Posted by Bill Kilgore on May 26, 2004 at 09:53:17:
In Reply to: Post poned ablation posted by Alfred on May 25, 2004 at 20:59:10:
Alfred,
Not a clue about UCLA. However, search this website for references to Marin General in your not-too-distant neighboring city San Francisco. One message board contributor had her ablation at Marin General performed by Dr. Natale of CCF.
Also, you could at least ask UCLA for their stats
1. number ablations of this type performed by your practitioner and at this institution by all practitioners.
2. complication rates (stroke, pulmonary vein stenosis, bleeding complications)
3. cure rates (70% is about the average for the PVI according to my Houston-based electrophysiologist, but he is now doing a variation of the technique that has a little higher success rate and lower risk).
4. Check out the CCF website for criteria to estimate the quality of care at a heart hospital.http://www.clevelandclinic.org/heartcenter/pub/about/outcomes/default.asp?firstCat=59&secondCat=61
Best of luck,Bill