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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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My Heart Rate Has Been Over 300 BPM. Doc Suggest A Cardiac Ablation, Is It Right ?

I experience Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia . My heart rate has been over 300 BPM, which only stops when they give me a shot in an IV of adenosine. They say it can not kill me because it is atrial, and they always send me home the same day. It has happened 5x since I was 19 (I m pushing 31 now). They suggest a cardiac ablation, which can kill me. Are the docs right ? It doesn t seem possible that a heart can beat that fast for too long with out giving up on you.
Thu, 17 Dec 2009
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At much over 180 beats per minute the heart chambers have a hard time getting enough time to fill with blood - so sure very fast rates can be dangerous no matter their source - atria or ventricle. Fortunately you have an otherwise young, healthy heart and it can withstand running it at full speed without too much apparent trouble; as evidenced by the fact that you have tolerated in the past. You can learn certain techniques to arrest PAT's. I think it would be worth your while to learn them. It may be worthwhile to consider medications as well - though admittedly they are not successful in every person. Regarding the ablation - you certainly seemed to discount that as too scary and too risky to investigate it. An electrophysiologist is a highly trained and capable cardiologist who is a specialist in these matters. It would very much be worth your while to discuss this matter with one of these specialists. He/she could do a procedure that last takes an hour and fixes the problem for life. Very good techniques are available that were not available ten years ago when your rhythms first started. With this type of ablation you will not require a pacemaker. Give it some thought. I hope this helps. Good luck. See the link below: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-arrhythmias/DS00290/DSECTION=8

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My Heart Rate Has Been Over 300 BPM. Doc Suggest A Cardiac Ablation, Is It Right ?

At much over 180 beats per minute the heart chambers have a hard time getting enough time to fill with blood - so sure very fast rates can be dangerous no matter their source - atria or ventricle. Fortunately you have an otherwise young, healthy heart and it can withstand running it at full speed without too much apparent trouble; as evidenced by the fact that you have tolerated in the past. You can learn certain techniques to arrest PAT s. I think it would be worth your while to learn them. It may be worthwhile to consider medications as well - though admittedly they are not successful in every person. Regarding the ablation - you certainly seemed to discount that as too scary and too risky to investigate it. An electrophysiologist is a highly trained and capable cardiologist who is a specialist in these matters. It would very much be worth your while to discuss this matter with one of these specialists. He/she could do a procedure that last takes an hour and fixes the problem for life. Very good techniques are available that were not available ten years ago when your rhythms first started. With this type of ablation you will not require a pacemaker. Give it some thought. I hope this helps. Good luck. See the link below: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-arrhythmias/DS00290/DSECTION=8