It turns out that while a catheter ablation is widely viewed as a safer and more effective alternative to taking medication like Multaq for treating AF, a new report is showing that the ablation doesn’t actually cure AF. The report was provided by one of Harvard University’s teaching hospitals.

“Catheter ablation is not a definitive cure for AF, but only one (perhaps the most effective) among all the options we can offer to patients with this arrhythmia,” lead author Dr. Antonio Sorgente told Reuters Health in an email.

For the research that this report was based on, scientists at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, led by Dr. Sorgente, monitored the long-term effects of catheter ablation on 153 participants that had ablations between 2002 and 2006. The patient follow-ups showed that “42 patients needed a second ablation, seven patients required a third ablation procedure and one patient required a fourth ablation.” This research was published online in the January 14th post in the American Journal of Cardiology.

The study also showed that “after 62 ablation procedures (41 percent), patients were weaned off antiarrhythmic drugs, but atrial fibrillation recurred after 54 of those 62 cases (87 percent). Recurrent atrial arrhythmia was significantly more common among patients with nonparoxysmal AF than among those with paroxysmal AF.”

“Long-term results of catheter ablation for AF are somewhat disappointing compared with the short and medium-term ones,” Dr. Sorgente said. “Patients who have undergone catheter ablation for AF should be followed strictly, because AF recurrences are often asymptomatic and can be underestimated.”

While these results are a bit disappointing to those who were hoping to be cured of AF by having an ablation, it is worth noting that the procedure leaves many patients experiencing fewer AF episodes than when taking medications like Multaq. Some of the side effects linked to Multaq use include liver failure and a worsening of the heart condition.

If you or a loved one has experienced this while taking Multaq, contact the attorneys at Greg Jones today for a free consultation. We are experienced at fighting Multaq lawsuits and may be able to help you recover money for your injuries.