Heart Disease Health Center

continued...

If you take daily medicine for AVNRT or you have significant symptoms, you may want to consider having catheter ablation.

Heart Problems: Should I Have Catheter Ablation?

Treatment for atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia (AVRT)

In the case of atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia (AVRT), you can take medicines for recurrent episodes either on an as-needed or daily basis, depending on how frequently they occur. These medicines-which include beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and digoxin-are often effective in stopping or preventing episodes of AVRT.

But in some people with a type of AVRT called Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, digoxin and verapamil may result in extremely fast heart rates that can lead to lightheadedness, fainting (syncope), and even death. These drugs are only dangerous when given in an emergency when someone with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is having atrial fibrillation.

Treatment of WPW frequently requires antiarrhythmic medicines that slow electrical conduction over the extra connection.

Catheter ablation is often recommended for people who have WPW, especially those who have severe symptoms or also have atrial fibrillation or flutter. This procedure can successfully eliminate WPW most of the time. There is a small risk of the arrhythmia recurring even after successful ablation of WPW. But a second session of catheter ablation is usually successful.

Heart Problems: Should I Have Catheter Ablation?