NSVT during stress test

I had my stress test Friday and showed Non Sustained Ventricular tacycardia, My cardiologist stated I had some runs of 1-3 beats, then 4-5 beats during the test. He is referring me back to my EP Doctor and is not sure why this is happening. My echo was normal. I have had 3 ablations in the past for SVT. I have a pacemaker now for Abrupt Bradycardia. Has anyone ever had this before? I have been feeling like I am going to collapse at times lately, comes on suddenly. Chest pain comes and goes. Family history of Heart Disease, My father haed MI at 40. Grandparents had strokes. I am just wondering if NSVT is dangerious when it happens during exercise? I canr wait to see the EP doctor this week, My cardiologist really didnt know what is going on and couldnt tell me anything.

2 Comments

V-Tach

by SMITTY - 2010-04-18 04:04:23


In Feb. of this year I learned I have been having some episodes of V-Tach. Mine, like yours, are of short duration, but they do get my attention. I first noticed mine several months ago, but it was shortly after I had gotten a new pacemaker in Oct. '09 and I thought the arrhythmia and slight pain was the result of the rate response needing to be adjusted. I just waited several weeks until my scheduled pacemaker checkup came due at which time I learned what I was feeling was V-Tach. I mention this as an example of why self diagnosis can be bad for our health.

As to whether V-Tach of short duration is dangerous or not, I think depends on what doctor you talk to. The cardiologist I see is not concerned (my opinion of this fellow is he has more patients than he can take care of now, so if he loses one he will never notice), but the EP thinks he will need to take a more in depth look if mine continue. He also said V-Tach will come and go on some people and that is the reason he wants to wait few weeks. If the episodes become more frequent or are of a longer duration I am to see him. He does say that V-Tach can lead to more serious problems and must be watched closely. He never said they were dangerous.

I think I know what is going on from your statement of "I have been feeling like I am going to collapse at times lately ---." I'm not trying to insult your intelligence as you probably know that with V-Tach, the ventricle starts to contract, which is actually more of quiver than a contraction and very fast, without regard to whether the atrial has finished its contraction or not. This results in the ventricle is pumping very little or no blood to the body and you are starting to pass out or have chest pain because of the low blood flow. But with the V-Tach being for only 1 to 5 beats, your body is not without a sufficient blood flow long enough to cause you to pass out.

Mine has not progressed to the level of yours, but the episode do last long enough for me to get slight pain in the center of my chest. As for the feeling like I'm going to pass out, I have had that in the past and it was just called syncope. I was never told what was causing that but it did go away after a few months.

As for whether it is dangerous if it happens during exercise or not, I have to say yes. I don't know if the exercise will cause the V-Tach or make the episodes last longer, but since there is always the possibility of passing out, I have to say be careful until you get the go ahead from your Dr..

Good luck,

Smitty

Stress test report...

by ckangel415 - 2010-04-19 06:04:07

I got a copy of my report and it stated I have Borderline Base LV Dysfunction with slightly blunted augmentation, NSVT. Anyone know what that means and if its serious?
My EF was 50-55%. Arrthmias during stress test was PVC's,Couplets,Triplets, and 1 4 Beat run of VT.

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