70 yr male in excellent health, walk3x/wk at about 3 mph/hour ..past 2 years intermittent PAC’s and PVC’s some days nothing, other days from moments to hours of “flutter”. on benazepril 20mg2x/day, Toprol-XL 150 mg/day divided dose and amlodipine 5mg/day Lipitor 10mg/day and metformin 1000mg 2x/day. Nuclear Stress test normal – revealed benign RBBB , echo normal, EKG and Holter shows benign PAC’s and PVC’s. I know people live with this quite “normally”. Seen Cardiologist who mentioned RF ablation as a ‘cure’. . I am reluctant to do invasive procedure. Is that the only treatment? What next?
A:
From what you have told me, you seem to tolerate your PAC and PVCs well. In patients with otherwise normal hearts, there is no reason to become more aggressive. You end up “buying” all the potential complications with little potential it will actually improving your life.
Read more here:
http://www.cardiac-risk-assessment.com/heart-information/palpitations
http://www.cardiac-risk-assessment.com/ca-blog/palpitations-and-pvcs/
http://www.cardiac-risk-assessment.com/ca-blog/i-am-worried-about-v-tach-ventric
http://www.cardiac-risk-assessment.com/ca-blog/what-are-some-of-the-causes-of-pr
http://www.cardiac-risk-assessment.com/ca-blog/palpitations-and-fainting/
You’ll find these are rather common complaints and most people don’t need treatment, only reassurance once their heart proves OK.
About ablation:
http://www.cardiac-risk-assessment.com/heart-information/heart-arrhythmia/cardia
Hope this helps,
Dr T
http://www.cardiac-risk-assessment.com/