcus Wharton in SC. He is stating an 85% cure rate, with 95% success if a " touch-up " is necessary. Are there prior patients on this forum who can add support to these no.s? Hi, Anne, Those sound like the right %s for a good doctor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2004 Report Share Posted July 14, 2004 > Hello, I am new to this forum (and have not done other forums). Following a progression of 13 years, I am now in afib most days of the week. I has not yet become chronic. I am now on tikosyn with little effect. > > I am scheduled for a circumferential pv ablation in Dec. with Dr. J. Marcus Wharton in SC. He is stating an 85% cure rate, with 95% success if a " touch-up " is necessary. Are there prior patients on this forum who can add support to these no.s? Hi, Anne, Those sound like the right %s for a good doctor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2004 Report Share Posted July 14, 2004 > Hello, I am new to this forum (and have not done other forums). Following a progression of 13 years, I am now in afib most days of the week. I has not yet become chronic. I am now on tikosyn with little effect. > > I am scheduled for a circumferential pv ablation in Dec. with Dr. J. Marcus Wharton in SC. He is stating an 85% cure rate, with 95% success if a " touch-up " is necessary. Are there prior patients on this forum who can add support to these no.s? Hi, Anne, Those sound like the right %s for a good doctor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2004 Report Share Posted July 15, 2004 > I am scheduled for a circumferential pv ablation in Dec. with Dr. J. Marcus Wharton in SC. He is stating an 85% cure rate, with 95% success if a " touch-up " is necessary. Are there prior patients on this forum who can add support to these no.s? ........................................... 95% seems a bit high from what I've been told. Here's what I've been told by a few different EP's I've seen in the last 9 months. Natale form the Cleveland Clinic: 80% Morady from the U of Michigan: 75% to 80% Haines from Beaumont Hosp Michigan: 75% Another local EP: 80% but long term no one really knows and he would suspect it would be around 60% long term. I was also told that Dr Papone in Italy has claimed a 90% success rate but no seems to be able to duplicate his numbers. One other thing that I was told and I'm checking into is that when a patient goes to a CC or a U of M for their procedures done by these top docs that the top docs are not actually doing the procedure but instead supervising and monitoring a doctor, serving a fellowship, training in these procedures. Now if that is true...and I don't know if it is....why would I wait 8 months for the hands of Natale or Morady when their hands wouldn't actually be doing the work? Does anyone have any info on that? P <MI> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2004 Report Share Posted July 15, 2004 > I am scheduled for a circumferential pv ablation in Dec. with Dr. J. Marcus Wharton in SC. He is stating an 85% cure rate, with 95% success if a " touch-up " is necessary. Are there prior patients on this forum who can add support to these no.s? ........................................... 95% seems a bit high from what I've been told. Here's what I've been told by a few different EP's I've seen in the last 9 months. Natale form the Cleveland Clinic: 80% Morady from the U of Michigan: 75% to 80% Haines from Beaumont Hosp Michigan: 75% Another local EP: 80% but long term no one really knows and he would suspect it would be around 60% long term. I was also told that Dr Papone in Italy has claimed a 90% success rate but no seems to be able to duplicate his numbers. One other thing that I was told and I'm checking into is that when a patient goes to a CC or a U of M for their procedures done by these top docs that the top docs are not actually doing the procedure but instead supervising and monitoring a doctor, serving a fellowship, training in these procedures. Now if that is true...and I don't know if it is....why would I wait 8 months for the hands of Natale or Morady when their hands wouldn't actually be doing the work? Does anyone have any info on that? P <MI> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2004 Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 > 95% seems a bit high from what I've been told. > > Here's what I've been told by a few different EP's I've seen in the > last 9 months. > > Natale form the Cleveland Clinic: 80% > Morady from the U of Michigan: 75% to 80% > Haines from Beaumont Hosp Michigan: 75% > Another local EP: 80% but long term no one really knows and he > would suspect it would be around 60% long term. > .... > One other thing that I was told and I'm checking into is that when a > patient goes to a CC or a U of M for their procedures done by these > top docs that the top docs are not actually doing the procedure but > instead supervising and monitoring a doctor, serving a fellowship, > training in these procedures. Now if that is true...and I don't know > if it is....why would I wait 8 months for the hands of Natale or > Morady when their hands wouldn't actually be doing the work? Does > anyone have any info on that? > , I'd think the who does the proedure is a good question for anyone to ask their doc, and I'd be interested in seeing the answers people get. I wonder what success rate the doc in France gets (never have learned how to spell his