Aa
EP study and ablation for atrial tach
After years of trying to find out what caused my brief but scary and lifestyle-if-not-life-threatening arrhythmias,an event recorder revealed atrial tach.I am amazed that a 2 lead recorder could reveal so much info but my doc says I have"very frequent PACS,atrial runs, non-sustained for along atrial tach, and inappropriate sinus tach, rare PVCs." In consult with an EP doc,he says the focus of the atrial tach appears to NOT be reentry but ectopic and coming from the pulmonary vein and is, they believe , amenable to an ablation.
I'm very excited about having the EP study/ablation and they think there is a "good chance" of a cure for my problem which would eliminate these horrible feelings ( the a-tach and atrial runs make me feel momentarily scared and sometimes weak).
Questions: 1.isn't a pulmonary vein focus a more difficult location for a successful ablation?
2.In general,what's the recovery time like for an ablation?
3. I live alone and just wonder what i have to avoid or watch out for afterwards.. how soon i can go back to work, etc. I know i need to talk to my docs about this and will when i see them but for now, any info in general would be greatly appreciated.
thanks so much!
Lynn
I'm very excited about having the EP study/ablation and they think there is a "good chance" of a cure for my problem which would eliminate these horrible feelings ( the a-tach and atrial runs make me feel momentarily scared and sometimes weak).
Questions: 1.isn't a pulmonary vein focus a more difficult location for a successful ablation?
2.In general,what's the recovery time like for an ablation?
3. I live alone and just wonder what i have to avoid or watch out for afterwards.. how soon i can go back to work, etc. I know i need to talk to my docs about this and will when i see them but for now, any info in general would be greatly appreciated.
thanks so much!
Lynn
Good evening Valerie,
Just clarify, the chest pain that I felt was for several days after my ablation. I felt no pain while I was under the drugs, or during the procedure. It was not a major or crushing pain. Just a dull ache that did not move. Almost like a minor scrap, that only hurts enough to let you know its there. My doctor said not everyone feels chest pain afterwards, but some do. He also said I woke up when he burned me, but I only remember my heart racing not pain.
They scheduled my EP study and my ablation at the same time. My doctor told me ahead of time that he would induce my arrythmias and ablate them while he was in there at the same time. He said he would stop the procedure if they were coming from an area to risky to ablate. I had worn a monitor for two months so they had a pretty good idea of my problem. I think I have heard of people having the study and the ablation done at separate time. I do not know if they had not shown anything on a holter moniter, and they did not schedule an ablation because they were not sure if their problems could be fixed by the procedure. Or if when they got in there it was to risky. Maybe different doctors do it different, if I were you I would call the nures and see what you are schedule for.
Also, I was told my procedure would take anywhere from 45 min. to 2hrs, not including the prep time. Mine took longer, however, I think they really do not know until they get in there.
Through an artery or vein, I do not know.
Please try not to worry about the procedure. For you it will be over in a flash.
When are you having it?
Anne
Just clarify, the chest pain that I felt was for several days after my ablation. I felt no pain while I was under the drugs, or during the procedure. It was not a major or crushing pain. Just a dull ache that did not move. Almost like a minor scrap, that only hurts enough to let you know its there. My doctor said not everyone feels chest pain afterwards, but some do. He also said I woke up when he burned me, but I only remember my heart racing not pain.
They scheduled my EP study and my ablation at the same time. My doctor told me ahead of time that he would induce my arrythmias and ablate them while he was in there at the same time. He said he would stop the procedure if they were coming from an area to risky to ablate. I had worn a monitor for two months so they had a pretty good idea of my problem. I think I have heard of people having the study and the ablation done at separate time. I do not know if they had not shown anything on a holter moniter, and they did not schedule an ablation because they were not sure if their problems could be fixed by the procedure. Or if when they got in there it was to risky. Maybe different doctors do it different, if I were you I would call the nures and see what you are schedule for.
Also, I was told my procedure would take anywhere from 45 min. to 2hrs, not including the prep time. Mine took longer, however, I think they really do not know until they get in there.
Through an artery or vein, I do not know.
Please try not to worry about the procedure. For you it will be over in a flash.
When are you having it?
Anne
Thanks so much, Lynn for posting and anne and momto3 for answering questions and sharing your stories, this has helped me more than anything! The doctors that I am dealing with are not going to see me until I have my EP studies, my own cardio does not have all the answers. I went to heartcenteronline.com and I read some things that have me a little confused. First, let me tell you my sisters experience with ablation 3 times. Also, I have been trying desperately to post questions for the doctor, but I have had no luck. I am sorry I invaded your post, these were just answers I was hoping to get too, and I thank you for your post.
My sister was a test study about 10 years ago for RF ablation at Stanford Hospital. She had WPW, SVT and now has Afib. The wpw caused a life threatening rate and rhythm for her. Over 300 BPM and irregular. They had to electro convert her. They successfully ablated her the first time for those things except the afib. She went in and they gave her what she said were the best sedatives. She remembers waking briefly to feel her heart racing then off to sleep she went. She woke up in recovery and ended up staying the night because she was very dizzy from the medication. She had to come back 90 days later, because she was a test study so they could go back in and look again. Both times they went thru her fermoral artery. It was successful. She did have chest pain with the ablation, but they said it was not from the procedure, I guess they didn't realize. Afterwards, she was fine. The last time she went in was to try and correct the afib, but they could not reach the area for a clear ablation, so it didn't work. That time they went through a vein, not an artery. They also never kept her overnight except the first time for dizziness.
