Termination of A.F

[rich101]

Can anyone terminate there af with vagal maneuvers or deep breathing, carotid massage ect....or any other method?

[RichardE]

Hi. I've been getting SVTs for about 5 years, following a heart attack. Initially I had to have Adenosine shots to stop the palpitations but after a chat with my BHF heart failure nurse I started using the Valsalva technique.

By and large this works really well and I can usually stop the palpitations within 10-15 minutes. I tend to combine it with a drink of very cold water as this seems to help. There is a bit of a knack to it but I've managed to avoid trips to A&E now for about 2 years.

I have had Carotid massage in A&E in an attempt to stop the SVT but that has never worked. I think also you need to be a little careful with that technique depending on your age and medical history.

But I can thoroughly recommend the Valsalva method. There's info on both the BHF website and NHS Choices but I suggest that anyone interested in trying it out have a chat to their GP or Cardiologist about it first.

[helenosborne1978]

Good advice RichardE. I've experienced SVT since I was 14 and have managed to return to a normal heart rate through a deep intake of breath at the 'right time' (it took me a few years to work out when this right time was). However I'm now 36 and a recent episode resulted in me having to visit A&E in order to receive a chemical intervention (Betablockers). Although my usual technique was causing my heart rate to lower quickly and steeply (from approx 220 to 80bpm) the palpitation had been going on for some time and there was therefore too much adrenaline already in my system over riding my attempts. My advice would therefore be to attempt these techniques early in an episode as later attempts are more likely to be over ridden by the hormones that are already driving the cycle of SVT.

I hope this helps.

[maria40]

I've found the vagal 'loo' squat works as does deep breathing but it has to be timed correctly. My SVT episodes are very short with palpitations afterwards continuing for three to four minutes so if I act at the first dizziness or other indication I can forestall them but I'm not always quick enough. If I get palpitations alone I find deep regular breathing effective.

[Topcat147]

hi just found this site and it's good to read how others deal with SVT. For info I'm 54,male,married with two kids 20 & 16. I had my first attack about 18 months ago. Really bad, lasted about 3 hrs in the end they stopped my heart and re started it, real fun not. Two months later I lost all the blood supply to my left side from my aorta down. 4hrs awake on the op table and 5 stents later they say I have PAD.(artery diesease). Since then I get the SVT attacks about every 2 weeks and they last for hours. Cardio said to try and avoid going to casualty and I have been just accepting it after trying the "blowing in the syringe thing". Must admit the tightness in the chest is quiet scary.

Yesterday I saw the Electro cardio consultant at Leeds GI. He's gone straight for the correction operation and I,m booked in to have it done on March 3rd. Although he did mention something about daily medication, he comes across as more of a lets just get it sorted type of guy. Has anyone had it done and if so, any tips would be most welcome.

Tony

[ArrhythmiaAlliance]

Thank you all for sharing your experiences with physiological manoeuvres for SVTs. More information on all the different types of manoeuvres can be found on page 5 of the Arrhythmia Alliance info booklet on SVT heartrhythmcharity.org.uk/w...