Re: what caused this??????

Posted By Tony on June 21, 1999 at 11:34:24
hello, my son is 17 years old, and never complained about his heart,
but on a morning, we almost lost him. Why?
Because his heart started to fibrillate (ventricular that was), without
any reason. Defibrillation didn't work, so the docters performed open
hartmassage and they did this untill he got in the hospital. There,
they managed to get the rhythm back. They gave him a pacemaker, and this
had already to work 1 time.
My question is :
Doctors performed every single heart test there is, to find the cause,
but they said his heart was normal, no malfunctions, nothing. How come
it started to fibrillate, when there is nothing wrong?
2) How long does that pacemaker work? Will it always know when his heart
   starts to fibrillate? thx

[CF-CARDIO-MD-JMF]

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD JMF on June 21, 1999 at 11:49:27
Dear Tony,
Glad to hear that your son is improved.  I imagine that the pacemaker that your son has is an implantable cardiac defibrillator or ICD.  this is a device that constantly monitors the heart rhythm and has the ability to both pace and defibrillate with a current of electricity internally.  These have very long life batteries and in general last approximately 5 years.  Your son should continue to have ICD checks with his physician over that time and the battery charge will be monitored.  
As far as causes for this ventricular fibrillation, it would be important for your son to have stress tests, a full electrophysiology heart study, echocardiogram, a cardiac catheterization if warranted and possibly an MRI to R/O something called RV dysplasia.  It is also important to rule out medications or drugs as a source of problems.  
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician
can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
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.

[Mary-L-McClung]

Posted By Mary L. McClung on June 21, 1999 at 14:00:53
I have been hospitalized two times since December 98 for the symptoms of angina.  I have had many tests that come back saying I am in the normal range.  The stress test on the treadmill is the only exception.  My blood pressure and heart rate rose so rapidly and so high that the doctor stopped the test after only a minute or so.  I am now on three heart medications: lopresor, imdur. and lanoxin. I still have the symptoms with activity and also while lying down.  What causes this and should I consult a heart specialist?  I am a white, 75 year old female. Any information you can give me will be appreciated and/or where and how I can research information myself.  thank you, Mary L. McClung










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