v-tach ep study/ablation

I'm schedule for an EP study tomorrow in my small home town in Louisiana, my EP comes from New Orleans, LA, and see's patients and does procedures in like 5 different cities. He's real busy and travels all around. im a 25yr old male, and had echo's, cardiac MRI with contrast, stress test, stress echo, holter monitor and event monitor, and everything was PERFECT besides on the event monitor i had PVC's, and a 25 beat run at 127 bpm, of Ventricular Tachycardia. Dr said he thinks it is Idiopathic ventricular tachycardia, he wants to do an EP study to be safe and possibly a ablation. 1.Does it mean since i had that run that my heart is more prone to ventricular fibrillation and SCD? 2.Do you think it is possible to have this and it be benign? 3.Do you think its just as safe to have this done here versus a LARGE medical center? 4.Is EP study/ablation for Ventricular tachycardia(bottom chamber of heart) more dangerous than for problems in the atria?(top of heart) 5.Is it possible for the ep study/or ablation to affect me worse in the long run later on in life, such as create new dangerous arrythmias? I have a 6 month old son and just want to be there for him and live a normal life, right now I'm so scared of my skipped beats and feelings in my chest that I can't go anywhere thats not close by a defibillator because of my anxiety over all of it. 6. How dangerous is this particular type of EP study/ablation? 7. Whats the MAJOR risks and how would they occur? 8. What if the v-tach they thought it was on the 3 lead event monitor was really svt, would they beable to find that out during this type of EP study or are they just going to the ventricules and not even seeing about other things? 9. What if I have some type of coronary artery disease, would they beable to detect that and if I did have that would it make my EP study more dangerous? Thank you so much   How long is revovery?

[tom_h]

I fell I'm only qualified to answer a same part of your post.

Recovery from and EP study should take only a few days.  Mine was done on a Tuesday, and by Friday I was raring to go.  You will probably have puncture wounds in the crease of both legs where they access the femoral veins.  People refer to as "groin" area, and that sounds a lot worse to males than it really is.  The punctures heal quickly and I was able to shower the next day.  You could get large burising in the insertion areas.  I had a large hematoma that drained the fiollowing day down into my leg.  It still remains tender to the touch, and the bruising is now down to my knee.  If you're ablated you may feel some literal heartache in the form of dull pain.  This may persist for a while.  3 weeks after mine, I still feel some occasional achiness. If you're scheduled early in the morning, you'll probably go home in the evening.  I was there at 7AM and out just after 5PM.  You will need to be observed to several hours after thje procedure.

What they MAY DO, will be to antagonize your heart into doing its particular form of arrhythmia.  They will pace it at different speeds and literally touch the nerve fibers in an effort to get it to react.  They don't want a smooth running "ticker", but one that's really annoyed.  This is why they want you to stop taking antiarrhythmic drugs prior to your study.

I think it take a fearless soul to go in and have it done without any anesthesia.  I was given a choice for mine, and I chose general sedation.  I remember scooting onto the table and that's about it.  In my case, it wasn't necessary to keep me awake.  I trust you know what they're going to do about that with yours.

The key to success is not how large the hospital is, but how good is the man that's weilding the catheter.  I did some research between the time I agreed on the procedure and actually having it done, and was satisfied I selected a competent physician, and someone whose hands I could literally place my life in.  Good luck tomorrow, and I wish you the best!  Apprehension is normal, but afterward I know you'll be saying that it was a piece of cake.

[bypeep]

Cookie,

I had mine in September without sedation.  It was a breeze.  The groin incision wasn't painful at all except for some pressure.  The most uncomfortable part was my heart doing a dance or two while the catheters were being put into it.  The pacing was a little scary at first, but then I got used to it.  Plus I got to watch the whole shebang on the monitors that spanned the length of my bed and it was cool.  Watched the catheter go in, saw my heart.  Saw the pacing waves and my waves.  Spectacular technology.  

I went home four hours later and the only things that I noticed were that my groin was tender when I strained for about a week and my heart was a little irritable (rhythm-wise) for about 4 days.  Oh, and I got a really bad headache from the adrenaline they gave me.  

The worst part was really the fear that I had created all in my mind.  I'd do it again tomorrow if my EP asked me to.  It's all psychological.  Really.

And yes, if they are able to induce your VT, with a 12-lead on they can definitely tell if this is VT or SVT with aberration.  

I'm not going to answer any of your other questions, because they're the same ones you keep asking over and over and we just cannot tell you.  Let your EP decide what your prognosis, diagnosis is.  They are the experts.

You will be fine and this will most definitely get you the answers and hopefully peace of mind that you so desperately need.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[is_something_wrong]

Hello Cookie,

Good luck tomorrow! I'm sure you will be OK!

Take care, hope you find peace of mind after this, so you can take care of your son and yourself.

Best wishes :)

[cookienkikin23]

Is the VT ablation more risky than others?

[cookienkikin23]

I've also had a few beers tonight with my supper to try and calm the anxiety of this test, will that hurt or effect the EP study in the morning? Why is the VT ablation more dangerous than atrial ablation? What are the more risks for VT ablation than atrial? Would just an "EP study" for VT be more risky than Atrial EP study or is that the same risks? I have a "healthy" heart so they say from all my other tests, so does that minimize my risks for the EP study and ablation? I'm so nervous and scared if I should do this or not and just want to live a normal life with my soon to be wife and our 6 month old son. Advice from everyone in this health forum is very much welcomed. Thanks so much

[cookienkikin23]

what was your ablation for?  where did you have it done at?