I had a PVI (Pulmonary Vein Isolation) on April 9th. With 3 groin sticks on the left and 2 on the right, and one in the neck, I had a successful ablation. Mine is paroxysmal afib. Doc says he was able to isolate the excited cells and freeze them by cryoablation. He is 80% sure he got them all. Procedure was about 3 hours, with general anesthesia. The Anesthesia team was awesome, explaining everything they were doing. Me being an EMT I was very interested in it all. I had a sore throat from the airway, pain in the groin which wasnt too bad. I had to lay flat for 6 hours, i sat up to eat and of course i decided to bleed on my right side. So another 2 hours laying flat and pressure from the nurse on the puncture side solved the bleed. Worst part was the foley catheter. Once they pulled it out, having to go P was painful but soon subsided. Recovering at home, feeling ok, soreness is about gone. Several episodes of light headedness and strange beats, but the doc said this is expected. Anyone planning to have this done, don't worry! I know its easier said than done, the discomfort wasn't too bad and no afib since the procedure. Hopefully i can be weened off of the anti arrhythmic and blood thinners in a couple of months. I appreciate reading everyone's comments and they helped me through it, hopefully I can return the favor.
That's convenient that there was a pre-existing route to the left atrium rather than needing a puncture. Honestly, I might have preferred being put under for this procedure haha. But I understand and respect the reasons not to do that.
PS. I've posted a 2 week follow-up update to my journal if you're interested.
Interesting.... My EP thought at first that I had Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome from subtle indicators on the EKG, but one inside he determined that I had a close cousin to it, something called Orthodromic Circus Movement Tachycardia. Access to my left atria was made not by transseptal puncture but through an overlapping, and unsealed opening septal wall. My EP has seen this before and always tries the spot for going the puncture route. So he was able to slide the catheter through the overlap and do his work. I had a wide area of conductive tissue just above the valve that required 17 burns to sever the path. I was down in the lab for about 5 hours before quickly coming to in the recovery room. As I said, I remembered nothing of the procedure. I fell asleep....I woke up with the EP peering into my eyes. "Should seen me sooner.." were his first words.
Also, interestingly, my doctor was fairly sure I had AVRT based on my ECG results from a prior hospital visit for SVT. However, he found that it was actually AVNRT upon measurement. Since he originally thought it was AVRT, he explained the whole transseptal puncture to me as well beforehand and that was something I was also pretty apprehensive about. I had mixed feelings because I didn't like the thought of having a puncture through my heart even though it is safe to do, but the alternative of AVNRT meant a risk of AV Nodal Block, which obviously ended up coming into play.
Thanks, Tom! Excellent suggestion. I wasn't aware of the whole journal thing. I have copied both parts into a single entry there.
Excellent report! If you haven't done so already, you should copy and past Part 1 and Part 2 into a journal under your profile area. These are extremely helpful for anyone researching electrophysiology procedures for SVT. I had general anesthesia for mine, so I remember nothing. With a hypo of Vallium just before being wheeled down, I barely remember the gurney ride to the lab. It sounds like your SVT was AVNRT. Mine was left sided AVRT (lifelong too). I assume had catheters on both sides as both sides were pierced. I'm 4+ years now and doing great. Good luck, and enjoy your life free of SVT.