AF sick sinus

Hi i have persistent AF and ? sick sinus syndrome a recent ablation procedure had to be abandoned due to a ? long superior vena cava can anyone enlighten me as to what way this will affect me and what treatment is likely

[BobD Volunteer]

The superior and inferior vena cava s are the two main collecting veins which bring blood back to the heart and lungs I believe. It's a long time since I did anatomy but basically they are the vein equivalent of the aorta I think. I'm not sure what is meant by a long superior vena cava unless it is just that. LONG. Not being an electrophysiologist I can't explain why this caused the abandoning of the ablation but can't think what treatment if any would be needed.

BobD

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

Hi it was abandoned to await CT investigations catheters wouldnt drop into chamber also danger of puncturing heart going through from one chamber to another. May have procedure under general anaesthetic and trans oaesophageal endocardiogram and also ? pacemaker

[Offcut]

The superior vena cava (also known as the cava or cva) is a large diameter, yet short, vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the upper half of the body to the heart's right atrium. It is located in the anterior right superior mediastinum.[1]

It is formed by the left and right brachiocephalic veins (also referred to as the innominate veins), which also receive blood from the upper limbs, eyes and neck, behind the lower border of the first right costal cartilage. The azygos vein joins it just before it enters the right atrium, at the upper right front portion of the heart. It is also known as the cranial vena cava in animals.

No valve divides the superior vena cava from the right atrium. As a result, the (right) atrial and (right) ventricular contractions are conducted up into the internal jugular vein and, through the sternocleidomastoid muscle, can be seen as the jugular venous pressure. In tricuspid valve regurgitation, these pulsations are very strong

[Hidden in reply to Offcut]

thanks

[Offcut]

hope it makes more sense than it does to me

[Hidden in reply to Offcut]

yep

[rosailor]

Frills,

When I was first diagnosed as having AF it was suggested I have an ablation at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary however on further investigation it was decided not to proceed with it as it was considered it could be difficult to feed a catheter into the right atrium because of "Persistent left superior vena cava".

Seemingly around 5% of the population have PLSVC but in general causes no problems and is only found when some heart procedures are attempted.

In my case, due to AF becoming a real handicap to my quality of life further investigations are to be carried out to determine how difficult to achieving an ablation would be.

I believe an advanced 3D heart imaging machine is in use in America which makes ablation more accurate and easier to perform.

Here's hoping it becomes available in the U.K. soon.

Will tell you how I get on.

Please keep in touch and all the very best.

[Hidden in reply to rosailor]

will let you know how i go too many thanks

[MrGed in reply to rosailor]

hi rosailor have you read about the FIRM ablation technique there using in the states , hope after clinical trials are done it comes to the UK

Ged