Supraventricular tachycardia ablation, also called SVT ablation, is a treatment for a very fast or erratic heartbeat in the heart's upper chambers. It uses extreme cold or heat energy to create tiny scars in the heart. The scars block faulty electrical signals and restore the heartbeat.

A healthcare professional may recommend supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) ablation if you have a condition that causes a fast or erratic heartbeat, such as:

• Atrial flutter.
• Atrial tachycardia.
• Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT).
• Atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT).

Types of AVRT include:

• Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
• Orthodromic atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia.
• Antidromic atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia.

Depending on the type of irregular heartbeat, SVT ablation may be one of the first treatments. Sometimes it's done when other medicines or treatments don't work. Together, you and your healthcare team can talk about the benefits and risks of SVT ablation.

SVT ablation may be an option for children with SVT who have a high risk of heart-related complications. It also may be an option for children with SVT whose conditions haven't improved with other treatments.

Complications of SVT ablation are not common.

Possible risks include:

• Bleeding.
• Infection.
• Damage to blood vessels or the heart.
• More irregular heartbeats.
• Blood clots.
• Damage to the heart's signaling system, which controls the heartbeat.
• Stroke.

Before

SVT ablation is done in the hospital. Before the treatment, you usually get a medicine called a sedative that helps you relax.

A member of your care team shaves any hair from the area where the doctor will give the treatment, usually in the groin area. Then the area is numbed to prevent pain.

During

The doctor makes a small cut in a blood vessel in the numbed area. A soft, thin tube called a catheter goes into the blood vessel. The doctor gently guides the tube to the heart.

Sensors on the tip of the catheter send electrical signals and record the heart's electricity. Your healthcare team uses this information to learn the best place to apply the ablation treatment.

One of the following methods is used to create small scars in the heart and block irregular heartbeats.

• Extreme cold, called cryoablation.
• Heat, called radiofrequency energy.

SVT ablation takes about 3 to 6 hours.

After

When the treatment is done, you go to a recovery area where a care team watches your condition. Your doctor decides whether you go home the same day or stay overnight in the hospital.

After SVT ablation, call your healthcare professional if you have symptoms where the catheter was placed, such as:

• Bleeding.
• Changes in skin color.
• Bruising, swelling or a lump.
• Skin that tingles or feels cold.

Call 911 or your local emergency number if:

• You have changes in your heartbeat.
• You are having trouble breathing.
• You become short of breath or have chest pain.
• You feel dizzy or lightheaded.
• Bleeding doesn't stop when you apply firm pressure.
• You have pain or discomfort in your chest that spreads into your arm, neck or jaw.
• Your face droops, your arm becomes weak or you have trouble speaking.

Most people's quality of life gets better after SVT ablation. But there's a chance the fast heartbeat may return. If this happens, the treatment may be done again. Or your healthcare professional might recommend other treatments.