I am a 47 year old male with an incessant, drug resistant, ectopic atrial tachycardia probably arising in the left atrium. I also have abnormal A-V conduction. I have been on medication since 1968, and my last documented normal sinus rhythm was in 1969. My questions are as follows:
1) Is ablation of a left atrial ectopic pacemaker considered routine, safe and effective?
2) What is the likelihood of having a normally functioning sinus node after 33 years of no evidence of sinus activity?
3) What is the likelihood of developing an entirely new, and equally unpleasant symptomology, after ablation of the ectopic foci?
4) If ablation leaves me with neither an ectopic nor a sino-atrial pacemaker, OR, if ablation of the A-V node becomes necessary, how much better (or worse) is life with a permanent pacemaker than it is with my present set of symptoms (rapid pulse, frequent palpitations, low excercise tolerance).
Many thanks for this service.