ventricular tacycardia

[hdhtr]

My grandson developed rheumatic heart resulting in damage and leaking of his aortic and mitral valves. He underwent open heart surgery for valve repair-the surgery appeared to be a success-3 days post-op he is experiencing ventricular tachcardia.
The surgeon has placed him on cardorone and says the side effects can be severe and unpredictable but it is a medical necessity.
The surgeons(pediatric cardiologist) says it is a serious situation.
Is ventricular tacycardia and the administration of cardorone
life threatening?
He is in the hospital on monitoring devices.

[Forum-M.D.-bkj]

hd,

Sorry to hear about your son.

Ventricular tachycardia certainly can be a life threatening arrythmia and codarone can have serious side effects.  Each person is very different in which way they need to be treated. It would be very important for a electrophysiologist to evaluate your grandson and work with the surgeon to develop a care plan.

good luck

[Slowboat42]

I hope your grandson improves.  Ventricular tachycardia can certainly be frightening as well as a very serious health issue.    He needs to follow the healing plan suggested by his health care professionals but a simpler non drug solutions may exist.

I have solved my issue with VT to the astonishment of my doctors.  Fortunately, there is little or no risk.    

I kept track of my daily activity and food consumption for 15 months trying to get to the bottom line.  During this period, I recorded 700 events of VT as recorded on my ICD.  After careful analysis, I concluded  my VT’s were the result of low blood sugar either caused by significant physical activity, consuming sugar or other refined foods such as white flour, or by not consuming enough complex carbohydrates such as whole grain, legumes, fruits and vegetables.  I came to this conclusion in the ER after 6 hours of almost non stop VT.  The Atkins Diet is certainly a death wish for anyone suffering from VT’s or other life threatening arrhythmias.  Ironically, I was on a low carb, near Atkins diet because the drugs given to me to control my VT caused significant weight gain.

Follow a nutrition plan recommended by the AHA or other health focused organization.  A diet of 50 to 60% complex carbohydrates should bring glycogen levels to a healthy level.  Avoid all refined foods and trans fat.

After 24 hours on an improved food plan, my VT’s disappeared completely.  I tried to find research supporting my conclusion on the internet but none could be found.  The only data available after countless searches is that the heart prefers glycogen (your body converts carbs to glycogen for storage) as fuel and that you’re liver and muscles (your heart is a muscle) are the only storage places and that storage is very small when compared to protein and fat.

I apologize for rambling but the topic is very complex and this solution is not the preferred alternative of the medical establishment.  Fortunately, it is a very safe alternative as long as you stay on your meds.  

BTW, my chronic premature ventricular contractions are almost non existent since the dietary change.

Jim