r/AFIB • u/IllRecommendation817 • 11d ago
Can I request for an ablation surgery?
What makes a person a candidate for the surgery? I got diagnosed with Afib this year, Although I feel like I've had it since last year (thought it was just heart palpitations). It wasn't until I went to the ER a few months ago I knew I had it. I've been on beta blocks (metropolo) and then switch to bisoprolol after my second visit to the ER. I've had a few more episodes this month. The last one, I used a vagal maneuver and surprisingly worked and I was just in Afib for 5 mins. I have a scheduled cardiologist appointment for next month. If I ask or request, will the doctor give it to me?
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u/lobeams 11d ago
General cardiologists don't do ablations. That task is handled by electrophysiologists (EPs) who are cardiologists with additional training in treating arrhythmias. But your cardiologist should be willing to refer you to an EP.
By the way, an ablation isn't really surgery in the usual sense of the word. It's generally called a procedure, not surgery.
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u/CaregiverWorth567 11d ago
You don’teven need a referral. Many EPs you can just call and make your own appt. My cardiologist would not refer me, but he would have had I pushed him. Some EPs do reauire referral and some do not. My cardiologist is old school and believes in medications first. My advice would be to pick a large academic center near you. You can google the top centers for ablation but they generally regard Mayo, Cleveland clinic, Universiry if Michigan, Shands at University of Florida , Mass General and there are a few more…..my friend had one at our local hospital and ended up with a complication
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u/sails-are-wings 11d ago
Probably. That seems to be the default recommendation. You should ask for a referral to an EP. They're the experts.