Re: SVT and cardiac arrest??

Posted By bob on April 20, 1999 at 17:02:19
I recently read in one of your responses that there is a small chance of cardiac arrest in someone whose heart rate got up to the 250's in an SVT episode.  Is this correct?  I've had an SVT attack where my heart rate got up to the 220 area and when I called my electrophysiologist because I wasn't converting back to a normal rhythm, he didn't seem overly concerned.  He actually told me to take propanolol (I'm on Tambocor), wait 45 minutes and call back if I still hadn't converted.  Is he not being concerned enough?  I'm a 26 year old male, otherwise very healthy.  It just concerns me when I get conflicting views, know what I mean?  Thanks again for your time.   Bob

[CCF CARDIO MD APS]

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD-APS on April 24, 1999 at 14:12:52
Dear Bob,
This is what happens when you read things out of context, let me put you at ease.
In general, an otherwise healthy young patient will not arrest at such high rates because s/he can tolerate the high rate, however should you ever feel dizzi, short of breath, or experience pain with the SVT, these are warning signs that your heart can not tolerate the SVT and you should call 911 or get to the nearest ER.  For a young otherwise healthy person, an SVT rate in the 200s can be tolerated for some hours without the person decompensating (i.e. developing symptoms of a failing heart that can no longer work at that pace.)
I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for
general purposes only.  Only your physician can provided specific diagnoses and therapies.
Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please
call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at
www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the
cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your
cardiac problem.










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