Supraventricular Tachycardia

[ruthandsam]

My 21 year old son was taken to hospital yesterday by ambulance as he had an abnormal heart rhythm. ECG taken and they diagnosed SVT.

He's of average weight and he was on Mertazipine and Propranolol (80 mg MR when required).

Hospital had to give him an iv dose of Adenosine and then Misoprolol in tablet form.

Why did this happen and what happens next? He's to see his GP in the morning but obviously he was extremely scared.

Many thanks for your help!

[Sqad]

Google it for full details, but in a nutshell.

A sudden and temporary interruption in one part of the electrical transmissions of the heart.

He may get only very infrequent attacks....one per year or even less but on the other hand they may be more frequent. Only time will tell.

Treatment will depend upon the frequency..............frightening, but basically...no big deal.

[ethandron]

My eldest son suffers from this and has been hospitalised twice. The first time he was given medication to stop it, and a follow up appointment with a cardio specialist and had to wear a monitor for 24 hours. Nothing showed up and that was that. Second time, a number of years later,he was away from home and took himself to hospital where they monitored him for a while and it stopped spontaneously.
I'm not quite sure how often it happens now as he lives away from home and doesnt mention it, although i know hes not been hospitalised with it since. He was given a technique, a bit like bearing down, to stop it in its tracks when he feels it coming on which does work. He was told that if it didn't work then to not wait longer than half an hour before getting help.

[SeaJayPea]

I've had this for years and it's getting more frequent lately. I've always been told that if it goes on for longer than an hour to get myself to A & E. Then earlier this year I saw a professor at our local teaching hospital and he seemed to think it's no big deal and not to bother unless it goes on for 24 hours or more! I've had one go with it since and eventually dozed off with it. When I woke up, it had stopped, but I'm not entirely sure about this.