name.) Also how these folks defie success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2004 Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 > 95% seems a bit high from what I've been told. > > Here's what I've been told by a few different EP's I've seen in the > last 9 months. > > Natale form the Cleveland Clinic: 80% > Morady from the U of Michigan: 75% to 80% > Haines from Beaumont Hosp Michigan: 75% > Another local EP: 80% but long term no one really knows and he > would suspect it would be around 60% long term. > .... > One other thing that I was told and I'm checking into is that when a > patient goes to a CC or a U of M for their procedures done by these > top docs that the top docs are not actually doing the procedure but > instead supervising and monitoring a doctor, serving a fellowship, > training in these procedures. Now if that is true...and I don't know > if it is....why would I wait 8 months for the hands of Natale or > Morady when their hands wouldn't actually be doing the work? Does > anyone have any info on that? > , I'd think the who does the proedure is a good question for anyone to ask their doc, and I'd be interested in seeing the answers people get. I wonder what success rate the doc in France gets (never have learned how to spell his name.) Also how these folks defie success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2004 Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 > 95% seems a bit high from what I've been told. > > Here's what I've been told by a few different EP's I've seen in the > last 9 months. > > Natale form the Cleveland Clinic: 80% > Morady from the U of Michigan: 75% to 80% > Haines from Beaumont Hosp Michigan: 75% > Another local EP: 80% but long term no one really knows and he > would suspect it would be around 60% long term. > .... > One other thing that I was told and I'm checking into is that when a > patient goes to a CC or a U of M for their procedures done by these > top docs that the top docs are not actually doing the procedure but > instead supervising and monitoring a doctor, serving a fellowship, > training in these procedures. Now if that is true...and I don't know > if it is....why would I wait 8 months for the hands of Natale or > Morady when their hands wouldn't actually be doing the work? Does > anyone have any info on that? > , I'd think the who does the proedure is a good question for anyone to ask their doc, and I'd be interested in seeing the answers people get. I wonder what success rate the doc in France gets (never have learned how to spell his name.) Also how these folks defie success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2004 Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 Dr Saliba at Cleveland Clinic told me they were getting 85% on the first try and 95% if they had to do a second. He is 2nd to there. is now doing three PVA a day when he is in Cleveland which is most of the time and has a six or seven month waiting list. > > > I am scheduled for a circumferential pv ablation in Dec. with Dr. > J. Marcus Wharton in SC. He is stating an 85% cure rate, with 95% > success if a " touch-up " is necessary. Are there prior patients on > this forum who can add support to these no.s? > .......................................... > > > 95% seems a bit high from what I've been told. > > Here's what I've been told by a few different EP's I've seen in the > last 9 months. > > Natale form the Cleveland Clinic: 80% > Morady from the U of Michigan: 75% to 80% > Haines from Beaumont Hosp Michigan: 75% > Another local EP: 80% but long term no one really knows and he > would suspect it would be around 60% long term. > > I was also told that Dr Papone in Italy has claimed a 90% success > rate but no seems to be able to duplicate his numbers. > > One other thing that I was told and I'm checking into is that when a > patient goes to a CC or a U of M for their procedures done by these > top docs that the top docs are not actually doing the procedure but > instead supervising and monitoring a doctor, serving a fellowship, > training in these procedures. Now if that is true...and I don't know > if it is....why would I wait 8 months for the hands of Natale or > Morady when their hands wouldn't actually be doing the work? Does > anyone have any info on that? > > P <MI> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2004 Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 Dr Saliba at Cleveland Clinic told me they were getting 85% on the first try and 95% if they had to do a second. He is 2nd to there. is now doing three PVA a day when he is in Cleveland which is most of the time and has a six or seven month waiting list. > > > I am scheduled for a circumferential pv ablation in Dec. with Dr. > J. Marcus Wharton in SC. He is stating an 85% cure rate, with 95% > success if a " touch-up " is necessary. Are there prior patients on > this forum who can add support to these no.s? > .......................................... > > > 95% seems a bit high from what I've been told. > > Here's what I've been told by a few different EP's I've seen in the > last 9 months. > > Natale form the Cleveland Clinic: 80% > Morady from the U of Michigan: 75% to 80% > Haines from Beaumont Hosp Michigan: 75% > Another local EP: 80% but long term no one really knows and he > would suspect it would be around 60% long term. > > I was also told that Dr Papone in Italy has claimed a 90% success > rate but no seems to be able to duplicate his numbers. > > One other thing that I was told and I'm checking into is that when a > patient goes to a CC or a U of M for their procedures done by these > top docs that the top docs are not actually doing the procedure but > instead supervising and monitoring a doctor, serving a fellowship, > training in these procedures. Now if that is true...and I don't know > if it is....why would I wait 8 months for the hands of Natale or > Morady when their hands wouldn't actually be doing the work? Does > anyone have any info on that? > > P <MI> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2004 Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 Dr Saliba at Cleveland Clinic told me they were getting 85% on the first try and 95% if they had to do a second. He is 2nd to there. is now doing three PVA a day when he is in Cleveland which is most of the time and has a six or seven month waiting list. > > > I am scheduled for a circumferential pv ablation in Dec. with Dr. > J. Marcus Wharton in SC. He is stating an 85% cure rate, with 95% > success if a " touch-up " is necessary. Are there prior patients on > this forum who can add support to these no.s? > .......................................... > > > 95% seems a bit high from what I've been told. > > Here's what I've been told by a few different EP's I've seen in the > last 9 months. > > Natale form the Cleveland Clinic: 80% > Morady from the U of Michigan: 75% to 80% > Haines from Beaumont Hosp Michigan: 75% > Another local EP: 80% but long term no one really knows and he > would suspect it would be around 60% long term. > > I was also told that Dr Papone in Italy has claimed a 90% success > rate but no seems to be able to duplicate his numbers. > > One other thing that I was told and I'm checking into is that when a > patient goes to a CC or a U of M for their procedures done by these > top docs that the top docs are not actually doing the procedure but > instead supervising and monitoring a doctor, serving a fellowship, > training in these procedures. Now if that is true...and I don't know > if it is....why would I wait 8 months for the hands of Natale or > Morady when their hands wouldn't actually be doing the work? Does > anyone have any info on that? > > P <MI> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 In a message dated 7/20/04 10:26:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time, msteinberg1@... writes: > I am scheduled for an ablation at s Hopkins next month Mark, Good day. s Hopkins is ranked as one of the top five heart hospitals in the US. (U.S. News & World Reports annual Hospital report 2004) They're ranked as one of the top heart hospital year after year. Which speaks volumes about the personnel and services they offer. Rich O Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 To Mark, Every hospital can have problems. The reference you were given has vigorously attested for quite some time that she had horrific experiences at 2 different hospitals however, she did NOT get an ablation. I was cured by ablation # 2. It takes a fair amount of courage to get an ablation -- as any ablation veteran knows, and positive encouragement from those who have been through it is in order. To put it simplistically, I have noticed that this site seems at times to be divided into two camps, pro ablation and pro drug. As I said before in my previous posts, pick your poison. There are also many here that have no ablation option, many that were cured by ablations and no longer post, and a number who are understandably undecided. I personally have had my integrity openly questioned in a zealous manner because of my pro ablation posts. The facility that you have chosen seems to have an overall excellent record, and I am sure that a number of people in this group (current or former members) were cured there. They should comment as their experiences might be more relevant. Please see for personal stories -- mine is one of them.… : http://www.a-fib.com/PersonalExperiences.htm Best wishes, , Afib free, drug free and not a paid spokesperson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 To Mark, Every hospital can have problems. The reference you were given has vigorously attested for quite some time that she had horrific experiences at 2 different hospitals however, she did NOT get an ablation. I was cured by ablation # 2. It takes a fair amount of courage to get an ablation -- as any ablation veteran knows, and positive encouragement from those who have been through it is in order. To put it simplistically, I have noticed that this site seems at times to be divided into two camps, pro ablation and pro drug. As I said before in my previous posts, pick your poison. There are also many here that have no ablation option, many that were cured by ablations and no longer post, and a number who are understandably undecided. I personally have had my integrity openly questioned in a zealous manner because of my pro ablation posts. The facility that you have chosen seems to have an overall excellent record, and I am sure that a number of people in this group (current or former members) were cured there. They should comment as their experiences might be more relevant. Please see for personal stories -- mine is one of them.