Low pulse rate and PVC's

[Sherri Barbour]

My Father 61 years old suffered a heart attact 3weeks ago...He had bypass surgery to replace his aortic valve and three bypasses, he has done very well from the surgery except a few days before he was to come home his pulse rate dropped into the 40"s...and he began experiencing pvc's.....It seems that everytime he walks this happens.....He has been on meds...Lanoxin and Betapace....When he walks and pulse drops....its only a few minutes until it is back up into the 80's..My question is, Is this normal......or are there different types of PVC's...dangerous ones or not so dangerous ones....He doesnt experience any dizziness or any sympton at all.......most of the time he doesnt even know it is happening...His heart attack left him with minimal damage to the lower lobe.....Can you tell me the difference in this type of arthymia or one that requires possibly a difibulator??? Thank you.......

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Atrial fibrillation
Definition:
A disorder of heart rate and rhythm in which the upper heart chambers (atria) are stimulated to contract in a very rapid and/or disorganized manner; this usually also affects contraction of the ventricles.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Arrhythmias are caused by a disruption of the normal functioning of the electrical conduction system of the heart. Normally, the atria and ventricles contract in a coordinated manner. In atrial fibrillation and flutter, the atria are stimulated to contract very quickly. This results in ineffective and uncoordinated contraction of the atria.

The impulses may be transmitted to the ventricles in an irregular fashion, or only some of the impulses may be transmitted. This causes the ventricles to beat more rapidly than normal, resulting in a rapid or irregular pulse. The ventricles may fail to pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body.

Causes of atrial fibrillation and flutter include dysfunction of the sinus node (the "natural pacemaker" of the heart) and a number of heart and lung disorders including coronary artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, mitral valve disorders, pericarditis, and others. Hyperthyroidism, hypertension, and other diseases can cause arrhythmias, as can recent heavy alcohol use (binge drinking). Some cases have no identifiable cause. Atrial flutter is most often associated with a heart attack (myocardial infarction) or surgery on the heart.

Atrial fibrillation or flutter affects about 5 out of 1000 people. It can affect either sex. Atrial fibrillation is very common in the elderly, but it can occur in persons of any age.

[Christi]

in response to the doctors response.  What exactly is Atrial Fibrilation??  What are the symptoms of this and what exactly does the heart rate do during this?

Christi

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

PVCs are entirely harmless and never require defibrillation.  Repetitive rhythms such as ventricular tachycardia or atrial fibrillation are the types of rhythms that need cardioversion.  As long as he is asymptomatic with his low heart rate there is no problem. If he is getting symptoms his medications may need adjusted.