SVT Ablation in Los Angeles

Understanding SVT ablation

What SVT is

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a group of fast rhythms that start above the heart’s lower chambers. Episodes often switch on suddenly, run fast and steady, then stop just as suddenly.

Many people with SVT are otherwise healthy. Episodes can feel frightening, but most forms of SVT are not life-threatening. They can still wear you down, especially when they strike at work, during exercise or at night.

The common types

The most common type is AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). Here, two slightly different pathways inside or near the AV node, the heart’s relay station, let a signal loop back on itself.

Another type uses an extra connection between the upper and lower chambers, called an accessory pathway. When this pathway shows on a resting ECG, it is known as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. A third type, atrial tachycardia, comes from a small spot in the upper chambers that fires too quickly.

Capturing your rhythm before the procedure

Because SVT comes and goes, a normal ECG in the office is common. The most useful clue is a recording made during an episode. That can come from an urgent care ECG, a wearable monitor or, in some cases, a smartwatch tracing you save and bring to your visit.

If episodes are rare, your physician may suggest a longer heart rhythm monitor. Write down when episodes start, how long they last and what stops them. These notes help your physician decide whether ablation is a sensible next step or whether watching and waiting is reasonable.

Some people choose ablation after only a few episodes because they want an answer without daily medicine. Others prefer to try medicine first. Both can be reasonable, and your physician will help you weigh them.

The EP study comes first

An SVT ablation begins with an electrophysiology study. Thin catheters are passed through a vein at the top of the leg and placed inside the heart to record its signals.

Your physician then uses tiny electrical pulses, and sometimes medicine, to start your rhythm under close control. Seeing the episode happen shows which type of SVT you have and where the circuit runs. That information decides where and whether to ablate.

How the ablation is done

Once the target is found, your electrophysiologist applies heat (radiofrequency) or cold (cryoablation) energy to a very small area. This breaks the circuit so the rhythm can no longer keep itself going.

Because some targets sit close to the heart’s normal wiring, your physician watches the signals closely throughout. Cold energy is sometimes chosen near the AV node because its effect can be tested before it becomes lasting. You are usually sedated, and many people are awake but drowsy.

Before and after

Your care team may ask you to pause certain rhythm medicines before the study so the SVT can be triggered. Only do this when your physician tells you to, and talk to them before changing any medicine.

Most people go home the same day. Rest for a day or two, and keep the leg puncture site clean and dry. Your physician will tell you when to return to driving, lifting and exercise.

A short follow-up visit checks the catheter site and reviews how you have felt since the procedure. Some people notice brief flutters or extra beats in the first few weeks while the treated area heals. Let your care team know if a sustained episode like your old SVT returns, so they can record it and decide on next steps.

Risks

SVT ablation is a well-established procedure. Bruising at the catheter site is the most common issue. A rare but important risk is damage to the heart’s normal conduction system, which could mean needing a pacemaker. Other rare risks include bleeding and injury to the heart or blood vessels. Your physician explains how these apply to your type of SVT.