AF & SVT ablation done together?

[Barny12]

I'm looking at having an EP study to check for SVT in a few weeks, followed by an AF ablation later in the year.

My EP has not mentioned it but I'm just wondering if it's possible to have them both ablated at the same time to avoid two lots of trauma to my body and two lots of weeks/months of recovery time? I've been reading that recovery can be prolonged so would like to combine the two if possible - but don't know if there is a good reason why they would have to be done separately.

Great to know if anyone has had both done together.

[mjames1]

I can't think of any good reason. I'm having an afib ablation soon and they will also be doing an ep study for both SVT and Aflutter. All at the same time. Unless they have a very good reason, like you say, why subject yourself to repeated trauma, healing and anesthesia exposure? Going to take a wild guess that it's a scheduling thing, but that would just be for the doctor's convenience.

Jim

[Barny12 in reply to mjames1]

That sounds positive. Thanks again Jim.

[Snowgirl65]

When I suffered a scary episode of tachycardia in early October and underwent an ablation for it in early December, my EP thought it was caused by a certain something (can't remember what) but in fact it was simply a vein growing over a previously ablated area that needed re-ablating. Originally, he was to take care of the SVT on one side, then "clean up" previously-ablated veins on the other, if that makes sense. So in answer to your question, yes, both can be done at the same time, though in my case didn't need to be.

[Barny12 in reply to Snowgirl65]

Sounds hopeful. Thanks for that.

[lovetogarden]

During my last ablation, the EP “cleaned up” some bits of a previous PVI afib ablation and tried really hard to trigger my SVT so he could take care of that too (sadly failed). Based on that, I’d say they can technically do both at once. But there may be reasons they’ve scheduled yours separately. Can’t hurt to ask and find out why. Might have something to do with the scheduling of the procedure room or with how much work they think they’ll have to do inside your heart.