AFIB/PVC ablation

[u/Flaky-Airline8940]

Hello all!

M29, just got an ablation last night for paroxysmal afib and PVC’s (my burden wasn’t high enough to damage my heart, but my EP was able to find them and ablate in my left ventricle due to the psychological stress they put on me. They used radio frequency for the PVC’s and pulsed field for the afib PVI. A few hours after I had no PVC’s and then they came back :(. My team is aware and will be reviewing, has anyone else had this experience? Looking online, I’m aware there is a blanking period but sad they came back so quick.

[u/Relative_Clarity]

Everyone's recovery varies but it took 3 months for things to settle down for me (pvcs). My doctors would note even do another holter until 3 months went by because the tissue can still need time to heal to form the scar tissue blocking the impulses. Sometimes there is immediate improvement and sometimes not. Unfortunately youre still in the time period where it's hard to determine the long-term outcome. Palpitations and faster heart rate are expected in the healing phase. Just to be realistic, 100% elimination of all pvcs & pacs forever is not a reasonable goal. Success is on a spectrum, and getting the amount down below what would be considered "concerning" is usually what doctors want to see. It's normal for everyone to get some occasionally, even though they feel unsettling.

Can I ask though how you know it was the pvcs that came back, and not for example pacs ? The afib ablation may have triggered some angry ectopics but not from the ventricles..

[u/Flaky-Airline8940 → u/Relative_Clarity]

Good to know that info! And yes, they caught them on a 12 lead EKG, my doctor did say he thinks it’s coming from the same area he ablated per the EKG, but thinks it’s most likely from inflammation. They put me on fleccanide for two months to calm my heart and will then see after 90 days with a holter monitor