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SVT ablation left side

Posted , 3 users are following.

sarah06516
sarah06516

Hi everyone!

Ive had SVT for 20 years (im now 30). I saw my cardiologist today to schedule an ablation.

Looking at my ECG results he has determined that the extra pathway is likely located on the left side of the heart (lucky me) he also said there could be some wpw - i dont know what he means by 'some' but anyway.. Just wondering who out there has had an ablation on the left side? i know there are extra risks involved (including stroke) but that they are rare. i also know the success rate is still quite high for left side. Feeling a little emotional and terrified, i really was hoping i had a straight forward case, i guess it just wasnt to be.

Any advice would be great.

Thanks smile

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • sarah29743
    sarah29743 sarah06516

    Posted

    Hi Sarah

    I had an unsuccessful ablation, they decided that this meant my issue is on the right side (the tricky side). The extra risk is associated with the need to cut trough one of the chambers. This increase your risk of needing a pace maker. If your issue is on the left I think it's a good thing smile

    • sarah06516
      sarah06516 sarah29743

      Posted

      No the left side is definetly the tricky side, they go in through the right side so they need to go through the right side to get to the left, which means they need to do a transseptal puncture. Also the left side is directly linked to your brain which increases the risk of stroke.
    • sarah29743
      sarah29743 sarah06516

      Posted

      Maybe your doc is doing a different technique. Typically the go in through the artery in the left side (look at s picture with of a heart the ateries come in through the top left). A small hole is made in order to access the right side. I went through this in great detail with my specialist after a failed ablation. Your natural wiring is also on the right side which is why the risk of a pacemaker is so much greater. Read up on it x
    • sarah06516
      sarah06516 sarah29743

      Posted

      Lol trust me ive definetly read up on it, ive had SVT for 20 years and when i was first diagnosed properly at the age of 16 i was told the left side was more difficult and more risky, and my doc (different doc) told me the same thing today. There are lots of articles on the net to back this up. They go through the vein in your groin on your right side. Ive never heard of them doing it any other way unless there is a particular reason why they cant do it that way. Read the below which was taken from the ablation clinic website.

      If the pathway or focus causing the arrhythmia is located in the

      left side of the heart a transseptal puncture using a sharp needle

      is needed to access the left atrium. During transseptal puncture

      a hole is created between the top chambers of the heart to

      enable passage of the catheters. This hole usually will heal over

      the subsequent four post operative weeks. Accessing the left

      side of the heart makes the SVT procedure more complex

  • sarah06516
    sarah06516

    Posted

    Radio frequency ablation for SVT is a curative treatment available in the catheterization

    laboratory (cath lab). The aim of this procedure is to locate and create a small area of scar tissue

    in the abnormal electrical pathway or focus.

    This is achieved by introducing cardiac catheters, through the right femoral vein at the patient’s

    groin, into the right atrium. Radio Frequency energy is then delivered through the ablation

    catheter, to create lesions to block the abnormal electrical

    pathway or focus initiating the arrhythmia.

     

    • sarah29743
      sarah29743 sarah06516

      Posted

      I think we are talking about the same thing. Perhaps my doctor was referring to his right. I know that mine is closer to the natural wiring on the right side which makes it very risky to fix, and is apparently a more complex op due to going through the wall
    • sarah06516
      sarah06516 sarah29743

      Posted

      I could be wrong but I think yours is close to the AV node? Which is the hearts natural pacemaker so if they burn too close to that then it could damage it requiring the need of a permanent pacemaker. Is this what u mean? Cos yeh from what I understand the AV node is on the right side which makes it dangerous if the extra pathway is too close?
  • ciaran33745
    ciaran33745 sarah06516

    Posted

    Hi Sarah, I don't know which side mine was on.

    Details apart, do you trust your cardio specialist?

    If you do, then you should reassure yourself that they will definitely not go ahead with an ablation if they think there is any real risk of injury or otherwise making things worse.

    If you don't trust them, or are not sure whether you do or not, then you should get a second opinion before deciding whether to go ahead with it.

    I just hope it all goes as well for you as it did for me. Good luck biggrin

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