Pacemaker Findings

[BernieG]

I’m a 79 year old active male in generally good health.  Had a pacemaker implanted a little over four years ago to deal with a slow heart rate (low 40s), a-fib and a-tach.  Most recent nuclear stress test showed slightly enlarged heart, good heart function, 55% ejection fraction. During the past year, pacemaker tracings disclosed six very brief episodes of non-sustaining v-tach, longest 5.6 seconds.  What are my options?

[Cleveland Clinic]

There really isn't a right answer for this.  I am assuming that you don't feel these episodes, that you have never passed out before or had an episode of sudden cardiac death.  If that's the case, the option really vary from very conservative which would included doing nothing, to starting a beta blocker, to very aggressive EP study and depending on its findings consideration for an ICD.  Most doctors would recommend a beta blocker.

[hotflash53]

A related discussion, cardiac microvascular disease was started.