Aa
Failed SVT Ablation
A couple of days ago I had EP studies and was supposed to have SVT Ablation.The Ablation didn't happen because apparently they were not able to trigger the SVT long enough to be sure where it was coming from. I was told this is not uncommon. What now I am wondering... has anyone else had this experience?
**manchester uk**
Manchester in England. Glad you managed to get yours sorted. It's reassuring to hear success stories. We don't really get much choice in who we see as we have the NHS system not private health care. It's excellent in the way that we don't pay for treatment (although some of the taxes we pay contributes to the NHS system) but because we do not pay and depending on the area you live you don't get given a choice. I may enquire about how much it will be to go private and pay for it myself. I just want to thank everyone for their responses. It has filled me with more confidence than I had a few days ago
Manchester, as in UK? Here in New England there are a number of "Manchester" cities.
Is it possible there to see a different Electrophysiologist? You shouldn't be treated in a "less than" manner. I saw three electrophysiologists before choosing "the one". The physician who did mine wasn't much of a joker except to peer into my face afterwards when I came to, to tell me that I should have come to see him sooner! ... oh, and he also told me to go celebrate with a double espresso at Starbucks across the street. (that's pretty funny for a heart physician, right?) He wasn't much of a conversationalist either , but he did keep me informed of exactly what he was going to do and what he wouldn't do in our interview as well as just prior to putting me under. That kind of information really gives you a feeling of assurance, and it was the reason that I selected him to do the procedure. I also found that armed with even a little bit of knowledge of your particular condition, along with the basic procedure, and his "tools of the trade" gives him some areas to talk about. That dialog often opens up other questions and comments. In other words, I just wasn't a "body" that comes and goes. I was someone interested in getting this fixed. I hope you can find a resolution, and best wishes!
Is it possible there to see a different Electrophysiologist? You shouldn't be treated in a "less than" manner. I saw three electrophysiologists before choosing "the one". The physician who did mine wasn't much of a joker except to peer into my face afterwards when I came to, to tell me that I should have come to see him sooner! ... oh, and he also told me to go celebrate with a double espresso at Starbucks across the street. (that's pretty funny for a heart physician, right?) He wasn't much of a conversationalist either , but he did keep me informed of exactly what he was going to do and what he wouldn't do in our interview as well as just prior to putting me under. That kind of information really gives you a feeling of assurance, and it was the reason that I selected him to do the procedure. I also found that armed with even a little bit of knowledge of your particular condition, along with the basic procedure, and his "tools of the trade" gives him some areas to talk about. That dialog often opens up other questions and comments. In other words, I just wasn't a "body" that comes and goes. I was someone interested in getting this fixed. I hope you can find a resolution, and best wishes!
Yes definitely let me know. I hope you get the answers you need. I live in the north west not to far from Manchester.
Where are you located, Steph?
My appointment is on 11/11 and have many questions written down to take with me. I am hoping to come out with some answers/options. You must feel terrible being 'blown off' like that. Have you considered going to someone else? I will let you know how I go.
I did stop my medication 3 days prior. It's that I have not been put back on any medication that was worrying me as I do not want to return to having daily SVT's. They have a major effect on my job. I have to stand some days for 11 hours with not much chance to sit down. When I have an episode it drains my energy so much and on a few occasions I've nearly passed out and been physically sick too.
My electrophysiologist knew I was on the beta blocker Metoprolol Tartrate and requested that I abruptly stop the medication 3 full days prior to my procedure. His reasoning to me was the half life of Metoprolol is rather short, 5 hours or so, and there is no latency with the drug. When it's gone, it's gone and with it go the effects of the drug. Also, there is no rebound effect when you discontinue it; at least for that period of time I was off of it. I know I'd find a few on here who would argue that point with me, and say there are withdrawal symptoms coming off of it and that tapering is advised. Michelle noted something in her last post the I can concur with. The beta blocker did nothing to prevent the episodes which I was getting 3 to 5 times per month. I think it did make an impact though with converting them back to NSR. I felt that it was much easier to do so.
No I feel like I'm completely in the dark also. All I was told was I would be written to with an appointment to go back but was told in a very arrogant way that his waiting list is very long. So I guess for now I just have wait.
I know that it is frustrating when your EP can't induce SVT during an ablation attempt. It happened to me last March and I posted about that here: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Heart-Rhythm/Successful-ablation-without-SVT-inducement-/show/2127506#post_10114163 ;
At that time, my EP ablated anyway, despite not being able to induce my SVT/AVNRT. He said to me that he considered the ablation successful. But, eventually after about two months, I began having a few relatively brief SVT runs again, up to about one hour, during and immediately following exercise. These episodes were at much lower heart rates, about 130-145 bpm, than most people here who have SVT. After about 2 months, I also saw a few very brief SVT runs in the 180-210 BPM range, lasting only a minute or less. Interesting to me, I had never seen any SVT runs that high prior to the March ablation. But, since June, I haven't experienced any SVT events. I'm hoping my EP was correct when he considered my March ablation successful, despite not inducing SVT. I still have, what feels like PVCs, only during exercise.
