defribillator and pacemaker

1) If a defribillator and a pacemaker end up to the therapy of choice for an individual diagnosed with ARVD, what are the "side effect" of this implant?

2) How reliable is a cardiac MRI to diagnose ARVD? Do you suggest any other tests? (beside the usual stress test, echo, EKG)

3) At cleveland clinic who is an expert on ARVD?

4) I am very familiar with the web site related to ARVD (www.arvd.org and www.arvd.com) where else I can find information on his rare condition?

thanks.

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

italia38,

I'll try to answer your questions in order.

1) The "side effects" of the pacemaker could include pacemaker syndrome (thumping in ears, feeling poorly) or complications related to device placement such as bleeding or infection.  These are all rare.  The most likely side effect of a defibrillator  would be recurrent shocks for VT.  Recurrent VT in patients with ARVD is usually treated with sotalol.

2) At the CCF, MRI is considered the definitive noninvasive test.  This statment is true, however, only if the patients have the right clinical history, and the MRI is interpreted by someone with appropriate experience.  We generally recommend echo and ecg at a minimum in addition to the MRI.  Biopsy is considered in selected cases.

3) Dr. Craig Asher. I would recommend him without reservation.

4) Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, Volume 68, Number 5, May 2001.

Good luck.

[sarcoidheart]

I had a defbrillator implanted on 6/20/02. I have sarcoidosis of the heart and I'm at risk for sudden cardiac death. My heart stopped 4 times on the 16th, lucky for me I was in the ER. Anyway, so far the only side effects I'm having are tenderness around the incision and it's just plain awkward. Other than that, no side effects at this time. I am a 38 yr old female.

[air]

both my mother and my aunt had a pacemaker because they had I.H.S.S.  I was 9 years old when my mother died.  I don't think that the pace maker helped her condition, it made it worse.  Her body had grown use to her abnormal heart and the fact that the  doctor's tried to make it "normal" made it hard for her body to adjust.  From the point that she got her pacemaker on, she slowly started to deteriorate.  My mother and my aunt died when they reached the age of 48.

[air]

my point is, always get a second opinion.

[bigbat35]

i have a friend in the hospital with a pacemaker in her chest
she also has a clott around the pacemaker,the doctor that is
treating her said all that they could do was put her on blood
thinners. is there any thing else that can be done?

[Robbo152]

Hello,
I'm new here and would like some info soon. My girlfriends Father is in the hospital now due to an irregularly slow heartbeat. The doctor wants to install an Implantable cardioverter defibrillator. I have done some extensive research via search engines this evening and came across this message board. I'm hoping to find new information about this device. My girlfriend was given some videos from 1996 and she would like some newer information. She has a Masters Degree in Nursing so she has access to some of the best databases but no computer to use while she's in the hospital visiting her Dad.

She's looking for pictures, and placement options as well. I found an external ICD site and I expect to find many more sites. but I haven't been able to find the newer informantion or pictures of how it will look, what the device looks like and if the product has had any new changes in size, shape, etc.

Thanks in advance if ya find a way to help us out.

Robbo.
email ***@**** And my site (disability, nutrition, and medical/emotional recovory info) no advertisements either. http://www.2xtreme.net/roboe/Zonepartz.htm Have a look if you feel like surfing or reading about recovery from a spinal cord injury.

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