… : http://www.a-fib.com/PersonalExperiences.htm Best wishes, , Afib free, drug free and not a paid spokesperson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 , I hope you will not mind me asking but why did you have ablation #2? I am almost 3 months post ablation and though I have not had any AF in weeks, there are time when I feel like my heart is trying to flip into AF. I am still on all my meds. I have given great thought about a touch up, I know it is really too soon but I cannot face the rest of my life with this monster. Jeanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 , I hope you will not mind me asking but why did you have ablation #2? I am almost 3 months post ablation and though I have not had any AF in weeks, there are time when I feel like my heart is trying to flip into AF. I am still on all my meds. I have given great thought about a touch up, I know it is really too soon but I cannot face the rest of my life with this monster. Jeanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 > Hi: > > I am scheduled for an ablation at s Hopkins next month -- has > anybody had this done at Hopkins? What is the recovery time? If all > goes well, I leave the hospital after one night, but what is the > recovery time at home? Mark, before having anything done at s Hopkins, you should email Pammie in the yahoo p_atrial_fib group about her experience there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 Dear Jeanne, The details are on the site below. I had a second ablation because the afib continued. It usually takes about 6 weeks to see the results and, in my case, about 9 months for a total cure. Best wishes, http://www.a-fib.com/PersonalExperiences.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 23, 2004 Report Share Posted July 23, 2004 Thanks for the info . I saw Natale last month and that's what he told me too...an 80% success rate on the first try. Someone said they we told by an associate of Natale's, a Dr Saliba, that it was 90% on the first try so thanks for clearing that up. I was told by a couple of EP's that the only person claiming 90% is Dr Papone in Italy who has done several thousand of them. Also thanks for the info on what the Fellows do during the procedure. When I heard that Natale does 3 ablations a day I thought that would be an awfully long day at 4+ hours a piece but if he just comes in for one hour per ablation then he's cruising at 3 hours total. However like you I wonder how the fellows can learn the procedure and be confident enough to do them on their own without actually doing them during their fellowships??? BTW, someone asked how do they define success. I've been told the standard is if a person is afib free without drugs 6 months after the procedure that they consider it a success. So when they say 80% success rate that means after six months. What's the rate after 1 , 2, 3 years? I had one EP tell me he " guessed " it would be about 60% but no one actually knows. I think it just shows how much the ablative EP field, which is in it's infancy, is advancing and much more still needs to be studied. A statement that was made to me by a nationally recognized EP and a leader in this field was " remember one thing....there's a lot of HYPE in the EP field right now. " We were discussing the success rate numbers and different ablation burn patterns made by different doctors at different hospitals. P <MI> ####################################################### > I just had a consult with Dr. Natale last Friday. He told me that > his success rate after one ablation in 80%, after a second, 95%. > He said he does 3 ablations every day. Each takes from 3-4 hours from > start to finish. But his involvement takes only about an hour, the > actual ablating, and he does that himself. The fellows prep the > patients, drape them, insert the catheters, do whatever > electrophysiology tests are necessary, and then he comes in and does > his thing. This is what he told me. But I don't see how the fellows > can learn to do the actual ablating without actually doing it. > I have been on a waiting list for Dr. Marchlinski at Penn for over 18 > months! When I told Dr. Natale that, he laughed and said that's > because he might only do 2 or 3 a week. I do 3 every day ( I presume > he has weekends off?) and that's how I keep my wait time down. If I > decide to go with Dr. Natale, my date will be February 15. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2004 Report Share Posted July 24, 2004 > , I am done doctor-shopping. I have had consults with three >of big names in this business, two with the French procedure, one >with the Italian procedure. My head is spinning with information >overload. but I am leaning towards Dr. Natale. He has just, simply, >done more than anyone else. Tell me what you think. > ............................ I too am done doctor shopping. I have also had consults with 3 big names in the EP field, Natale of the CC, Morady of U of M and Haines of Beaumont Hospital, in Michigan> I have narrowed my choices to Natale or Haines and if I lived closer to the CC I'd definitely go with Natale if he assured me that he himself with his own hands would be doing the procedure. The benefit of having the thing done close to home is that in the event that you needed ER treatment after the operation you'd have the local doctor who did the procedure there for you. What type of protocal does Natale do, the French or Italian? P <Michigan> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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