Comments on: “Ventricular Tachycardia After Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?” Asks Rita

By: Michael S.

Michael S. — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 23:07:11 +0000

Well, I had the EP study and the ablation. Very interesting procedure. Went well and the docs found and zapped the problem area. Feel great that all is well and no need to return to the hospital. Still have an elevated heart rate, 80s to 90s most of the time. Hoping that will resolve in the near future.

By: Michael S.

Michael S. — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:46:05 +0000

Hi Linda. See my post above dated 11/20/11. Tomorrow I am having an EP conducted. However, since the 11/14/11 VT I have not experienced any other problems. I hope the docs find nothing tomorrow. I will post as soon as I can about the results. Anyway, you might want to ask your doc about beta blockers, they are known to help control heart rhythm issues.

By: Linda Harris

Linda Harris — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 23:41:02 +0000

Hi,This is my question. My brother, age 72 living in Germany had his 2. heart valve replacement (cow valve). Even so that there was a tremendous amount of scar tissue stemming from a infection two years ago and blocking the valve almost completely, the surgery was quite successful other than Tachycardia with a rate of 135 and above. What should be the treatment? Should it include Oxygen continually and what kind of heart medications? Is it to early for cardioversion?

By: Terry

Terry — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:48:49 +0000

Hi Michael,
I had mitral valve repair in July 2010. My hearbeat has been faster ever since. I have not been diagnosed with any VT but had episodes frequently where my heart beats between 120-140 beats just doing normal, everyday activities. It appears to be better now, and I don’t pay attention to it as much any more. I wonder if I had a rate that high before surgery and just didn’t pay attention to it. My heart rate does come down if I stop and sit for a while. I agree…it would be nice if they better prepared you for what you might expect after surgery, even as long as a year.

By: Michael S.

Michael S. — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 05:39:14 +0000

I had MV repair on 10/6/11. All went very welll. Then 5 weeks later on 11/14/11 I experienced a VT with heart rate of 180. Went to ER and was cardo-shocked, as the drugs didnt work. My heart rate remains between 85 at rest to 105 walking etc. Was put on beta blocker, didnt help much. Fuuny thing, neither the surgen or the cardio doctors ever mentioned heart rate or VT as possible post surgery isssue. Ya think that would be something that we all would have liked to know.

By: Terry Bell

Terry Bell — Wed, 25 May 2011 12:44:03 +0000

I am eleven months post mitral valve repair. Heart rate is faster than prior to surgery but has improved recently. Yesterday while walking the dogs, heart rate went to 186 and had several episodes throughout the evening. Today heart rate i high just when going from sitting to standing. Have had heart monitor study post surgery and EKGs and all are normal. My heart rate can stay over 100 bpm routinely when standing/walking/with activity as simple as standing up. I am not on any medication and do not want to take any unless docs can find something definitive. They seem to want to prescribe meds even when they do not see any abnormalities except the tachycardia. Anxiety is making things worse.

By: greg

greg — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 00:22:53 +0000

jackie my name is greg. i also had my circumflex sewed by misyake i was in recovery from mitral valve surgery. they told my wife surgery was a sucess and while in recovery i went code blue and arrested. i was taken back into surgery, chest reopened and an emergency bypass was performed bacause of the occluded circumflex. since my surgery my condition has worsened due to the damage done to heart. i was 47 at time of surgery and my life has been forever changed. and p.s. my ejection fraction is worse now than before surgery. i have a malpractice suit pending.

By: JACKIE

JACKIE — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:50:19 +0000

LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO MIGHT HAVE EXPERIENCED A BLOCKED CIRCUMFLEX ARTERY AFTER A MITRAL VALVE REPAIR. APPARENTLY MY BROTHERS CIRCUMFLEXED ARTERY WAS CINCHED WHEN THEY WERE SEWING IN THE RING. THEY STICHED THE CIRCUMFLEX ARTERY IN 3 DIFFERENT PLACES..MY BROTHER WENT INTO V TACH IN THE OR AFTER THEY SEWED HIM UP AND AGAIN 5 DAYS LATER IN ICU…THEY THEN DID A BYPASS ON THE CIRCUMFLEX ARTERY..HIS HEART NOW IS DAMAGED. WE ARE HOPING IT REPAIRS ITSELF OVER TIME. MY BROTHER DOES NOT WANT A ICD AND HOPES NOW THAT THE CIRCUMFLEX IS REPAIRED HE WONT HAVE ANYMORE V TACH.
WOULD LOVE ANY FEEDBACK…WE ARE PERPLEXED OVER THE WHOLE SITUATION

By: Susan

Susan — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 12:40:23 +0000

Hi, I had my aortic valve replacement in March, 2010. I also had an aortic aneurysm repaired at the same time. Two days later my heart rate jumped to over 200. They controlled it with amiodorone and lopressor at first. When it started again the meds didn’t help and I ended up with a pacemaker and the meds. I seem to be doing better now although it seems I have a fast heart rate when I wake in the mornings. I do feel better than before the surgery, but sometimes I just wonder if it is going to make a difference in the long run.

By: Chrs

Chrs — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:19:56 +0000

Hi
I had SVT last month after my mitral valve replacement surgery this past December. I strolled into my first cardio rehab session , they put the wireless EKG on me an noticed my heart beat at 165. Next thing I know, back to the cardiology group same day. They tried to get it down with meds for 2 days with no luck. Finally had a electric shock conversion on the 3rd day. I was in excellent shape prior to surgery so it was a very humbling experience as I thought I would breeze thru recovery. In hindsight, I should have had the shock treament on the day it was discovered. It is a most miserable experience to have SVT for three days. Hopefully it is all in the past.