What Is A Speedy Catheter?

Has anyone had catheter ablation and what is it like?

• I am having a catheter ablation for SVT's that they think it caused by an accessory pathway in my heart as they put me on a monitor that I took home and at times my heart was racing well over 200bpm. I was started on Bisoprolol which is a beta blocker but they said the only way to get rid of it once and for all is with a catheter ablation. I am 16 and am very worried about it. I wanted to know what is it like during the surgery? did anyone experience any problems after surgery and what should I expect? How long does the operation take? will I be able to exercise soon after? will it hurt? and is it most likely to be successful the first time or shoud I not get my hopes up? I really just want to get back to my old self. I miss being able to do sport and run around and I get anxiety a lot as I worry about my heart speeding up when I'm out as it is a very scary feeling and makes me dizzy.

• Answer:

  First, know that an ablation is not a surgery. It is an invasive procedure but involves only needles and catheters. Access to the heart is made through the blood vessels and not directly through the chest. This carries much less risk of complications or infection than an open surgery. Also, ablation has been around for a number of years and is generally a safe and effective treatment but "get rid of it once and for all" is not a promise anyone can make. Occasionally, as with any medical treatment unforseen things do occur and ablations sometimes fail. That is to say that your cardiologist won't be able to successfully either isolate the part of the heart causing the problem or ablate the tissue when it is found. This is unlikely as SVT ablations are often some of the most successful but know it is a possibility. Also, sometimes ablation procedures have to be redone months or years in the future. Again, this is less of a problem with SVT than other rhythyms, but is possible. Talk to your cardiologist about the risks and benefits of the procedure. They are the best expert on what to expect on the specific treatments he or she will provide. If you decide to have the ablation you will be admitted to the hospital. In the procedure area, often called an electrophysiology lab, a nurse or possibly an anesthesia provider will place an IV catheter and give you pain and sedation medication to make sure that you will remain comfortable during the procedure. Because of the sedation you probably will not remember what happens during the ablation. Afterwards, you will likely be moved to a hospital floor that has specialized monitoring equipment and nurses to care for people after invasive cardiac procedures. You will probably stay at least overnight to watch for any complications, and depending on the cardiologist, sometimes receive certain medications such as blood thinners. As long as everything goes as planned, you'll have to rest for few days but you should be back to your normal level of activity fairly soon. Ask your cardiologist at your follow-up appointment if it's okay to go back to exercising. The most common complications relate to bleeding because of the puncture sites. You can minimize that risk by listening to your nurse about any restrictions on your activity. Some bedrest is normal right after the procedure. Good luck. Remember, this is a big deal for you but its what you doctor and nurses do every day and they will answer any questions you have, but you have to ask. Sometimes we forget that this is all weird and scary for the patient.