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Dave I had my ablation done by Professor Haissaguerre in Bordeaux in January 2003 after many years of paroxysmal AF and then 18 months of permanent AF. Three days after the ablation he did a touch up because AF had recurred. Apart from one 2-hour bout of AF ten days later, which stopped all by itself, I have been in sinus rhythm ever since and feel great - no AF and no medication. My case wasby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sam Success rates should be viewed with caution:- - Not all centres define 'success' in the same way. - Follow up is different in the various centres. Some of the most reliable numbers are in Hans's surveys which you can read in his Afib Reports, but I don't think there are many UK ablations included. Gill (in UK, successful ablation in Bordeaux 3½ years ago)by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Bob K Ablation and touch up in Jan 2003 by Professor Haissaguerre in Bordeaux after years of paroxysmal and 18 months of permanent AF. One 2-hour session of AF 10 days later, NSR since then. I did still get ectopics though. About 2 years after the ablation the number of ectopics increased dramatically and I started to get long periods of bigeminy which was very uncomfortable so I decided toby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
In Bordeaux they routinely do a right flutter ablation 'on the way out' so to speak, for people like me who were permanent afibbers. Could this mean that flutter is quite likely to happen after ablation? Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thomas I too found it amazing to watch. I am really grateful to you for posting the link and for telling me that I could sign on to Medscape as a medical student. Like Hans, "I just can't imagine that this is what I actually went through". Gill (permanent AF for 1½ years, successful ablation in Bordeaux January 2003)by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
John You said "I think they regard success as no afib at 6 months and after a 48 hour monitor" Is that with or without medication? In Bordeaux they don't count anyone as a success if they need medication to maintain nsr. It would be interesting to know if Barts use the same protocol. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
John Congratulations on your successful ablation, I wish you many years of NSR. Regarding success rates I am always sceptical about quoted numbers because of the differences in the way successes are counted and how patients are followed up. For example, I had my successful ablation in Bordeaux 3½ years ago but have had all my follow up at King's College Hospital in London. I asked at my lastby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Eric Last time I asked my EP about the long term he said "You ARE the long term!" I had my ablation and touch up in January 2003, done by Professor Haissaguerre and Dr Jais in Bordeaux. Apart from a two-hour period 10 days later I have had no Afib since then. So 3½ years of wonderful NSR and hoping it continues. I wonder what was the earliest ablation among people on this board? Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ian I had my ablation in January 2003 done by Prof. Haissaguerre. I had a second ablation 3 days later because AF recurred. Apart from one 2-hour bout of AF 10 days later, I have been in sinus rhythm ever since ie over 3½ years. I would expect your second ablation to be successful given the record of the Bordeaux team, although they do not claim 100% success. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Randy I had permanent Afib for 18 months before my ablation and touch up in Bordeaux, and have been in NSR since then except for one 2-hour episode 10 days after the ablation. That was in January 2003 when they said that their success rate for permanent AF was 68%. I would expect that they have improved their results in the last 3 years so there is a good chance of getting fixed. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
David Before my ablation in Bordeaux in Jan 2003 I needed to have 3 TOEs (or TEEs or ETOs depending on which country you're in) and I made enquiries at the London Bridge Hospital. I found that it was quite a lot cheaper to have it done in Bordeaux, even when I included the airfare and one night in a hotel. I didn't pursue London Bridge any further but decided to have everything doneby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Aldona Very glad to hear your good news - it was such a long journey for you but I'm sure it was all worth it. I hope you enjoy a long and happy life in NSR. More than 3 years post ablation it still seems like some kind of miracle to me that the Bordeaux team was able to cure me, and not a day passes that I don't thank them inside my head. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ian I lived in Kyiv for 3½ years so I understand your worries about the medical facilities there. I had a successful ablation 3 years ago in Bordeaux after many years of paroxysmal AF and then 18 months of permanent AF. Knowing what I do now, if I could have had the ablation earlier I would have done so. Why? --The ablation is easier, with higher chances of success, if you have it done befoby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Larry I had read that enteric coated aspirin doesn't dissolve until after it has passed through the stomach and that sounded like a good idea to me. My doc had prescribed ordinary aspirin (78mg) which is a lot cheaper to the NHS (over 60s don't have to pay for prescription meds). After a short time I told her that it was upsetting my stomach, which was not true, and would like to trby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had my ablation in Bordeaux in January 2003, referred at my request (and against his advice) by my EP in London. Pr Haissaguerre wrote to him after the procedure explaining exactly what had been done and sent me a copy of the letter. Since then I have had follow up appointments in London at 3 months, 6 months, one year, and now have an annual checkup. This is an ECG, blood pressure check, weby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Aldona Great to hear that you are home safely. Do keep us posted regularly won't you? I really hope that this has been successful - it was a very long way to travel but it will all have been worth it if you have blissful nsr in the future. Best wishes Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
