Hi there, I'm 24 years old and was just booked for a catheter ablation coming up in 13 days. My cardiologist is worried because of the risk factors that I'm in birth control and I smoke. She is concerned about blood clots even though the ultrasound I had done on my legs showed perfectly healthy veins and no signs of clots. Has any one else been in this situation? I've tried to quit smoking before and because I am not ready I have not been successful. Any advice?
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Hello Anonymous,
Welcome to EmpowHER. Thank you for reaching out to our community for input from others who may have had a similar experience.
For the benefit of all our readers, catheter ablation for SVT utilizing radiofrequency ablation (electrocautery injury) was developed in the 1980’s and has since revolutionized the treatment of SVT.
Supraventricular tachycardia,(SVT) tachycardia is a rapid rhythm of the heart originating in the atria, the upper chambers of the heart. The heart rate during SVT is rapid, typically occurring at rates 120-220 beats per minute.
With catheter ablation, a procedure is performed entirely through intravenous catheters inserted into the veins in the leg and sometime the shoulder. It is a minimally invasive procedure. That is, no open heart surgery is needed. Generally, procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis. Overall cure rates with catheter ablation is >90% and can be as high as 96-98% depending on the specific type of SVT.
Anonymous, your physician will monitor you closely and recommend any measures necessary to prevent the development of clots.
Regards,
November 22, 2016 - 2:06pmMaryann
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