Patients may often experience palpitations and ‘racing' of their hearts which may subsequently be diagnosed by a physician as supra-ventricular tachycardia (SVT). SVT involves abnormal rhythm disorders of the top chambers of the heart known as the atria. The vast majority of SVTs are not life threatening however they can be quite debilitating and interfere with normal daily activities. Initially, medications may be tried for SVT. However if medical therapy is ineffective, inappropriate, poorly tolerated or simply not desired than an alternative option known as ‘catheter ablation' may be suitable for you.

The Krannert Institute of Cardiology (KIC) is well versed in catheter ablation of SVT (since the 1980s) and many of our physicians are leaders in field of Cardiac Electrophysiology. The KIC provides ablation of all types of supra-ventricular arrhythmias including atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT), atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVRT), Wolf-Parkinson White Syndrome (WPW), atrial tachycardia (AT), atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation (also known as pulmonary vein isolation). Success rates vary and are dependent on the type of arrhythmia. However with the exception of atrial fibrillation most SVTs can be ablated with a cure rate in excess of 90%.

Once the patient is deemed an appropriate candidate for the procedure by our cardiac electrophysiologists (EP), the patient is brought to the cardiac electrophysiology laboratory where the procedure will be performed. The patient will be given medications to diminish any discomfort and for more complex procedures general anesthesia may be used. Thereafter catheters will be placed via the veins from the groin and or the neck into the heart to help diagnose and treat the arrhythmia. Electrical stimulation of the heart will be done by your EP doctor to induce and diagnose your specific SVT. Thereafter one of the catheters will be used to ablate the SVT. Ablation involves the heating or cooling of a very specific portion of heart tissue in order to eliminate the SVT. Potential complications, which are rare, include bleeding, possible need for a pacemaker, stroke, heart attack and injury to blood vessels at the site of catheter entry into the groin area.

Patients are often sent home the same day or the following day after their ablation procedure. Most patients are able to resume their regular activities within a few days of their ablation procedure.

For more information, please contact us at (317) 962-0106.