Here are my questions. Does anyone know?
Are they routinely done through a vein now and not an artery? My cardiologist told me they now go up through a vein? Is this the case for most or is this what you are talking about Lynn? I am just confused about pulmonary vein ablation.
Do they do the EP studies at the same time as ablation, or do they have you come back to do it again. Heartcenteronline said that they do two procedures. I don't want to have that done twice, I was hoping ablation would happen at the same time. Heartcentral also said they use the femoral artery still.
How long does it usually take? HCO said 6 hours is standard, but that seems like a long time for everyone. I understand if there are a lot of things going on, it can take time, but my sisters did not take that long, it was a few hours.
Thanks so much!
Valerie
My sister was a test study about 10 years ago for RF ablation at Stanford Hospital. She had WPW, SVT and now has Afib. The wpw caused a life threatening rate and rhythm for her. Over 300 BPM and irregular. They had to electro convert her. They successfully ablated her the first time for those things except the afib. She went in and they gave her what she said were the best sedatives. She remembers waking briefly to feel her heart racing then off to sleep she went. She woke up in recovery and ended up staying the night because she was very dizzy from the medication. She had to come back 90 days later, because she was a test study so they could go back in and look again. Both times they went thru her fermoral artery. It was successful. She did have chest pain with the ablation, but they said it was not from the procedure, I guess they didn't realize. Afterwards, she was fine. The last time she went in was to try and correct the afib, but they could not reach the area for a clear ablation, so it didn't work. That time they went through a vein, not an artery. They also never kept her overnight except the first time for dizziness.
Here are my questions. Does anyone know?
Are they routinely done through a vein now and not an artery? My cardiologist told me they now go up through a vein? Is this the case for most or is this what you are talking about Lynn? I am just confused about pulmonary vein ablation.
Do they do the EP studies at the same time as ablation, or do they have you come back to do it again. Heartcenteronline said that they do two procedures. I don't want to have that done twice, I was hoping ablation would happen at the same time. Heartcentral also said they use the femoral artery still.
How long does it usually take? HCO said 6 hours is standard, but that seems like a long time for everyone. I understand if there are a lot of things going on, it can take time, but my sisters did not take that long, it was a few hours.
Thanks so much!
Valerie
Sorry for the double post...my oops : )
Hi...I had an ablation for pvcs in August. I put it off until July when I decided that I did not want to take the RX (antiarrythmic) and did not want to be skipping my life away : )
As far as the procedure goes, I was in a "twilight" state and don't remember much of anything (versed, fentynyl, propofol). An anesthesiologist with me during the entire procedure. I felt the IV, but that was no surprise..haha..After dealing with THOUSANDS of pvc's per day, it feels wonderful to feel only an occassional flutter. I guess it takes 2-6 wks. to know the success of the procedure, but so far, so good! I still get pvcs, but I knew that because I have other foci. They are not NEARLY as frequent.
Check out www.heartceneronline.com for info from people who have experienced the pulmonary vein ablation. Mine was not a PV ablation, but it went something like this:
1) 7:15 a.m. Arrive at hospital (Friday)
2) Changed into gown; IV started
3) 8:15 "First" dose of versed to relax...It worked!
4) 8:20(?) Off to the EP lab (COLD!)where someone put big sticky patches(like EKG, but bigger)on me. I was prepped, but don't remember any of it, including the bladder cath.
5) Sometime during the procedure, I vaguely remember doing some simple arm exercises (the doctor had explained ahead of time that she might ask me to do that to stimulate arrythmia)
7) 3:15 p.m. First recollection of waking (I think this is when they took out the bladder cath, but no pain)
8) 4:00 p.m. Wheeled to my room; pretty much awake now
10) Rested with a 10# sandbag on my cath sites (3 in groin) to avoid need for stitches.
11)10:00 p.m. Out of bed (sandbag off)
12)1:00 p.m. Left for home...Took it easy for rest of the weekend; back to work Monday
Hope this helps! I asked a lot of questions and especially about the anesthesia since I was pretty scared. Good luck!
As far as the procedure goes, I was in a "twilight" state and don't remember much of anything (versed, fentynyl, propofol). An anesthesiologist with me during the entire procedure. I felt the IV, but that was no surprise..haha..After dealing with THOUSANDS of pvc's per day, it feels wonderful to feel only an occassional flutter. I guess it takes 2-6 wks. to know the success of the procedure, but so far, so good! I still get pvcs, but I knew that because I have other foci. They are not NEARLY as frequent.
Check out www.heartceneronline.com for info from people who have experienced the pulmonary vein ablation. Mine was not a PV ablation, but it went something like this:
1) 7:15 a.m. Arrive at hospital (Friday)
2) Changed into gown; IV started
3) 8:15 "First" dose of versed to relax...It worked!
