Decisions and high PAC burden

Posted by megansims @megansims, Aug 3 4:18pm

Still fighting with the PACs after my May 10th ablation for SVT. I finally got a Wellue 24 hour ECG recorder and the PAC burden is pretty impressive. I did two different 24 hour recordings and the first one was 44,677 PACs in a 24 hour period with 1,154 short runs of atrial tachycardia. The second recording was 31,533 PACs (bigeminy, trigeminy, singles, couplets) and 877 short runs of atrial tachycardia.

It is such a high burden (26%). On both recordings, my daytime burden (8am-8pm) was about 16% and the night burden (8pm-8am) was around 36%. The burden from 9pm-5am was about 48%. It just seems so high.

I know from the last EP Study/ablation that the PACs are in the left atrium and he suspects near the PV. He may have to do a PVI if he goes back in for another ablation.

It is just so difficult. I have had an unsuccessful ablation attempt in May of 2023, another unsuccessful attempt in December 2023 with subsequent pericarditis, a successful ablation for SVT in May 2024, then vasculitis from Verapamil in July 2024. Now I am looking at another ablation and am also on Ivabradine from Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia after the ablation.

It just feels a bit defeating. Interventions are not without risk, but there is also plenty of risk with such a high burden of ectopy, and I won't try any more meds... I'll have to decide, but I don't like any of the choices....

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.

I wonder if the site afibbbers.org would be helpful. They always discuss ablations by a Dr. Natale. Sorry you are going through this! @gloaming is on that site as well as here and might chime in.

Do you have any triggers or is your issue random?

(I just read the Afib Cure, a book that in part covers more holistic approaches to get off meds. Not sure if it would apply. I take magnesium and drink low sodium V-8 for potassium.)

REPLY

Hi, I feel for you and I pray that the next ablation is a success. I used to have 12% PAC burden and I know how you feel. I had an ablation on 2 July 2024 and the burden is reduced. PACs I experience were in the right atrium. Do you think they are related to menopause? Thank you

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