Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation Pacemaker ICD

• by Cartman
• 2014-09-10 07:09:11
• General Posting
• 1125 views
• 2 comments

Back story: 61 year old male, athletic, run half marathon, good shape

Problem: 2 years ago started having ventricular tachycardia (VT) for no apparent reason. Did all the known heart tests. Heart and circulatory system normal. Doctor said it was genetic.

Solution: Started taking 120 mg sotalol. This worked for about a year. VT returned and more frequent. Ablation #1 could not get my heart into VT. Installed a single lead ICD.

Six months later multiple VT occurred tried with Abaltion #2 but VT focus identified on outside of the heart. Three days later Ablation #3 was an epicardial ablation. Focus was identified and ablated. Very painful but worth it.

Two months later: multiple VT again. Ablation #4 identified the VT focus next to the phrenic nerve and could not ablate the focus as the phrenic nerve controls a whole lot and it is not to be messed with. Two days later installed a dual lead pacemaker ICD.

The cardiologist noticed that my VT occurred during low heart rate (HR 50 - 55) due to my running activity it has always been low. The new pacemaker is set at a minimum of 70 beats per minute. They also increased sotalol to 160 mg twice a day.

The theory is that increasing my HR to a minimum of 70 and the sotalol will no give the focus time to start VT.

Only 2 days since the dual lead pacemaker was installed and so far so good.

The point of the whole story is for those that are looking for answers to keep looking for answers, don't give up.

Hope this helps.
Mike