Electrophysiology Study and Ablation of Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)

An electrophysiology (EP) study with ablation of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a medical procedure used to treat a type of rapid heartbeat called supraventricular tachycardia.

SVT is a condition in which the electrical signals that control your heart rhythm become abnormal, causing your heart to beat too quickly. This can lead to symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, and dizziness.

During the procedure, your doctor will use catheters (thin, flexible tubes) to access your heart through a vein in your leg. The catheters are equipped with small electrodes that record electrical signals from your heart tissue. These signals help your doctor identify the specific areas of your heart that are responsible for the abnormal electrical activity causing your SVT.

Once these areas have been identified, your doctor will use the catheter to deliver energy (either in the form of heat or cold) to these areas, which will destroy the abnormal tissue and create a scar. This scarring helps to block the abnormal electrical signals and restore a normal heart rhythm.

Before the ablation procedure, your doctor will perform an electrophysiology (EP) study to map the electrical activity of your heart and identify the specific areas that are causing your SVT.

The procedure typically takes 1-2 hours and is usually performed under general anesthesia, so you will be asleep during the procedure; in some cases, sedation is used instead so that you are partially awake.

After the procedure, you will need to rest in the hospital for a day before being discharged. You may experience some mild discomfort or swelling at the catheter insertion site, but this should resolve within a few days. Your doctor will discuss any additional follow-up care or medication with you before you leave the hospital.