v-tach and ablation

[DebbieM]

Last November I had a mitral and tricuspid repair at CCF.  Everything went great, and with the valves is still great.  I was diagnosed with v-tach back in 1992 and put on Sectral, a beta blocker.It worked great until about a year before my surgery. I started having episodes where I would feel like I was going to pass out. I was told my surgery may not correct this.Since my surgery I have had many, many more episodes. I was on Inderal 80mg. The cardiologist where I live had me do an event monitor and it showed v-tach. I was sent to an EP doctor who put me on Verapamil, but I still had v-tach and also broke out in a rash.  Now I'm back on Inderal. The EP doc says my condition is rare,but wouldn't say why, doesn't know why v-tach is worse, can't tell what ventricile it is coming from. Option is to do EP study and ablation.  Do I need this done?  Can you recommend any doctor's in Memphis,TN area? My insurance has changed since my surgery and not sure it will cover CCF. Or is it even necessary to go to CCF?  How experienced should the doctor be for this procedure? Any risk in damaging the repaired valves?
I have no confidence in the EP doc I have seen as any info I have learned has been on my own. He is in the room for about 3 minutes and is finished and couldn't answer many question.  He said if I want to do the test call the nurse and set it up. No kindness whatsoever. I asked how many of these procedures he had done and he said "This is what I do I don't deliver babies." He seemed offended. Help Please! Many thanks for any advice.

[nectar]

Wow, sisabell, I have to say those are great results, but not what everyone will experience.
  
I have had two ablations - the second to burn off cells that surfaced from under what was removed, or some that rebuilt themselves within days.  These two procedures were done within a few weeks of each other.  I agree the procedure is excellent for people who suffer VTs, but am surprised they had you under for it.  In many cases, they find the VTs or any arrthymia tends to slow down or cease during medication - and part of the procedure is to recreate or stimulate the arrthmyias so they can focus on the exact spots to ablate.  Something I want to share, should others get the impression they will be put out.   I was definitely not put out during either procedure and do understand the reasons for such.

In comparing living with VTs and the possible consequences or having an eletrophysiology study and possible ablation, the later is the way to go.  

[JOE_A]

hi, my father 85 was diagnosed with SVT last Feb. 2000. his doc sent him directly to the hospital (parma community) where they agreed. he had a TEE  and was scheduled for ABLATION the next day. the doc (SUZY CHANG) found 3 areas of cells to ablate, completed the surgury in about 3.5 hrs and he's been fine since. No horrer stories just sucess.

[sisabell]

I am a 32 year old female who had v tach in the right ventricular outflow tract. I had an ablation at the end of September. It was painless, and fascinating I might add. I wish I could have stayed awake for more of it! The only pain afterwords was slight muscle tightness in the groin where the catheters were inserted, but nothing serious.

I was back to heavy exercise in a week, and feel SO much better! The only thing is I still get the pvc's, but those are livable.

I think it is definitely worth it!

Lisa

[Stephen C]

Please tell us more about the procedure. I too get 300+ BPM, real pounding like a car racing, exercise induced, appearing out of nowhere. Metoprolol seems to work, but if it has warn off and I exert myself the racing appears for 10-20 seconds and returns to normal. I must have a strong heart if it can go that fast! I have had VT for 7 years now and was told to get on with my life and forget about it. I'd love to get it fixed - is it (ablation) an uncomfortable experience? Will it also sort out the nuisance missed beats/flutters?

[flo]

Hello all I have been sick for the last 5 yrs.  The doctors had no idea, kept treating me like a nut and gave me anti-depressants and treated me for anxiety.  

To make a long story short, I have SUPRAVENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA.
My heart was beating almost 300.  I had the ablation and the ep study 2 months ago, and it really did help.  The doctor said I was born with this.  It had to be fixed.  It was a very simple procedure.  I would recommend it.

[Smeltzy]

Debbie,, I just wanted to let you know your not alone.  I also have Ventricular Tachycardia.  I was diagnosed in 1999, on my way into surgery,, coming to after surgery I had sustained V-tach, the docs wanted to do the ep study and an ablation, but I never had it done.  I was on Lopressor for 2 years, I was doing okay for about a year or so,, then I started having breakthrough symptoms,, near fainting and all,, was admitted to hosptial twice with it,,Ive been on Toprol xl for about 2 weeks now and havent had any symptoms as of yet,,, I am now being scheduled for an ep study and the ablation,, which I now wish I had done years back.   Good Luck,, Amy

[arthur]

I went to four cardiologists before I found the right one (an EP) to both diagnose and conduct an rf ablation cure of my atrial fib.  This took me one full year of fretting, running around, looking up everything on the Web and in the medical library.  I found several of these cardios somewhat short when it came to anatomy of heart (how about that?) and manners.  So, the bottom line, is do what you are doing...check out every source of information you can get your hands on, and seek out other opinions (even if it means going to another clinic/doctor blindly...you'll know the right EP when you see him.her). It would help here if you could find friends and friends of friends with recommendations.  Of course, this place is pretty good.  A while ago I did stumble across a Web site which listed EPs geographically...although I can't remember the site, it was found be doing a Yahoo search on electrophysiologists.  Good Luck.

[CCF-M.D.-CRC]

Dear Debbie,
I'm sorry to hear about your experience with the EP doctor.  Personally speaking I probably wouldn't go back to a doctor that treated me like that.  I do agree that an ablation may be a good option for you.  You don't mention if you have other heart disease beside the valve problem so I am going to assume that the pumping function is normal and you don't have coronary artery disease.  Individuals without heart disease and ventricular tachycardia (VT) are said to have "normal heart VT".  The good news is that this usually is a benign rhythm.  There is a possibility of long-term damage however and it does need to be treated.  Medications are a first line option and if these fail then ablation is a good option.  Most of the normal heart VTs arise from the right ventricle in what is called the outflow tract.  Some VTs arise from the left ventricle. Both can be treated with a catheter ablation.  I don't know any EPs in TN but if you do venture back up to Cleveland I would recommend Dr. Saliba or Dr. Schweikert.  Both will take the time to explain everything to you ahead of time and both are very good at VT ablations.  You can make an appointment by calling the number below.