Pacemaker

Not usually, but depends

by Gemita - 2024-09-03 03:11:49

Depends on the cause for your ectopic beats, Mark, how frequent and long lasting they are and whether the ectopic beats are causing any difficult symptoms?  If you have no serious health problems, like heart failure or coronary artery disease and your ectopics are infrequent and not causing any troublesome symptoms, then you and your doctors may well just decide to ignore them.  

On the other hand, if you are having frequent symptoms from your ectopic beats and they are adversely affecting your cardiac output, they may well need controlling?  In worst cases, they could lead to a PVC-induced cardiomyopathy and weaken the heart.

Did you go ahead with the endoscopy Mark?

Ectopics

by piglet22 - 2024-09-03 04:08:46

Are they dangerous?

As Gemita said, it depends.

Ectopics might just be a flutter now and again, or if they start to interfere with the pacemaker timing, can cause some very unpleasant symptoms.

The problem is that ectopics (PVCs) can look like useful beats and the pacemaker takes a breather and you skip a beat.

Perversely, the pacemaker causes the very thing it's there for.

Get enough, and you keel over.

If that happens at the top of the stairs, it can be very dangerous.

If you suspect ectopics, take it up with your pacing team. The device should record the PVC burden.

Simple fixes might include tweaking PM settings or a change of medication like beta-blockers to calm them. Bisoprolol is a favourite.

I wouldn't recommend ignoring them.