Ablation for chronic PVCs. Worth the risk?

mzak69

I've been dealing with the darn PVCs on a daily basis for 8 months now. It seems like they are becoming more frequent. I'm taking potassium and angstrom mg for 2-3 weeks with no improvement. Every time I have an active or stressful day I am punished at night with a string of PVCs that can last for hours. They appear to be adrenaline related. It has made my life miserable.

My EP gave me a special script for an EKG for when I got a bad episode, so last night I went to the ER and they hooked me up. They saw PVCs coming every few seconds, and the technician said they all looked identical, so it appears that they are unifocal.

I'm not sure what to do here. I don't have PVCs ALL day, but I do get them EVERY day. Some days are manageable, other days are very frustating. I am living right now for the moments when I am PVC free. Not a good way to live your life.

So my question to all you fellow sufferers is, is the ablation worth the possible risks? And what are they?

Thanks for your responses.

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Best Answer

Mom2four85

I've fainted and had arrhythmia's since I was 9 years old and told nothing was wrong. Back in 2004 they termed them "palpitations"  but testing showed nothing wrong except bradycardia; until 2007 which showed pvc's in a bigeminal pattern.

I went in for a broken foot in June 2009 and my primary heard pvc's and what he thought was valve damage. He sent me to a cardiologist who did an ekg, echo, holter and stress test. Tests showed nothing was wrong structurally; just minor things that didn't add up to anything. (stress test had red flags)

The first EP I saw who was head of the largest heart hospital here said if I didn't have an ablation to try and get rid of the pvc's I could develop cardiomyopathy but he was positive the ablation would get rid of my problem.

I didn't quite believe him and went in for other opinions; the other drs said it wasn't as severe as the first EP said and tried me on Toprol - big mistake; it sent me to the ER in distress and they gave me a shot to try to counter act the med - after 11 hours my BP wouldn't go above 70/40 and my hr 40 so I told them to let me go since they didn't find anything other than pvc's. (red flag)  the EKG showed I had multifocal pvc's and cardiomegaly (heart enlargement) another red flag

I went in to have a tilt table test before my ablation and when they gave me Nitro, my heart stopped they told me that was "rare" to have that happen (another big red flag).  Then a few hours later I had an EP study and ablation which found that I had problems in the RV Apex and RVOT; and I went into long runs of polymorphic VT 3 separate times. (huge red flag) my heart stopped and the first time was really bad and almost didn't start.  I think what happened during my EPS was Propofol messed with my heart rhythm.

When I woke up they explained what happened and told me they thought it was ARVD or HCM but most likely ARVD with my symptoms and that I needed to have a MRI and Cathierzation and an ICD implant.

somewhere dr's have missed the mark; one day my heart is normal then not normal and I have something benign then malignant; then normal again? doesn't make much sense...for me, I think I've had something wrong my entire life and it's just been missed and different meds mess with my heart; which is consistent with HCM or HOCM patients.

I wasn't scared about ablation; I had major surgery before and knew it would be a pretty quick and easy procedure.   for most patients, ablation can be an answer and cure and may even help diagnose a problem.  I think it's better to go through with it and find out you have something wrong and be in a place if something does happen like with me, at least you're right there where they can treat it immediately.

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SylviaJW

I think the PVC ablation is a good start. Im having mine on July 1st. Sylvia

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jackmaya

Hi My name is jack,
I had ablation for SVT 5 years ago since then my SVT are under control but my PVC<PAC are not since your post in 2011 how does your PAC,PAC been? are you cured..Please let me know .

***@****

Subject ABLATION
so i know it's from you

Thanks you so much..

Hopefull

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penny_aus

a doctor told me PVC's are stress. mine seem to go waves. for awhile I get them and then I don't. he told me to find things to keep me busy. I used to get them bad at bedtime. now I read just before sleep and its cut them right down so I'd say the doctor is right and yes I suffer from anxiety and stress which the heart reacts to

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chatham

I have 18,000 a day. I will be getting the MRI next, but I expect it will be normal. I have a BB that lowers my heart rate too much (I run marathons and train a lot), so the doctor told me to cut them in half. I also have Adavan that I cut in half (equals 1/2 mg). That is the best. It calms me down and enables me to handle them as they happen every few beats basically. I am very fit and do not want to reduce my activity. I have lowered my stress and even go to meditation class now. Short naps are good too as well as deep breathing. We'll see how it goes, but the Adavan is the best. Unfortunately, I do not want to live on anti anxiety medication forever, even if it is a teeny tiny amount.

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runroo

I had no symptoms of pvc's until my family doc noticed an abnormal heart rate. I went on Holter monitor and had 22,000 in 24 hours. Quit caffeine for a month and had it again, then I had 33,000 in the 24 hours!! No risk factors, low bp, no history, not overweight, but I have worked straight overnights for 16 years, I also have ran 33 + ultramarathons which are 50K's, 50 milers, and 100 milers in the past 8 years. No idea what is causing these pvc's. Going in a couple weeks to see EP for possible ablation. Any ideas of why I get these? Anyone else work nights or run ultras that have these?

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tom_h

Debbie, I have not seen angkev on here since that lat post date above. That's not to say that they don't monitor without posting though. In the meantime, if you want to understand more about the procedure, I'd recommend the journals of user "Jannie411" if you go to her site, she has a very complete record form leading up to until well after her procedure. I've provided a link to her journal of the procedure itself: http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/281881/Jannie411s-Ablation---Part-2---The-Actual-Ablation-Procedure--Pre-Ablation-Notes--and-Notes-for-the-Ladies
I have a journal as well, but it's not as complete.

To give you basic answers, the procedure takes anywhere from 2-6 hours. You may or may not be sedated for the procedure. I was under general anesthesia for the entire 4 and half hours of mine. Recovery is minimal. You walk out under your own power most of the time the same day you arrive. You take it easy for a couple of days, and get back into it slowly. I was out of work 3 days plus the weekend. Jannie and I had the procedure for SVT, but it's nearly identical for your situatiuon. See the previous posts for additional information, charges, etc.

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