SVT Ablation worth it?

[Barry1685]

I have a scheduled ablation this Friday. I was diagnosed with SVT and I didn't even know I had it. I get a lot of palpitations and I am currently on 25mg of beta blocker x2 a day. I want to know if the ablation is worth it. Will it get rid of my palpitations? The alternative is to go on 50mg x2 a day. I don't know if I want to be on that much beta blocker at such a young age (23). I think I had an SVT once and that was a year ago playing basketball, I came down from a shot and landed hard and my heart started beating fast and weird and I couldn't control it. The symptom went away in about 10 seconds. What does everyone think?

[MichelleP_3811]

Do you know there is a doctors section on this site.   If you go to the top where it says forums choose Doctors Forums and the heart rhythm section there.  I am not certain how often questions get answered but that would be your best bet for more professional advice.  Good luck with whatever you decide to do and keep us posted on how you are.

[Mangser]

Well now i had discomfort chest feeling very weird n odds especially when its slow n iregular  ( Bradycardia ) and when i exercise its SVT my cardiologist told  me mine case where quite strange thats why they ask me to go for RFA n they diangose my case as more to Electric shock curciut kind of stuff ...... and i did 2  stress test n the both test also show when recovery thats SVT and when i exercise especially after playing badminton it will suddenly pop  up hte pulse to 200/min and my neck especially its like frog neck popping sometimes scary so i lie down for 15 to 20 minutes is slowly cool down and i would have lots of stomach discomfort n lots of burping n sometimes the wind like stuck in your throat that part is scary thats why i am really hope there is a cure hope the EPS + RFA can cure it permanently or at least give me a 80 - 90 % back to normal recovery .

Michelle i am on Co-Approval 300mg/ 12.5
1/2 tablet daily for my slight hypertension
And simvastatin 20mg for my cholesterol  ( 1 tablet )
My LDL and overal cholesterol quite high
LDL > 4.5
total Choles  > 6.8

Mind both doctors  says my electrical system of the heart is quite abnormal
and they put me on ISOPTIN RETARD 240mg ( 1/2 Tablet 120mg )
daily but my blood pressure n heartbeat seems lower a lot thats why they ask to stop and try this RFA procedure to cure this Electro Imbalance things . ANyway i still have 8 days to get some ideas n comment before my 8th JAn RFA ..... A bit nervous as Michelle u told me its permanent and dunno any other odd things will happen or positive side i will be cured n fully recovered taking some risk just also desperately need some opinion but i know my ECG is bad results CT SCAN NORMAL : -
Sl ight thickening of the heart muscle ( ULTRA SOUND )

Echo Test : - Very strange fast n slow heart pumping

[Mangser]

Dear Michelle n Curmudgen ,
  Thanks for the comment i've had my CT SCAN done calcium

The reports says as below  : -

C.T. Coronary Angiogram :

The total calcium score is 0 , which places the patient between 0th and 25th percentile for his age group. Right dominant circulation noted .

Right Coronary Artery :

The originin of the right coronary artery is in normal postioin. No mural plaques are seen in all the segments nor branches of the right coronary artery .

Left Coronary Artery :
The origin of the left coronary artery is in normal position . There is no mural plaque at its ostium nor main stem.

Left Anterior Sescending Artery :

There is no evidence of atherosclerotic disease in the left anterior descending artery nor the diagonal branches . Myocardial bridging of the distal segment is noted .

Ramus Intermedius :

There is no mural plaque in the ramus intermedius .

Left Circumflex artery :

No mural plaques are seen in the left circumflex artery nor the obtuse marginal branches .

Impresssion :

Normal examination .

NB : 1 . This test does not predict the probability of plaque rupture resulting in mycordial infarction .

       2. The presence of calcifications may preclude accurate assessment of arterial lumen .

   This is the CT SCAN report

ANyway i really have very irregular n slow heartbeat that sometimes make me feels so odds n confusion i got a friedn who did this RFA he says after doing heart rhythm is normal back n no more shock circuit of the heart he advise me to do n not much pain n worth it this RFA procedure can permanently cure alll types os fast or slow heartbeat n iregular .

I just wanna back with my active life n can exercise normally without any SVT attacks. Anyway i am so glad this forum i get advise n guidance from all of u .... Happy New Year do advise me maybe the United States the Heart Surgeon or Knowledge is More advance .. so i need some guide .

Happy 2012 do keep in touch ..

[tom_h]

Great!  Glad the procedure went well, and that you're on the road to recovery!  The insertion area will be tender for a week or so, and it isn't uncommon to walk with a little limp for a couple of weeks.  Using it though is the best medicine.  Good luck, and keep us aprised of your condition.  And don't be afraid to be a spokesperson for one of the many success stories.  A lot of people show up here looking for advice when an EP procedure fails, and it really appears to reduce the actual success rate.  Here's to an active 2012!

[sdander]

Hi Tom!

Well I am on the other side of my EP study and it turns out it was an atrial SVT.  I was pretty groggy when my doc talked to me but have lots of questions for him when I talk to him.  He said it was NOT a-fib and once he cauterized the area that was acting up he couldn't get it to do it again so he is pretty confident he got it. So I have to say I am very happy with my outcome.  Like you have said it may not be the solution for everyone but so far I am happy with my results.  Of course, I had it done on 12/29 and it has only been 2 days but aside from a little pain on the site they inserted the catheter I feel great today!

Thank you for your encouragement and for sharing your story.  I appreciate it! I will check in from time to time to let you know of my progress!

Happy New Year! I look forward to a much more active 2012!!

[curmudgen]

Just a comment - you have an RBBB which in itself is a conduction problem usually of no consequence.  Has any determination been made as to the origin of your arrhythmia?  unifocal PVC's are the best to have since they originate from one place in the heart and can be ablated reasonably well.  What was your calcium score (CT scan) - determines level of hard plaque in heart... did you have CT angiogram to check flow through heart vessels?  I would do all these tests first before an ablation...  ablations are permenant.  good luck.