SVT Medication vs. Ablation

[Glenda1060]

My 16 yr old daughter began having SVT problems Jan 08.  At first, they were infrequent, only every 5-6 weeks, now they are @ every 2-3 weeks.  She has had two very high, lenghtly episodes.  One on  December 6, 2008  (240 bpm for @ 9 minutes, another 5 minutes to get down to 120 bpm) and then she was put on medication, Digoxin 0.125 mg).  Then on Dec. 2, 2008, she had another episode that was 260 bpm for @ 15 minutes.  She has appt. sched for Jan 15 with local cardiologist.  I am very concerned that medication is not going to help and worried about heart damage.  Are there medications that control this?  With the episodes increasing both in frequency and intensity, should I just be pursuing the ablation procedure or try different dosage/medication first.  Any experience/opinion would be greatly appreciated.  Also, what type of study usually should be done for diagnosis of the SVT.  Should she have an Electrophysiology Study?  

[banglamom]

I'm on meds for the management of svt.  I tried the ablations and unfortunately, it didn't work BUT it was certainly not bad to go through.  If there was ANY chance it could work I'd easily do it again instead of taking all this medicine.  

I hope you can just get it ablated and not have to visit the topic ever again.  Best of luck on this.  The procedure is over in a day, then an easy recovery and done.  You are right to worry about all the meds necessary over the long term.

Take care.  Come as often as you think of new concerns.  Lots of good answers and nice people here.

[ireneo]

I've had SVT since I was a child (first memory of tachy around age 7). I thought it was normal (what do kids know?). But mine never went over 200 bpm, just 150-198 and was tolerable. Your daughter's rate is pretty high and I'd worry about her passing out. Medications are fine but I've read that they lose their effectiveness after awhile and you have to be switched to a different med. Considering she's so young, that could be a problem down the road. I'd ask about an ablation as well if I was you. A friend of mine at church has a daughter who needed an ablation at age 11 or so. She sailed through it and is free of SVT now. What a joy.

I understand only the cardiologist knows her full medical history but it wouldn't hurt to ask. A cure would be much nicer than drug management the rest of her life.

[ddavey]

i am the mother of a 23 yr old daughter who was diagnosed at age 19 with dilated cardiomyopathy.  after switching cardiologists we have determined that her condition was caused by svt and pac's.  in her particular case the ablation was unsuccessful due to the fact that everything is origniating in the left chamber and they were unable to ablate on the left.  although it was unsuccessful, her condition has improved with the addition of digoxin....   in your daughters situation i would pursue an ep study to see if an ablation is warranted....  a holter monitor will tell you how many svt's there are, but an ep study will tell where and why.  as a mother who has gone through this i would advise you to have an ep study done   please let us know how she is doing and we wish you both the best... dawn

[Brooke_38]

Hello...

I am sorry to hear about your young daughters situation. While SVT is not considered a life threatening arrhythmia, the onset of symptoms can cause severe panic and anxiety...especially in children.

Digoxin is a medication used to control the heart rate. When you see the cardiologist on Jan 14, I would inquire about an EP study and ablation procedure. I would encourage this over medication .

Why face a lifelong regimen of medication whose side effects can further impact quality of life when there is something that can be done to cure her of this.

I am pasting a link to an article from the Yale University School of Medicine re "Heart Rhythm Disorders" this has alot of valuable information pertaining to some of the questions you probably have. You will have to copy and paste the link to your browser.

http://www.med.yale.edu/library/heartbk/16.pdf

Please let us know how her appt. goes on the 14th...we will be interested to hear what the plans are for her. I wish you the best as you start your journey toward resolving this:)

[LittleMissBeatz]

I'm 24 and I went through the EP study back in April of 08 because my "episodes" became too close together and I was concerned with the passing out spells because I lived alone.  They weren't able to trigger the tachycardia, but the experience itself was not a bad one.  I'd say if that is something that she would feel comfortable with then I would go ahead and do it, I know I hated the fact of having to take medicine every single day and to think it would last for the rest of my life.... I would honestly ask her what she thinks would suit her better because she is the one that has to live with the decision, ofcourse your opinion is valued as well don't get me wrong.  Unfortunately I'm back on the medicine 7 months later UGH, so I would definitely say that the EP study is a good way to go.  My study was catheter ablation where they went into my groin with catheters and gave me meds to cause my tachycardia to start so they can burn off the problem area.  I hope I helped even the slightest bit Good Luck and tell your daughter my prayers are with you all...