cardiac arrythmias

Specialties Cardiac

Published

Okay all you cardiac nurses out there, I need some help. I'm not asking for 'medical advice', just your thoughts. I work in peds, so I'm out of my area here.

I've had documented SVT for 3 yrs. now. I'm a 22 yo and I had an ablation that lasted 12 hrs. at 20, I've been on just about every med out there without relief. I've had many episodes of SVT since the ablation but I can usually convert myself. Lately, I've been having just inappropriate sinus tach, no SVT. I can get up to 200bpm. The last episode, I could vagel down to 80bpm then I'd go right back to 180-190. It lasted about an hour. I've also had some episodes of syncopy. I've had a echo recently (normal) and 4 EKG's documenting rate. None show SVT. My cardiologist doesn't seem overly concerned with my symptoms, but I'm wondering if I shouldn't be concerned myself. I'm hesitant to have another ablation. Any thoughts on the situation??? Any would be appreciated.

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Specializes in ED staff.

Sounds like you need to do something, you are symptomatic..ie syncope. Did you have the syncope from the tachycardia or while doing vagal maneuvers? 200 is too fast for sinus tach, perhaps it's paroxysmal atrial tachycardia? My mom has bouts of SVT, its very uncomfortable for her, she tries vagal maneuvers at home too, If she can't break it herself we go to the ER and get some IV adenocard and it breaks it right then and there. I would tell my cardiologist my concerns about syncope...I mean who knows when you're gonna have one of these? while your driving a car? Good luck with this, Wendy

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hey, heart rate in the 200's? YES, you need to do more. You already are doing the first step in vagaling.

You didn't mention what med's have been tried for therapy, so I can't guess what has been missed. (I'm a CCU nurse 5 years).

If anxiety attacks and electrolyte imbalances and pain have been ruled out....

May I suggest a second opinion, of a cardiologist not in the same group. Go to your CCU unit and ask for the charge nurse, tell her in confidence and ask if she could point you in the direction of a cardiologist she would have treat her with your symptoms.

You know the drill, they may not give a name"oh, they're all good". But you may luck out and get a vote of confidence... after all isn't the nurses the ones who know the doc's? You may have a conservative doc.....I am not suggesting the doc is a quack though.

Ablation, sorry my spelling is horrendous, therapy is not guarenteed, and there are re-occurences if more than one re-entry pathway or abberant pathway is present and cannot be illicited during your study.

The cause of your illness has not been thououghly identified because it is reoccurring! Hating doctors and tests myself, I am sorry to advise that I think you need to seek a second and fresh opinion, especially if you have not exhausted the medical (pill) management first.

Wishing you health and happiness... keep us informed

carol

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Samantha,

Go to medscape.com click on CE center and read "The Importance of Gender on the Presentation and Management of Cardiac Arrhythmias.

Anne

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Ablation treatments are always improving with the advances of modern technology. Now there are speciall little mapping devices that can pin-point an abnormal pathway thousands of times more accurately than the old machines.

I know all things medical are associated with risks but these days they're pretty tiny, but it depends how you feel. The worst thing that could happen is ending up with a pacemaker. Untreated you could pass-out at a really awkward time.

Being the age that you are has the arrhythmia been diagnosed as Wolfe-Parkinson-White?

Take care,

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Find another cardiologist. And if you're not on a blood thinner you should be if it's not contraindicated.

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electrocardiologist, stat.

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