Third Degree Heart Block

This club is wonderful! I have a quick question for anyone and everyone. My husband went into third degree heart block after his maze procedure - thus the pacemaker. The doctor's tell us that after the swelling goes down in his heart that it "might" conduct again. It has been 3 weeks... has anyone ever heart of third degree heart block clearing up, or "unblocking" so to speak? Thanks so much for any help.
Lisa

6 Comments

could be

by Tracey_E - 2009-10-23 09:10:35

I don't know of any specific cases but it's not impossible, who knows what will happen when things settle down.

I was born with 3rd degree block. The last time I had my pm checked, I asked her to turn it off long enough to see what my underlying rate was... and I was in second degree block beating in the 50's all by myself (I'm usually in the 20's). I still need the pm and I'm not holding my breath for a miracle, but after 40 yrs of always being in 3rd degree, it was odd to be told I was in 2nd degree.

Did they give him a pacemaker yet or are they just watching for now?

yes - PM in

by recoverrite - 2009-10-23 10:10:23

Yes, the Pacemaker is in. He was beating in the 40s today.

correction

by recoverrite - 2009-10-23 11:10:05

Hi Frank,
I meant it was beating at 40 when they turned it off to test. Does that sound right? They said they usually don't interrogate the PM this soon after surgery, but they took a look anyway. They said it was doing fine and all looked well and they will check in 6 more weeks. Today was tough... I think it was the first reality for my husband to actually have a PM. He went through a ton of emotions. Would you mind if I wrote to you directly to ask you a few things?
THanks!
Lisa

40's Doesn't sound right

by ElectricFrank - 2009-10-23 11:10:59

Since he has the pacemaker it should be supporting a minimum HR. This is usually set somewhere between 50-60, It would be very unusual to have it set to 40. How are you checking his HR. Some of the heart monitors have a problem with the different ECG waveform of a pacer.

Since he already has a pacemaker the issue of whether he will return to normal conduction isn't as important. As long as Rate Response is turned off so the pacer uses his normal atrial rate for pacing he will have a normal heart beat. Most pacemakers have a function that will look for a normally conducted beat if it occurs. In many ways he is in a better place having the pacer. Even if normal conduction returns he will have the pacer as a backup.

frank

MAZE PROCEEDURE

by pete - 2009-10-24 02:10:49

Any kind of maze proceedure is my pet hate. I do not think they are a good idea. I wish doctors would stop doing them. Just my opinion. I have never heard of third degree heart block clearing up. THe correct pacemaker will sort it out though. It not as serious as it sounds. But dont have another maze proceedure, not ever. Cheers Peter

Intermittent CHB

by ppt - 2009-10-24 10:10:06

I have intermittent Complete Heart Block (3rd degree). Comes and goes. PM Interrogation for one period may say paced at 99% and PM interrogation for another period may say 76%. Wierd. My PM is my BFF :-)) Hope this helps.

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