SVT

After a ER visit and stay in the cardiac unit in Houston I was scheduled for an ep study.  I have been on beta blockers for about 10 years and this was my first episode.  I was in the study this past Monday for 4.5 hours.  Afterwards they told us that they were not able to ablate it for it was on the left side of the heart.  They also said I had PVI which I do not understand yet.  I am scheduled for a follow up visit in about 10 days and wondered what to expect.  Is the left side that much more difficult?  I am a 53 year old male and this was my first episode of SVT.  Other than my new meds Toprol 100mg what should I expect next and what questions should I ask in my follow up.  

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

hello,
left atrial ablations can be difficult, but once you are on the left side of the heart, they aren't that much more difficult.  

There is an electrophysiologist in Austin that I trained with named Shane Bailey that has extensive left atrial experience.  If they  do not think they don' think they can do it, you may want to call Shane Bailey's office in Austin and see if he thinks he can help.

A PVI is an atrial fibrillation ablation -- this is done for both for atrial fibrillation and left atrial flutter.

Typically for first episodes of symptomatic atrial fibrillation, medical therapy is the first first approach.  The important piece of information that I do not have is what was the SVT ( I assume atrial fib or flutter because they did a PVI).

I hope this helps.  Thanks for posting.