Does anyone have any experience of radio catheter ablation

[LAtyke]

my neice has been diagnosed with wolfe parkinson white syndrome and needs surgery. Has anyone been through this. my sis doesn't have access to MN so I said I would ask. We are all worried sick.........

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I suppose you've already googled it? WPW "results from an additional electrical connection between the atria (upper chambers of the heart) and the ventricles (lower chambers of the heart). [...] In a small proportion of patients the extra electrical pathway allows conduction of the electrical pathway generating an electrical circuit which produces a very rapid heart rate. Most patients tolerate this well but some experience very troublesome palpitations, light-headedness and blackouts." from here

How old is your niece? Must have been quite hard to diagnose, it's relatively rare. When is she having the surgery? My son is having a cochlear implant next wednesday. He's 7, we worry as well, even though it's considered a relatively straightforward surgery.

LAtyke, hi, sorry to hear about your niece. How old is she?

You might find someone who's had this done on the GUCH message board. GUCH Or in their information section. That board is for young people & grown-ups with congenital heart problems. I post on a message board at Heartline for parents and families. I'm not aware of anyone there having th ablation but there is lots of catheter experience. Which hospital is she going to?

My daughter has had several cardiac catheters but not an ablation. For a 'normal' diagnostic catheter they are usually in hospital for around 3 days. Admit on day 1 , cath on day 2 and home on day 3. With an ablation they may do further tests post catheter so may be in a little longer. Not sure about that though.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the help - going to check these sites asap. She is only 11 and has been having svts since she was 2 - but she has had some serious episodes recently hence the need for surgery. Wish my sis had MN for some support.

I have a vague recollection that the Childrens Heart Federation have a video on ablation that they will let you borrow.

They have a freephone helpline number 0808 808 5000.

my Dad has had three ablations over the last two years, but probably not much help as it's maybe done differently in aduls (he was awake during procedure)

however, I would say he suffered no after-efects from the procedure and no pain at all.

wishing her all the best.