4) 8:20(?) Off to the EP lab (COLD!)where someone put big sticky patches(like EKG, but bigger)on me. I was prepped, but don't remember any of it, including the bladder cath.
5) Sometime during the procedure, I vaguely remember doing some simple arm exercises (the doctor had explained ahead of time that she might ask me to do that to stimulate arrythmia)
7) 3:15 p.m. First recollection of waking (I think this is when they took out the bladder cath, but no pain)
8) 4:00 p.m. Wheeled to my room; pretty much awake now
10) Rested with a 10# sandbag on my cath sites (3 in groin) to avoid need for stitches.
11)10:00 p.m. Out of bed (sandbag off)
12)1:00 p.m. Left for home...Took it easy for rest of the weekend; back to work Monday
Hope this helps! I asked a lot of questions and especially about the anesthesia since I was pretty scared. Good luck!
Hi...I had an ablation for pvcs on August 1st. I am multifocal, but the doctors only ablated one of the predominant "culprits". I put off the procedure for a couple of years because I am a big chicken! In July, I decided that I did not want to take the RX (antiarrythmic) and did not want to be skipping my life away : )
As far as the procedure goes, I was in a "twilight" state and don't remember much of anything (versed, fentynyl, propofol). An anesthesiologist with me during the entire procedure. I felt the IV, but that was no surprise..haha..After dealing with THOUSANDS of pvc's per day, it feels wonderful to feel only an occassional flutter. The doctors say that it generally takes 2-6 weeks to know the success of the procedure, but so far, so good! I still get pvcs, but I knew that because I have other foci. They are not NEARLY as frequent. Now, I can take a beta blocker IF I get uncomfortable, but no more mandatory medicine...YEAH!!!
Check out www.heartceneronline.com for details from people who have experienced the pulmonary vein ablation. My ablation was not a PV ablation, but it went something like this:
1) Arrive at hospital around 7:15 a.m.
2) Changed into gown, got IV started
3) 8:15 Got the "first" dose of versed to relax...It worked!
4) 8:20(?) Wheeled into EP lab (COLD!)and someone put big sticky patches(like EKG, but bigger)on me. I was prepped around this time, but don't remember any of it, including the bladder cath.
6) Sometime during the procedure, I vaguely remember doing some simple arm exercises (the doctor had explained ahead of time that she might ask me to do that (sometimes stimulates arrythmia)
7) First recollection of waking around 3:15 (I think this is when they took out the bladder cath, but no pain
8) Wheeled to my room, and pretty much really awake around 4:00
10) Rested with a 10# sandbag on my cath sites (3 in groin) to avoid need for stitches.
11) Out of bed (sandbag off) at 10:00 p.m.
12) Home at 1:00 p.m. next day.......Rested on Sat/Sun...back to work Monday.....
Hope this helps! I would do it again if it were necessary....I asked a ton of questions and was particularly interested in the anesthesia since as I said....bawk, bawk, bawk.....Good luck!
As far as the procedure goes, I was in a "twilight" state and don't remember much of anything (versed, fentynyl, propofol). An anesthesiologist with me during the entire procedure. I felt the IV, but that was no surprise..haha..After dealing with THOUSANDS of pvc's per day, it feels wonderful to feel only an occassional flutter. The doctors say that it generally takes 2-6 weeks to know the success of the procedure, but so far, so good! I still get pvcs, but I knew that because I have other foci. They are not NEARLY as frequent. Now, I can take a beta blocker IF I get uncomfortable, but no more mandatory medicine...YEAH!!!
Check out www.heartceneronline.com for details from people who have experienced the pulmonary vein ablation. My ablation was not a PV ablation, but it went something like this:
1) Arrive at hospital around 7:15 a.m.
2) Changed into gown, got IV started
3) 8:15 Got the "first" dose of versed to relax...It worked!
4) 8:20(?) Wheeled into EP lab (COLD!)and someone put big sticky patches(like EKG, but bigger)on me. I was prepped around this time, but don't remember any of it, including the bladder cath.
6) Sometime during the procedure, I vaguely remember doing some simple arm exercises (the doctor had explained ahead of time that she might ask me to do that (sometimes stimulates arrythmia)
7) First recollection of waking around 3:15 (I think this is when they took out the bladder cath, but no pain
8) Wheeled to my room, and pretty much really awake around 4:00
10) Rested with a 10# sandbag on my cath sites (3 in groin) to avoid need for stitches.
11) Out of bed (sandbag off) at 10:00 p.m.
12) Home at 1:00 p.m. next day.......Rested on Sat/Sun...back to work Monday.....
Hope this helps! I would do it again if it were necessary....I asked a ton of questions and was particularly interested in the anesthesia since as I said....bawk, bawk, bawk.....Good luck!
I'd really appreciate it any other people who have had ablations would also follow-up and post what it was like for THEM.
I've heard that some people GO HOME THE SAME DAY (?). and others stay in the hospital one or two days.
I will be alone afterwards so that sort of scares me..
I've heard that some people GO HOME THE SAME DAY (?). and others stay in the hospital one or two days.
I will be alone afterwards so that sort of scares me..
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