Consider asking your EP whether he ever ablates, despite not being able to induce. My EP said that he ablated my SVT/AVNRT, without inducement, because in his experience with others, that the heart tissue that needed ablation, was always within a very narrow range. I'm thinking that during my EP lab, that he must of had other clues, too. But, he never went into great detail explaining that to me.
Take care and good luck.
At that time, my EP ablated anyway, despite not being able to induce my SVT/AVNRT. He said to me that he considered the ablation successful. But, eventually after about two months, I began having a few relatively brief SVT runs again, up to about one hour, during and immediately following exercise. These episodes were at much lower heart rates, about 130-145 bpm, than most people here who have SVT. After about 2 months, I also saw a few very brief SVT runs in the 180-210 BPM range, lasting only a minute or less. Interesting to me, I had never seen any SVT runs that high prior to the March ablation. But, since June, I haven't experienced any SVT events. I'm hoping my EP was correct when he considered my March ablation successful, despite not inducing SVT. I still have, what feels like PVCs, only during exercise.
Consider asking your EP whether he ever ablates, despite not being able to induce. My EP said that he ablated my SVT/AVNRT, without inducement, because in his experience with others, that the heart tissue that needed ablation, was always within a very narrow range. I'm thinking that during my EP lab, that he must of had other clues, too. But, he never went into great detail explaining that to me.
Take care and good luck.
It is very likely the medication itself prevented a successful ablation. They have to induce and episode to know where to ablate and if the meds repressed them then they were a crutch in this instance. You should have been taken off them sooner before the ablation. This said, I lived with my svt for 43 years before it was corrected, others longer. Try to hang in there. You definitely can try another time. I suspect they took you off the meds so it can become active and give you a better shot at a cure. It may be the only way so try to see it as a positive. Take care.
Do you get to see your EP again or is that it? Did you ask if they would do it again at some stage of it your SVT gets worse? I am still in the dark as the day I had mine done the Dr went on holidays (I was unaware this was happening) and my follow up appointment is not until 11/11. So I have no idea what the plan will be, I have lots of questions....
I live in the uk and the same happened to me. They tried for around two hours to trigger it off with no success. I was really upset as before I was put on medication I got SVTs on pretty much a daily basis. The medication helped but didn't stop them completely, I've now been taken off my medication completely and I'm frightened I'm just going to have to live like this for the rest of my life and I'm only 26. My heart rate goes up to the high 180's even when I'm sitting still. The 7 day monitor I had even even picked up that I have them in my sleep without me even knowing. Surely they can't let people live like this. The consultants attitude was well from what we've seen your not going to die. Yeah thanks for that but you don't have to live with SVTs. Sorry this is still very raw as I only had my EP study 2 days ago.
It was never recommended to me to go on medication for my svt. My EP basically said, ablate or deal with it. So long as you manage any episodes learning vasovagal maneuvers to get them to stop as quickly as possible you should be fine. According to my ep the meds really didn't do much to keep you out of having svt, they only helped slow it down once it started. Best of luck moving forward and getting this under control.
Thanks for that.... I was wondering about the frequency of events.. I was continually experiencing SVT (virtually every day for several months) by the time I was referred and had investigations etc and booked in for the procedure I had noticed they were starting to drop off, (typical!) My ECG showed a short P R wave so they believe I have an extra pathway. I still have not had a follow up appointment to discuss the future plan but one of the questions I plan to ask is whether I could book in again if they return as frequent again. Now I am in 'the system' so to speak it would be easier to arrange. I have read a lot of information on SVT ablation and am also aware it is often not a quick fix! I would prefer not to go on medication. Thanks for your help. Suzanne
From my experience on this forum, it happens occasionally. I don't think that it's common in a sense that this failure happens all of the time. I think perhaps they were soothing you a bit. I think those of us that have or have had SVT and are familiar with the EP procedure would tell you that the more SVT events that you have, the greater likelihood that it can be reproduced in the lab. This is why I tell people stateside who have private insurance and/or high co-pays to wait until you have regular events. If you have a couple of events per year, I would bother doing something about it, that is unless you have some high risk factor involved like perhaps Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome.
I'm not familiar with the healthcare system in Australia, but perhaps it's certainly worth another shot later on. There are a bunch of us on here who've had ablations for both AVRT and AVNRT in which is was got on the first procedure. Note that there are a few who've had it return, or have never had it quite go away afterwards. This is another fact with the procedure that you should know too.
I'm not familiar with the healthcare system in Australia, but perhaps it's certainly worth another shot later on. There are a bunch of us on here who've had ablations for both AVRT and AVNRT in which is was got on the first procedure. Note that there are a few who've had it return, or have never had it quite go away afterwards. This is another fact with the procedure that you should know too.
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