would you have an ablation for psvt again

[ltricku]

My wife was diagnosed with psvt on 3/09.  One episode with hr around 174 for about 2-3 hrs.  Went to ER and she was given adenosine.  Went on atenylol and she felt worse.  Had 2 ekg's, echo, and bloodwork which has all come back showing "normal".  Been off atenylol for several months and she went 3 1/2 months with no issues until 7-17-09.  Heart rate was around 160 or so.  Did valsalva and got it down in the 80's within an hour or so.  We have an appt. with a cardiologist next week to figure out what to do.  She is 48 yrs old, asian, in good overall health and diet.  Can these episodes "damage" your heart.  Would you have an ablation done knowing what you know now?  On 3/09, was the first time she ever experienced the fast heart rate.  I am just a very concerned husband.  I usually deal with the doctor's and nurses due to the language and vocabulary issues since my wife doesn't quite understand all of the medical lingo.  My dad is a doctor and I am very used to terminology, plus I can read for hours researching.  Just wanted to ask those who have had the ablation, would you recommend it or do it again?  Thanks for reading/responding.

[rockcityaudiouk]

In paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), abnormal conduction of the electricity causes the atrium, and secondarily the ventricles, to beat very rapidly. It is paroxysmal, because the rapid rate can occur sporadically and without warning. It may last a few seconds or many hours. Often the PSVT resolves before the patient reaches a healthcare provider. The abnormal conduction pathways may occur anywhere in the atrium or around the AV node.

Ablation  would be a very good choice to find out the cause and pinpoint the problematic tissue.
Once the catheter reaches the heart, electrodes at the tip of the catheter gather data and a variety of electrical measurements are made. The data pinpoints the location of the faulty electrical site. During this “electrical mapping,” the cardiac arrhythmia specialist, an electrophysiologist, may sedate the patient and instigate some of the very arrhythmias that are the crux of the problem. The events are safe, given the range of experts and resources close at hand, and are necessary to ensure the precise location of the problematic tissue.
some people just cant get a long with(atenylol) beta blockers and they should not be used as a first course in my opinion.They should only be prescribed after a though examination by a cardiologist.The fact that the Valsalva manoeuvre restored lower heart rate function suggests to me that she may indeed have extra electrical activity in some heart tissue.This may also come on after eating a meal.
On the can it cause damage question.here again there is not one clear answer.depending on age, health and fitness levels one could have a heart attack or stroke.In most no.
but obviously the sooner the high heart beats are corrected the better,even in an athlete or very fit person.Hope this helps.

[ltricku]

Thanks for the info.  I have read much on this procedure.  Many of the stories I have read online don't sound very good.  If this is something we can manage without drugs that would be great.  I just don't know if a few times per year is too much, or what kind of strain/damage this may be putting on her heart.  Does it become weaker so that ten years from now it isn't what it would be had she gone with an ablation or even managed by medication.   I have read about EP studies.  Seems like many people have the ablation only to find that symptoms are still present if not worse.  I realize nobody will truly no for sure what will happen and that doctor's do their best.  I also worry about how doctor's may minimize the probability of it not working, or even trying to encourage the procedure just because it is so profitable.  I am very skeptical, but do try and learn since I am not a doctor.  This discussion may even be a little premature, but these are some of the things we will want to discuss next Wednesday with the cardiologist.  I can't believe so of the people who report having a hr of over 250+ for hours on end.  Thank you again for listening.  Todd