Ablasion

About 5 years ago i had an episode of SVT being in emergency to have it controled for about 5 hours.  Since then i have been on atelalol.  The frequency of my tachychardias ranges betwee 6 months, but more frequente when over worked and stressed. I am fed up of taking the medication, it makes my raction time slow and sometimes fell that i am not alert - slow thinking and reacting generally.

Recently i have asked my chardiologist to consider an ablasion. I had the procedure booked for this coming friday but When discussed it with my husband it did nt support the idea as hi believes the risks are too great and do not believe in the information about it on the internet including. Is there anyone whe had the procedure recently ?  

[Brooke_38]

Hello...

You've come to the right place to ask this question! There are many, me included, who have been there and done that.

The risks involved are quite low if it is a right sided procedure. If the procedure will take the catheter through the septum to the left side of the heart the risk is a bit higher. I have been through 5 procedures and I'm still here "kicking and screaming" I was fortunate to have the support of my husband.

Did your husband attend the appt with you to discuss his concerns about it? If you are not tolerating the medication due to the side effects than the ablation procedure is your best hope of coming off meds for good with minimal risks of complications.

If you check out the health pages here, located at the upper right top of this page...click the link and within those pages you will find one that discusses anything you'd want to know about the procedure. That you can trust as a reliable source of information.

I wish you the best of luck. Please keep us posted with your plan and definitely the outcome, if you go forward with the scheduled procedure date:)

[Wisconsin2007]

Brooke_38 -

Is the increased risk of left-sided work because of having to poke a hole in the septum?

[Brooke_38]

Yes. If the arrhythmia is originating from the left Atium or Left Ventricle, a transeptal approach to gain access to those chambers increases the risk of blood clots, heart attack, stroke, perferation of the walls etc.

Also, patients who go through left sided ablations are anticoagulated with IV Heparin drip during hospitalization and then DC'd with oral coumadin for at least 3 months. Right sided ablations are prescribed daily aspirin x6 weeks.

[jj1017]

Hi!
Oh I know it's scary to think about.. Let me share my experience with you. I hope it may ease your worries.
I just had an ablation for WPW..left sided ablation. They went in through both groins and my neck. The procedure lasted about 6 hours..I slept about 80% of the time, had some weird dreams about horses and was allowed to go home that same day. Sure there were other places I'd rather have been at the time...Mexico, The mall, my couch, even the dentist office seemed like it would be more fun at the time.  But it really did go by quite fast..and you are constantly surrounded by monitors and professionals that take GREAT care of you. I just thought of it this way...I'd rather be in here, under the care of these great people while having the arrhythmia (for quite possibly the last time ever), than alone, in my house wondering when or IF it was going to stop.
I hope this brings some peace of mind to you and your able to make the best decision for YOU!!
Take care!
~Joy