From one of Aldona's posts -- >>Please find enclosed contact to secretary of Dr.Jais and Dr. Haisaquerre: Melle Laurence DEIXONNE Secrétariat Pr Clémenty - Pr Haïssaguerre Hôpital Cardiologique du Haut Lévêque avenue de Magellan 33604 PESSAC Cedex Tel : 33 (0) 5 57 65 64 71 Fax : 33 (0) 5 57 65 65 09 Email : laurence.deixonby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Keith They are very helpful in Bordeaux to people coming from a long distance. Why not explain your situation to Mlle Deixonne and tell her that if your ablation was postponed you would lose the ticket? I think you would get a favourable response. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sue >>What made you go to Bordeaux instead of trying the NHS?<< In 2001 the EP at King's College hospital only offered drugs, which I didn't want because you can't dive if you take them, and they all have side effects. I did masses of research and read the original Haissaguerre article from 1998. Ablation seemed better than drugs for the rest of my life. But King's were very sceptical aboutby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Mimi I am in the UK, had paroxysmal AF for many years which eventually progressed to permanent. I felt as though my life was over, couldn't even walk upstairs without stopping for breath, couldn't walk more than a short distance, and worst of all couldn't scuba dive, which is my passion. After a lot of research I had an ablation in Bordeaux in January 2003, followed 3 days latby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Aldona So pleased that the ablation went well, I hope you are feeling good and are now able to enjoy Bordeaux a little. Do continue to send us mails, won't you - it is really interesting to read about how you are and what you are doing in Bordeaux. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Faith This isn't really relevant to CC because I had my ablation done in Bordeaux, but it might be useful for others. I had a TEE (TOE in UK, ETO in France) on the morning of the planned ablation and a clot was found even though I had been on coumadin for almost 2 years - very worrying. The ablation did not happen, of course. After a month of giving myself calciparin injections another Tby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
John It cost me a total of about £8000 to have Professor Haissaguerre do my ablation in January 2003. That included almost £1000 on hotel and travel costs, including expenses for a friend to accompany me, initial consultation, 3 TOEs (TEEs) and £2000 to have the Professor himself do the procedure. AF recurred 3 days after the ablation and within 2 hours I was back in the lab having a touch upby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Kevin I had an ablation done by Professor Haissaguerre and Dr Jais in January 2003 after a year and a half of continuous AF. I was as desperate as you are. Apart from one 2-hour bout of AF two weeks after the ablation, I have been in NSR since then and feel wonderful. The Bordeaux team are superb, the cost is a fraction of the cost in the US, and if you stay with your daughter in London thereby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mike I am in UK and had ablation in Bordeaux in January 2003 after 18 months of permanent AF. Professor Haissaguerre didn't want to take me as a patient at first because I hadn't tried amiodorone. I explained that I was a keen scuba diver and couldn't dive if I took drugs, so after much deliberation he agreed to do it. It cost me a total of 8000 pounds sterling, but that includby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Susan Professor Haissaguerre told me that Americans come to Bordeaux for ablation procedures. Now I understand why! Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Josephine I used to have occasional short bouts of AF which increased in frequency and duration over the years until I had it permanently. I have read that this is the normal progression. I felt dreadful, my life was over and I was becoming a disabled person. Two years ago I was advised by the electro-physiologist (NHS) I see at King's College Hospital in London against having radio-freby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thor Thanks for that information - it does sound like good odds. In two days time I go for a check up with the EP in London, and I shall ask him the same question. Professor Haissaguerre in Bordeaux, France, did my ablation. Once a year in January I email him to give him my 'annual report'. Next time I shall ask him as well, though I expect he will say that there isn't a longby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sorry if this is a silly question, but I'm new to the board. Please could someone tell me what ICE equipment is? Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
George I am really interested to hear from someone else who has been to Bordeaux. I agree entirely about the hospital there being a wonderful place. How did you find out about Prof. Haissaguerre? And how did you manage to get the ablation done after only 4 months in permanent AF? On the NHS it took me a year and a half to go through three failed cardioversions and even then I had to put realby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM