Recurring SVT

[Laura76]

Hi,
I'm 19 years old and had RF ablation for an SVT arrhythmia in July 06.  Before the ablation I used to get a big SVT about every 6 months of 210bpm that would last for about 30mins - 1 hour, one had to be stopped at hospital by an injection.  I'd also get little SVT's/palpitations normally a few times a week.  Since the ablation I haven't had any major SVT's and hardly any palitations.  I also had 6 hour spinal surgery in October during which there was no problem with my heart.  So I assumed the ablation had been completely successful.  But in the past couple of weeks I've had about 5 short burst SVT's lasting about 10s then stopping by themselves.  They make me feel a bit dizzy when I have them.  Before the ablation my doctor said that they would stop the SVTs by burning away or damaging an accessory pathway.  I was wondering whether these short SVT's mean the circuit has just been damaged and that's why they stop after about 10s.  
Basically, I've been quite worried about it and am wondering if it is a real problem.  Does it mean that the ablation was not successful?  Is there any reason why my heart would be fine for 7 months and then I would start having little SVT's?  Is this something I need to go back to my cardiologist about?
I'd be very grateful for any advice you can give me.  Thanks.

[Forum-M.D.-bkj]

Laura,

Thanks for the post.

The ablation modified the electrical circuits of the heart. Sometimes, it can reveal other pathways, sometimes it's completely effective sometimes it can improve but not eliminate arrythmias, and sometimes it may not be successful.

I would think about obtaining another event monitor to really assess what your new symptoms are coming from. It may or may not be the arrythmia.

Once you have that information, it'd be easier to comment on the success of the ablation.

good luck

[CollegeGirl143]

have you caught this new problem on a monitor yet?? If not, i think that would be the first step, that way your EP can see if its the same type of arrhythmia, and go from there.. Good luck!

[Laura76]

Thanks for your replies.  It's only recently happened so it hasn't been monitored.  They only last for about 10s and I've only had about 4 in a couple of weeks so I'm not sure how you could monitor it.  Would I have to where a monitor the whole time till one happens?

[bama jane]

there is an event monitor that I wore for 30 days at a time.  There are only a few leads to attach to your chest compared to a holter or ekg.  It has a small little box that the leads are attached to that will fit in your pocket.  It isn't as cumbersome as the holter, unless they have made the holter's smaller in the last 2 years. You hit a button when you feel the arrrhythmia and it goes back a few seconds and records your heart rhythm for 30 or so seconds.  Then you call in to a number on a land line telephone and lie the little box on the mouth piece of the receiver and then press a button and it transfers the info over the phone to the people there that are trained to read it and they pass it on to your doctor to review.  It makes a tracing of you heart rhythm sort of like an ekg and then your doctor can read it. I have worn one for 30 days at a time 3 or 4 different times over the last several years.  You can take it off for baths and things and then reattach.  I think it is called a king of hearts or event moniotr. If you catch it right away you probably wouldn't have to wear one after that. It's not that bad and will help them catch it for you and maybe ease your mind. I have svt as well and had a failed ablation 7 years ago beecause they could not reproduce the arrhythmia at the time. Mine use to last 30 minutes to an hour but now my runs are usually 30 seconds or less. I have them a couple of times a week. A small dose of atenenol and a lot of fast walking for an hour a day have helped me a lot in that I have shorter episodes and that keeps me out of the hospital and er.  I was hospitalized a lot in the first year.  I would have 3 or 4 episodes a day of 30 minutes to an hour of 160bpm plus, sometimes as high as 200. I still get lots of extra beats throughout the day and that is not easy to live with either. To give you some reassurance I have had this for 7 years and while difficult to live with I am still here and lead a normal life riding horses and gardening and exercising and I am a lot older than you.  Good luck.

[anacyde]

An event monitor would be a good idea, I think.  I have short runs of SVT myself, and they've been impossible to catch on Holter due to their intermittent nature.

[sb786]

i just wanted to say that i always look forward to reading your posts! I was diagnosed 5 months ago with svt and i also get tons of pvcs. Whenever i read your posts i find them very reassurring and they give me hope that maybe one day i can go back to living a "normal" life one day....

[Laura76]

Thanks for all the advice.  I'm hoping to get referred back to my cardiologist on Wednesday so I'll see what he says about event monitors and such.  I'm a bit less worried now though so thanks!