My husband is diagnosed with ARVT-a heart condition and was told he needs a pacemaker.?

Question

He travels very often and because of the pacemaker's nature it will limit his lifestyle a lot.Is there anyone who chose not to carry one?Because we were also told it is not the ultimate solution.(He is 44)Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi, lakture - It sounds like your husband was probably diagnosed with ARVD (arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia) which some people are now calling ARVC (arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy). Patients with this condition rarely need a pacemaker, but an implantable defibrillator (the AICD that the other person mentioned) which is similar to a pacemaker is sometimes recommended.

ARVD was first recognized in the 70's and is one of the most common causes of sudden cardiac death in young people. (Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which killed Reggie Lewis of the Celtics and nearly killed Jiri Fischer of the Detroit Red Wings, is probably the most common cause.) We are finding out that ARVD is more common than we previously thought, thanks in part to the availability of better diagnostic techniques and general awareness of the disease among cardiologists.

ARVD is characterized by replacement of normal right-sided heart muscle with fat and scar tissue that usually gets worse with time. We can see this on an echocardiogram or a special kind of MRI. The exact cause of ARVD is not yet known, but it is passed on through your genes. In fact, every child of an affected parent has a 50% chance of inheriting the abnormal gene and should undergo screening by a cardiologist.

People with ARVD are at high risk of developing arrhythmias (abnormal/fast heart rhythms) and worst of all sudden death. In fact, what makes this condition so hard to catch is that a person can have no symptoms their entire lives and then suddenly drop dead of an arrhythmia.

For this reason, treatment is focused on preventing these abnormal heart rhythms. One thing that we haven't yet figured out is which patients with ARVD are at highest risk. Certainly, any patient with ARVD and arrhythmias that are not well-controlled on medicines alone should get an AICD (defibrillator). In fact, a cardiologist may recommend an AICD for a patient who is felt to be at high risk of sudden death as first-line treatment.

The AICD basically keeps a constant watch on a person's heart rhythm, and if the heart goes into a life-threatening rhythm and doesn't come out of it by itself, it will deliver a controlled jolt of electricity to put the heart back into a normal rhythm. Properly programmed, THE AICD SHOULD HAVE MINIMAL IF ANY IMPACT ON A PATIENT'S DAY TO DAY ACTIVITIES! In other words, your husband should be able to travel frequently despite having the AICD. If he wants to go skiing or run a marathon or go mountain biking, the ICD should not interfere with any of these activities. Certain activities, such as arc welding, hunting, or working around heavy machinery, may be limited, but I would urge you to speak to your cardiologist about this at length before making a decision.

Again, some patients with ARVD may not need an AICD, but a physician familiar with your husband's medical history should be able to help assess his risk and help you to decide if having an ICD is prudent. I wouldn't be able to tell you without knowing more about his history. Also, if your husband has any siblings or children, MAKE SURE THEY GET SCREENED.

Here is some more info about ICDs from one of the main pacemaker/ICD companies:
http://www.sjm.com/procedures/procedure.aspx?name=ICD+Implantation§ion=Overview

and some information about ARVD out of Johns Hopkins:
http://www.arvd.com/

I hope that helps! Good luck!

Answer 2

it is comprehensible to be annoying whilst a doctor recommends messing with one's heart. yet whilst it includes pacemakers there incredibly is not any down factor, quite if he's a diabetic. If he desires it, he could get it. he would be greater able to doing the paintings he's used to doing via fact the pacemaker will confirm his heart is working in many cases and he will sense greater valuable. Having grown familiar with residing together with his arrythmia is not any reason to steer away from a mandatory technique. you're no longer speaking some wart right here! As a diabetic exceedingly, he could be very careful to optimize the functionality of his circulatory equipment. Is he "waiting" for the end results of unfavorable stream? Get a 2nd opinion in case you have doubts. that would desire to place his ideas comfy. The technique itself is quite minimum. They implant electrodes interior the heart via employing a catheter via an artery interior the groin then connect them to the pacemaker (that's related to the dimensions of two stacked silver money) that's been implanted slightly below the floor interior the chest, generally via the left shoulder. My mom has one--she too has had an arrythmia for some years--it supplies us all peace of ideas that her heartrate's no longer likely to drop too low and reason her to bypass out whilst she's employing or something. each and all of the final to you the two!

Answer 3

what is ARVT? I know many people who's lives have been enhanced by a pacemaker. I know many people who's lives have been saved by a pacemaker. Is is like an AICD? Get a second opinion if you're not sure, but if he's having ventrucular arrythmia's, they can be deadly----talk about lifstyle, those can kill!!!!!!!