PVCs and Cardiac Abilation

Hi. I had a pacemaker implanted in August of 2008. I had PVCs afterwards, and after lots of trials, it is now lowered to 45 and is being used at less than 1% of the time.

Two weeks ago, I started getting PVCs VERY frequently. The typical heavy beating in my chest, pressure in my throat, etc. I was put on a 2 week event monitor. Showed I was definitely getting PVCs.

Went to see an electrophysiologist today and told me: 1) I could continue on my 25 mg. Metoprolol beta blocker 2x a day (which isn't helping); 2) he could increase it (which would increase the side effects); or 3) he could do a cardiac abilation!

I never heard of it and was given info on it. I googled all about it and am scared beyond belief!

Did anyone has a similar experience? He told me I probably had the PVCs all my life, but they're just worse now.

Thanks for any feedback on this procedure. Also, I am scheduled to get a Cardiac Pet Imaging done in 3 weeks too.

2 Comments

PVC's with the PaceMaker

by PadWC2 - 2010-09-28 09:09:29

I have the same problem. Not much heav beating but PVS's every 10-14 beats. I am also in A-fib. My cadiologist basically says don't waste too much time on correcting the A-fib as extensive tests suggest that outcomes from correcting the A-fib with drugs and not correcting the A-fib are not statistcally significant. So, I take the coumadin and metaprolol and get on with living.
Ron

PVC ablation

by golden_snitch - 2010-09-29 02:09:33

Hi!

PVC ablations are usually performed in very, very bad cases only. You have to have at least 12.000-15.000 PVCs per day, and some EPs won't do it if you don't have more than 20.000/day (at least here in Germany that's the rule). In addition to that the PVCs need to come from a singular spot, multifocal PVCs can't be ablated because there are just too many foci of origin. If you don't fulfill these criteria, the chances for success of the ablation are pretty low compared to ablating for example supraventricular tachycardia. But if you do fulfill the criteria, an ablation could be your chance to be healed from PVCs. And it's really nothing to be scared of - I mean, of course, it's ok to be scared before any medical procedure but I have had six ablation procedures, and I can say that it's not such a big deal; you can even sleep through it (no general anaesthesia required, just sedation).

Best wishes
Inga

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I had a pacemaker when I was 11. I never once thought I wasn't a 'normal kid' nor was I ever treated differently because of it. I could do everything all my friends were doing; I just happened to have a battery attached to my heart to help it work.