Criteria for PVC ablation.

[hankstar]

Thanks for taking my questions once again.

   What would be the criteria for recommending a PVC ablation? How many PVCs would one have to show in a 24 hour period for ablation to be recommended or does it depends on symptoms regardless of frequency?
    Once signing off on an  ablation for PVCs would a doctor be willing to perform such an ablation , even if it is not recommended and you are giving permission regardless of the outcome or does a responsible doctor ignore the patients plea and avoid a potential adverse reaction to the procedure?
     It is my understanding that even though one focus is responsible for about 60-80-% of all PVCs. Most person have mutifocal PVCs that occur from time to time. Is this true and the reason for most EP doctors not recommending ablation for PVCs?

    Would you agree that it is more abnormal not to demonstrate PVCs on a holter monitor for 24-48 hours, than to at least demonstrate a few.
    I also understand that sudden death is more likely to occur in person that hardly have any PVCs than in those that have them occasionally, have you seen any evidence to support this?

    i also understand that even though sometimes V-fib can be induced in a EP study in a normal heart, in these cases a ICD is rarely recommended or implanted, because of the very low risks of it occuring otherwise, Is this true?

    Thanks for taking so many questions, but I hate to see the  days when no questions are posted.

Thanks again.
        Hank.

  P.S. Do you think that the success stories of PVCs ablations in these far off land is true

[mbimom]

Big Mick, before my ablation I used to have episodes of svt and for me it felt like a big thump in my chest and then it would beat very hard and fast 200+bpm. While it was happening you could not take a pulse it was too fast and I would become very dizzy and have to stop whatever I was doing and sit and wait for it to end, it would end with the same thump and then be over. I have not had it since my ablation.
  Cathy, I was wondering from you what an episode of a-fib feels like? Lately I have been having dizzy spells where I have passed out only 3 times in 1 1/2 months mostly I am able to just sit down and the dizzyness will go away. I am one of those people who for some reason can hear my heart beat in my chest when I am lying down and it is quiet. Lately I hear my normal heart beat and behind it I sometimes hear what sounds like a cat purring. My chest feels kinda hollow and fluttery when this happens. I always still hear my regular heart beat with it though. I did a 24 hour monitor but my appt. for results isn't till 2-25 so I am curious about what it could be. Does this sound like afib to you? Thanks.  Terri

[Tony1]

I hate to ask this but when can someone post who lives in the Central Time zone.  I have been trying to post a question for almost a month now that I am concerned about but can never get on.  Again I am sorry to ask this by hijacking a thread but I really hope to get to ask something.

[bigmick]

Hankstar and CCF Doc: Whilst having previously read the info to which HS refers, and whilst also appreciating the anologies to which CCF Doc refers... I would simply point out (as per CCF Doc's response to the Qs initiating this thread) that the numbers here are approximately 50:50. (I.e. 50-60% of healthy medical students will show PVCs on a 24hr monitor.) It would accordingly appear - to me at least - that HS's assertion has some credence. Maybe a heart 'used' to a little arrythmia here and there is better able to deal with other more potentially problematic arrythmias if and when they appear.

Cathy7, I will be most interested to learn more about the procedure you will be having next week - please do let us all know more as and when you are able.... including, of course, how you get on during and after the procedure. (Just hijack another thread if you can't start one of your own (-:  )

BM

[bigmick]

Hi folks,

On another but related matter (and having not yet being able to initiate my own thread), can anyone here who has had short runs of NSVT - and have been aware of it at the time - please attempt to describe just how it feels. Is it light or thumping? Approximate HR - 100, 120, 140, 160 bpm? Can it be either symptomatic or asymptomatic? I'm a little anxious about NSVT since I had a 11 beat run of it recorded on a Holter 6 years ago..... I often get short runs of regular arrythmia (a few times per week - usually 2-4 secs, but occasionally up to 10 secs or so) and find myself anxiously wondering what it/they are. I should add that my last Holter of a year ago showed 32 PACs only, whilst earlier Holters usually showed mainly PVCs (always unifocal). I have also had 5 episodes of LAF during the last 4.5 years (all nocturnal, 3-4 hrs duration, and self-coverting. Is it likely/possible to get AF and NSVT going on in the same heart in a given time frame? I am on no meds. I do have a long history of anxiety states and OCD - I had a very violent and traumatic childhood.

Any and all contributions, views, and opinions will be gratefully received and appreciated.

Cheers,

BM

[Cathy7]

Hi all...

Are PVC's the ones that feel like your heart is stopping and kick-starting again, as pvcgurl says?  I have a. fib, and I used to just feel the irregular booming like my heart is going to jump outta my chest, but now have the stop/kick-start feeling several times just preceding the a. fib. The last coupla months I have had the above, plus awful runs of tachycardia AND a. fib. that cause waves of such weakness that my knees buckle if I'm standing, and I feel like I'm passing out.  All I can do is lie still and hope it'll go away.  I can barely get enough energy to talk when I'm like that.  

These terrible weakness/fainting episodes are so bad and unpredictable (and I haven't been able to tolerate any of the meds), I'm scheduled for a thoracoscopic Maze procedure next week.  Has anyone heard of this new procedure where they ablate portions on the OUTSIDE of the heart?  Risk of clots/stroke are nearly zero, according to my heart surgeon.  The instruments and 'scope are inserted between the ribs on either side of the rib cage.  He gives this procedure a 70-90% success rate vs. the 30-60% I was quoted for the RF ablation procedure.

Any comments?

[Linda123]

Great questions from Hank as always, all questions most of us on here are hungry for the answers to, great answer from the ccf and a very kind, thoughtful, generous and reassuring comment from him also later on about posting.
The world feels a nicer place for both of you.
Best Wishes, Linda