diagnosis

Hi,
My sister (aged 31) has some kind of arrhythmia. Her symptoms began ten years ago - palpitations, black outs from exercise etc, fast AND slow heart beats.

In 2005, she had an EPS test. However, they did NOT follow it with the planned ablation because they said they found TWO irregularities - which were not possible to treat together.  

(This DID seem to match my sister's symptoms which appear to be opposite - sometimes her heart beats too fast, and sometimes it beats too slowly.)

In 2006 she had a reveal device inserted and has been downloading recordings at her local hospital. Doctors gave a diagnosis this week as an 'eptopic atrial tachycardia'.

My understanding is that an eptopic atrial tachycardia relates to a fast rhythm - is this correct?

If so, I am concerned that the other irregularity (picked up in the EPS and felt in the symptoms of my sister) has been missed. Unfortunately her hospital notes have been mislaid.

- Does a 'Reveal Device' pick up ALL irregularities?
(If so, why would an EPS show something extra - and why do her symptoms include her heart rate going very fast and very slow?)

- She has been told she can try medication, do nothing, or have an EPS with view to ablate.

We have been given contradictory opinions as to the severity of this condition, as well as being unsure if this diagnosis is complete -   so making a decision is difficult.

I would appreciate any insights you can give, please excuse my lack of medical knowledge, not being in the field myself.

She has an appointment with the surgeon on Jan 2nd. I would be very grateful if you could email me before then.

Many thanks

Theo

[dolfnlvr]

Where are you located? I ask because you may want to enlist the services of a local University Hospital, or specialty hospital instead of your "generic" local hospital.  I know that in Philadelphia there is a VERY gifted specialist who deals with these issues, and since the funding is currently supporting his research and treatment, the success rate is very high.  There are others around the country and they are often discussed on this forum by others.  That would be my first course of action if I were you.

Good luck!

[maggiemag]

I have that device, (although mine has expired with a dead battery :-)), and it will pick up whatever arrhythmia, as long as she triggers the device when she is having symptoms.  If she doesn't activate the device to record, then it won't pick it up.  If she had both the symptoms of a fast rate and a slow rate, then it is probably ok.  An ectopic atrial tach is the same thing as PAT (paroxysmal atrial tach) and is a type of SVT (supraventricular tach).  If I were the patient, I would get another opinion from another electrophysiologist who is the person who does the EPS.  I am not a doctor, but I don't think PAT is serious; certainly not life threatening.  But get another opinion for peace of mind.