Supeventriculer Tacacardia

[Holly Mcrobbie]

hi, Im 26 and was diagnosed with having svt about 2 years ago. and i am now under care for my heart condition. recently my condition worsend and I ended up having to go to the emergency room. my heart rate was over 200 beats per minute. the hopital gave me some medicine through an iv to lower my heart rate  they gave to me three times . It did not work  the docter at the hospital suggested that i have this heart prblemcalled Wolfe parknson white syndrome, I have seen my docter since i been to the er he said he did not think i had that and gave a medicine called atnolol which i did not start taking yet. my svt are getting worse but Im afraid of taking any kind of medication  because of the side effects. my Question to you is What is parkinson  White syndrome and how do you get diagnosed with having it  ? the emmergency room also the reason they thought  i had Pakindson White symndrome was because i had some fiblation of the heart Iwas  wodering what fiblation was. and is it dangerous, also i was wondering can you die from Wolfe parkinson white syndrome     Also Just To  let you I do not smoke cigerrettes or do drugs or eat or drink any caffeine also IM sorry I have many questions  about this but this will be the last Its seems any of exercise i do makes my svt attacks start up is that normal for svt attavks?       thank you  I hope yo answer some or all my     quetions  From holly mcobbie 12-29-99

[CCF CARDIO MD - CRC]

Dear Holly,



Wolff-Parkinson-White (named after the three doctors who first described it) is a hereditary condition.  It may not be diagnosed until adolescence but the underlying cause is present at birth.  Often nothing needs to be done about it but if it is causing any symptoms an ablation procedure can be done to cure WPW.  More information concerning ablation may be found at: http://www.heartcenter.ccf.org:8080/patinfo/patguide/p_ablate.htm



Here are some common questions about WPW.



Q: What is the normal condition?



A:In a normal heart the atrio-ventricular or A-V node is the only path for electrical conduction between the atria and the ventricles .



Q: What is the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome?



A: If an abnormal conduction pathway runs between the atria and the ventricles, the electrical signal may arrive at the ventricles too soon. This condition is called Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (W.P.W.). It is recognized by characteristic changes on the electrocardiogram that indicate that an additional pathway or shortcut from the atria to the ventricles exists. Many patients with the syndrome do not have symptoms or episodes of tachycardia (rapid heart rhythm).



Q:  First of all, what is the cause of WPW? Is it something you 'get' when you over exercise?

Is it genetically rooted?

A: WPW is a congenital condition.  It is not induced by exercise or any other "strain" on the heart.



Q:  How common, in the general population is WPW?

A: The incidence is about 1 in 1000.



Q: How is the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome treated?



A: If a person has episodes of tachycardia , often they can be controlled with simple drug treatment. However, sometimes such treatment doesn't work. Then the person will need to have further tests of the heart's electrical system. The procedure most frequently used to interrupt the abnormal pathway is radio frequency ablation. (http://www.heartcenter.ccf.org:8080/patinfo/patguide/p_ablate.htm)





Most patients with the syndrome can lead normal lives with no restrictions on their activities. This is true even for those who have episodes of tachycardia.



Q: How safe is the ablation? What are potential problems that may arise either during the ablation or afterwards?

A: Ablation is a routine procedure that uses high powered frequency waves to "burn" electrical short circuits in the heart.  As with any medical procedure there are potential risks and your doctor should discuss these with you prior to the procedure.



Q: Is there any kind of a rating system for the doctors which perform this type of procedure, simply put are some doctors better than others at this procedure and how may I find out who is the best?

A: There are no rating systems per se of individual doctors.  You can ask for success rates of the same procedure in other patients.  There are ratings of hospitals that are published by independent groups such as US News and World Report that give a ranking of programs.



Q:  How common is this procedure and how many are performed daily, weekly or yearly?

A: This is a routine procedure. The number will depend upon the individual group.  The electrophysiology group here does 2 to3 ablations a day.



Q:  Is it common for a cardiologist to recommend the ablation after only reviewing blood tests, and ekg, and an echo test of the heart?

A: Yes.  The diagnosis of WPW is made from the EKG.



Q:  I am currently taking the drug Diltiazem which seems to be controlling my heart problem. Therefore, if I were to postpone the ablation procedure could I possibly be putting myself in danger of further heart problems?

A: This would depend on your specific case and you should discuss this with your doctor.



Q: Are there famous celebrities or scientists, doctors, et

cetera, who have survived this infliction?

A: Not that I know of.  Anyone out there know?



Further information can be found at:

http://www.heartcenter.ccf.org:8080/patinfo/patguide/p_ablate.htm



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.

[Cheryl]

Hi Holly,

I too have svt's.  Only once has my heart rate been over 200, but it was one of the scariest things that's ever happened to me.  It started very suddenly but eventually stopped on it's own.  I also had some afib afterwards.  I don't have WPW but my tachycardia is definitly svt's.  I take a beta blocker called sectral.  I think it is similar to atenolol which is also a beta blocker.  I first took inderal (also a beta blocker) but it made me very lethargic.  (Kind of nice for a little while, absolutely nothing stressed me out.  You could have smacked me in the face and I wouldn't have cared)  Anyway, I love my sectral.  I rarely have svt's anymore and if I do, they are very short lived and usually not over 140.  I feel very normal again. I don't notice any adverse affects of the sectral.  Just wanted to let you know my experience with svt and medication.  Hope this is helpful.

[p]

Hi,



My name is P and I have Rapid-heartbeats from playing Basketball or running.



When do you get the rapid heartbeats?

[Linda]

I have SVT.  My highest rate was about 240 but usually my heart rate with the SVT was around 170.  I take a very light dose of atenolol--25 mg.  It controls the SVT very effectively for me.  It does tend to mellow you out which is not at all unpleasant.  I would give it a try.  There is about a two week period of adjustment when you first start to take it.  Good luck!

[Carrie, message for Linda]

Hi Linda!

I also have SVT that has gotten that high. I think I will start taking my atenolol if the beta-blockers seems to works so well for you.  How often did you have the attacks of SVT before medication?  The Sectrol didn't wipe you out so bad that you couldn't function did it? Thanks, Carrie

[Tony K]

I have WPW with Ebstein anamoly. During my young teens days, I have been very active with competition in sports. I then used to get "palpitations" very seldomly- rate of about 200+ and this would go away in few minutes.. I always thought my heart rate was high due to physical exercise at that time. However, later in life I started to get palpitation even at rest state also. In 1985 I was diagn. as WPW with Ebstien anamoly (no med. prescribed). In 1995, I had 3 more frequencies of palpitations (SVT's) in 7 months which were stopped in ER by doses of Adenocard and /or Verapamil. In 1995 NOV, I had 13 hours EP study with abalation done (was informed that there was only 1% no sucess rate).  EKG was perfectly normal on the table, but WPW showed up again in the next morning EKG reading. Doctor explained that my case was difficult and did not abalate ONE path because it did NOT stimulate any tach. on the table. Suggested to give it healing time ... sometimes the "scrapes" on the tissues do "cure" and "wrap" around thereby cutting the SVT path off. I got another bout of SVT 1995 DEC ... within 1 month!!!... ER with Verapamil stopped it. I was put on Tambocor (this med. drove my body insane initially to a point I could not walk few steps without sitting)until I reduced doses so I bare it. I believe this med. reduces the sensitivity of heart electricity so SVT will not trigger. Regular checkups then showed WPW on EKG's --- until 1998 NOV.  I had been feeling shortness of since few "weeks" ... caught some cold .. at checkup EKG DID NOT show any WPW. Further checkups do not show any WPW now.  I have not been able to do much execrcise since 1995 because this causes my heart to "strain" like it wants to pound but is "restricted".  I would like eliminate my Tambocor. I feel that this medicine is retricting my activities (climbing stairs, doing yard work or doing normal houshold chores) and been making me feel "hot" at times.

I would appreciate your views on your experience with other patients with similar case study as mine ... and if you have any feeback on stopping this Tambocor..its pro, cons, bad effects, good effects.

Let me know if you would like any further information.

Tony K.

[p]

Hey Tony did you get your rapid-heartbeats from playing basketball and running?



Hey what's you email address I am a 19 year old with tachy problem too.



What you think I should go through the EP and the ablation?



thanks: P

[Bruce W. (Ashburn, VA)]

My 9 yr old daughter has been diagnosed with VT, not the more common SVT.  I have found less than 6 cases in my research of VT in children.  She has had two sustained VT episodes requiring ER treatment.  The first was approx 24 hours between nights rest, pediatrician the next day (thought it was flu) to  cardiologist to ER when VT (185-220 bpm)was confirmed and Adenosine converted her on the first attempt.  Verapamil was perscribed.  Followed up with EKG, Echo and stress