Afib/Flutter/Palps - Ross procedure.

[HeartFighter]

I had my 3rd aortic valve replacement surgery in the space of 12 years in June 2022. I opted for the Ross procedure since I’m still quite young (31 y/o) and don’t have kids yet. This was also recommended by the consultant.

All is generally well, I’ve just noticed I get more flutters recently. One episode landed me back in a & e as it went on for more than 10 hours.

it may be worth noting that I had a cardiac arrest in the may due to deterioration of heart health in the May 2022.

Has anyone else experienced these after surgery ? Will they ever go away? Or is it just the norm now?

thanks x

[3MSF]

Hi - I had an AVR in March last year and have had 4 episodes of SVT since then, having never had anything like that before. Been in A&E for the 1st and 4th instance, with the 1st needing adenosine to stop it (around 150 bpm when usually around 55-60 bpm at rest.)

It’s a bit unnerving when it happens, and not knowing when and if it might happen again is an issue for me, but learning how to use the vagas nerve to help reset the heartbeat has been really helpful, but apparently works only around 40% of the time.

Don’t know if any of that was of any help, but I wish you well my friend - all the best - Mark 🙂👍🙏

[Cliff_G]

Hi. Have you perhaps been put on post-op meds which deplete potassium? Furosemide and family the key ones. There is emerging but solid evidence that with a susceptibility to arrhythmia one needs to be in the top half of the normal potassium level range of 3.5 - 5.3, i.e. above 4.5, sometimes called "high normal", in order to minimise the number of palpitations and consequent more continuous arrhythmias. I have found after a major aortic operation with new mechanical AV, and a previous history of AF+ablation that I need to be above 4.5. Most doctors will not worry if you're down around 3.5 to 4.0 and will look elsewhere.