AVNRT ablation

[rich101]

Hi,

Im currently waiting for my ablation, scheduled 21st jan.

I have been diagnosed with AF, and also SVT via echocardiogram years ago.My EP has suggested that I have an simpler substrate ablation as he thinks my arrythmia is caused by AVNRT.It is of adrenergic and vagal origin but he will attempt to trigger the svt during the study and if succesful he will abalation then hopefully stopping svt and af.

Has anyone else had a similar ablation?

Still a little nervous about the procedure as I only get the paf, 3/4 times a year, but I know its the right choice as its affecting my life.

thanks

[Di1962]

What is AVNRT?

[Rellim296]

Hi there Rich. 3/4 times this year, but it will soon speed up and would get the upper hand if you didn't sort it.

There are many of us who have had ablations who are keen to go back for another one for further improvement. I'm on the list for a third, but at the moment, I'm not having AF any more. It took seven months post ablation to shake it off. I'm thrilled to bits.

[flyfisher]

Yes rich, About 18 months ago i firstly had a laser baloon ablation done for a fib, but had some minor ongoing ectopic beats and the occasional run of the heart beating at double speed.

The E/P did a catheter investigation on me about 4 months ago , they put the catheter in your heart and attempt to stimulate it in different ways whilst monitoring it, you feel a kind of tickle in your heart.

As soon as they started to stimulate the heart the e/p exclaimed ''amazing'' as it became apparent to him what the issue was. He stopped the procedure and told me they had found avnrt and various arrhythmias and that he would ablate the avnrt now and then do another stimulation afterwards.

It took about 5 minutes to ablate after which he said they will leave it to rest for 20 minutes as sometimes they only stun the problem.

20 minutes later he tried to induce the arrythmias with his catheter and found the heart stable.

The investigatory procedure had turned into '' we will do it whilst we are in there''. It was successful, took less than an hour and was an interesting experience which was no more onerous than a visit to the dentist.

Good luck

Phil

[Vony]

Rich, I think you are right for getting the ablation, even if you have it 3/4 times a year. I really wish mine had been treated before it became a daily occurence and totally took hold. All the ins and outs sound like double dutch to me but all I can say is that my friend is a coronary care nurse and works in angioplasty and she told me that EPs are mega mega specialist in the electrics of the heart and she said if she were in their hands she would feel 110% safe...so that was enough for me to take a leap of faith as she has been a nurse for many many years and seen a lot..you will be great and i really wish you well for your ablation. I would definitely have another if my EP thinks it will help further. Let your EP do the thinking and you just focus on recovery i worried so much coming up to mine so i am only speaking from what I learned. One thing i would say though is give yourself recovery time after...i left work before mine saying "see you all in a week" and no way could I have returned a week later.

[rich101]

Thanks for all your comments.

Di - Avnrt is a re-entrant arrythmia, as far as I know the af is caused by another arrythmia, in my case svt. This is what are guessing anyhow.

Im sure its the right choice, and excited about the prospect of having my life back.

This site has been an excellent source of support and knowledge and has helped me loads to get my head around this condition.

So Cheers, have a nice Christmas everyone.

[Paddinton]

I've just been diagnosed with AVNRT. The consultant explained at follows: the heart has it's own pacemaker, in the upper part of the heart, which send signals to lower part to make beat regularly. With AVNRT, you develop two channels for this signal, instead of one. When this happens, sometimes, the signal goes round and round the two channels instead of just passing through, and causes the rapid heartbeat. The ablation will cut one of these channels, thus stopping the circular signal.

He claimed a 97% success rate with the first ablation.

Good luck with your treatment.