Ventricular ablation

[LuciaV]

Hi All, has anyone had a ventricular ablation done or any other treatment to stop ventricular fibrillation/extrasystoles? If so, where and how did it go?

[Bernice74]

I had an ablation for SVT several years ago at Wythenshawe Hospital Manchester. It was a success. For several weeks afterwards it felt as if the tachicardia was about to start again but it never did and I have had no more trouble. The procedure was not particularly unpleasant. In fact the worst part of it was hanging about all day not knowing what was going on! I should be used to that by now!

[LuciaV in reply to Bernice74]

Thank you for your answer. Great to hear that it helped! I am glad you have been treated and feel better. Ventricular ablations aren't so common in Slovakia, there is only 1 place they do it but they refused my Mum because it's apparently time consuming. Neither they can put a lead in from her ICD as it' apparently not staying in place. It's life threatening and I am really worried about her as she has already had two dangerous episodes. I am looking to arrange a consultation for my Mum in UK as I live here now. Would you say that Manchester has a good cardio unit?

[Bernice74 in reply to LuciaV]

So sorry to hear about your Mum LuciaV. I don't know anyone else who has been treated at Wythenshawe but I am now under Blackpool Victoria and they have a good reputation. All the best.

[Jong1945]

Lucia, I wonder if you mean an ablation to stop supra-ventricular tachycardia (SVT)? Ventricular ablation is done, extremely rarely and only in very particular circumstances, and if you had truly been in ventricular fibrillation, that is inconsistent with continued life and you would have had to have shock treatment to "reset" the heart properly. You can however get ventricular (and atrial) extra-systoles which can be virtually indistinguishable and by themselves are not sinister. I suspect you have had SVT, possibly or/also atrial fibrillation. In which case, yes, zillions of people have had ablations for one or other of these (including me, and it went ok). You can get more help and people with the same thing at healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

[LuciaV in reply to Jong1945]

Hi there, thank you very much for your reply. I mean ventricular extra-systoles. It's about my Mum. The available treatment is ablation or extra leads from ICD in ventricle. Extra leads couldn't be implanted as they wouldn't stay in place. My Mum has been hospital recently however they refused to perform ablation as it's time consuming for them to find the faulty tissue. I am not impressed. My Mum has been shocked twice already from her ICD as these extrasystoles have caused her heart to either stop or go into life threatening situation. I am not sure what is happening when these extrasystoles start occuring. I have read about ablation, she has been for an assesment but they have done nothing. I can't live in constant fear, my Mum's heart is getting weaker and she is relatively young (52). Is there any solution to it? This is in Slovakia, that's why I want another opinion from more developed country. Thank you

[Jong1945 in reply to LuciaV]

Lucia, thanks for clarifying, but this is outside of my knowledge, and of course none of us here are doctors (probably). I hope you can get an answer. One possibility is Dr Sanjay Gupta who is a Cardiologist in York. He is very approachable and you can speak to him on the phone for advice. See yorkcardiology.co.uk/

[LuciaV in reply to Jong1945]

Oh thank you very much! I will certainly make some phone calls this week.