? re:ablation

[EireCara]

Hi again, My ep wants to do an ablation and cath, which he said he hoped to do before Christmas. What Im wondering is this, I know the cath is done mainly to check out the arteries but can it also show how the valves are doing?? And if the damaged valve can cause irr heartbeats, should it be done at all if it is going to cause, potentially, scarring on the heart muscle ?? Should the ablation not be done, if still required, after valve surgery. ( im taking ''your'' advice and asking questions to get things sorted in my head)...thanks everyone !!!!

 

[Kathleen]

Are your cardiologist and EP doctor conferring about this? If not they should be. If surgery for the valve is in the future they could address the fast heartbeat at that time. In the meantime they are many meds to try which is certainly worth a try and not as invasive.
Kathleen

 

[bvdr]

Hi again, My ep wants to do an ablation and cath, which he said he hoped to do before Christmas. What Im wondering is this, I know the cath is done mainly to check out the arteries but can it also show how the valves are doing?? And if the damaged valve can cause irr heartbeats, should it be done at all if it is going to cause, potentially, scarring on the heart muscle ?? Should the ablation not be done, if still required, after valve surgery. ( im taking ''your'' advice and asking questions to get things sorted in my head)...thanks everyone !!!!

If they also do the "right heart cath" procedure when your heart cath is done then it is a very good source of accurate information of your valves as well as getting a direct measurement of your pulmonary artery pressure which is for diagnosing any pulmonary hypertension that is present. I don't know about what order the ablation and/or surgery should be done but I do know that your doctors need to be talking to each other.