pacemaker of the heart sa node

after being released from hospital i was re-admitted and after an emergency angiagram it seemed the slow heart rate was due to the SA Node to my heart having a 40% blockage and having spasms.. my heart is perfectly fine and very good until these spasms happen with the SA Node.. i have been told this is a rare condition so i am trying to find out all i can about this as i seem to not had a named diagnosis or answers as to what this is or why it has happened and the long term affects..

t discharge, there is another part of the electrical system in the heart, called the AV (Atrio Ventricular) Node, which will discharge and keep the heart beating. But the AV Node fires more slowly than the SA Node, therefore the heart may go too slow. In order to keep the heart rate sufficently fast, Doctors sometimes need to implant a Pacemaker that will discharge only when the SA Node fails to fire.

This allows the pacemaker cells within the SA node to be in control of generating and pacing the heartbeat. But, if a particular group of cells in areas remote from the SA node become extra- or hyper-excitable they can take over as the pacemaker for one or several beats, or for a longer term. You might think of the heart's cells as a schoolyard full of young boys playing soccer. Some are inherently quick and fast and are always on top of the game, while others usually play a little slower.

s natural pacemaker for the top part of the heart and the other was for the lower part? which is where my thought was leading to with both pm & icd if both had been ablated and 100% pacemaker dependent "Ventricles alone can sustain life, as proven by folks that are in a-fib" is that the same as in Vfib?

This should show the Electrical Activity of the Heart, and whether or not the SA Node is functioning. In the absence of a normal SA Node, or at least a normally functioning one, an External Pacemaker may be needed to maintain the rate sufficiently. Also, the Vagal Nerve acts on the SA Node, causing the heart to slow after the Fight or Flight reflex, and can, at times, be too profound in its effect on the SA Node.

Here is an excellent web page discussing Bradycardia and possible causes. http://cvi.med.nyu.edu/conditions-we-treat/conditions/bradycardia-bradyarrhythmia There is a nice graphic showing the construction of the heart, the SA Node (the heart's natural pacemaker), the AV Node (discharges in reaction to the SA Node Discharge or can Discharge Spontaneously if the SA Node fails to discharge in time.

s natural pacemaker. The SA node discharges, the atrium contracts, the signal goes to the AV node, causing it to discharge, which causes the ventricles to contract. If the SA node doesn't discharge when it's supposed to, the AV node will eventually discharge on its own, but the rate will be much lower. This would be easy to see on an EKG, so that's likely the cause. Has anyone suggested a Demand Pacemaker to kerp the heart rate above a certain point?

Awhile back I posted a quote from a wonderful website as a response to a question similar to this one. The original set of posts can be viewed at http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/600583?personal_page_id=9026&post_id=post_3309923 Just copy and past that address and you can see the whole discussion. The gist of it is listed below.... The following excerpt was taken from an article that was copied from this web address: http://www.healthandage.

The sinoatrial node (SA node) is a group of cells positioned on the wall of the right atrium, near the entrance of the superior vena cava. Cells in the SA node will naturally discharge at about 70-80 times per minute. Because the sinoatrial node is responsible for the rest of the heart's electrical activity, it is sometimes called the primary pacemaker, the natural pacemaker.

My question to you is this - do you know the name of the procedure that would fully sever the nerves which incite the heart to beat? I'm trying to research this procedure, and specifically, gain a clear understanding of the associated risks (along with mortality data), both immediate and long-term. I thank you in advance for any guidance you can provide.

In fact, all myocardial tissue is capable of generating electrical impulses (a normal heart has a concentrated area of polarization, the SA node, which dominates). It's a grand design wherin if your SA node fails, a 'rescue' beat is shot off to keep you going. Many people live in constant junctional rhythm.

5) If the ablation damages the SA node, it is likely that you will need a pacemaker. There are special types of pacemakers which can respond to PACs with pacing protocols which might succeed in suppressing the SVT. However, a pacemaker is an implanted device and can have its own complications. It may not be able to prevent the arrhythmia always. It would be prudent to avoid such a high risk ablation, if the arrhythmia can be controlled otherwise.

Or Permanent Pacemaker is the only option. If the permanent pacemaker is not fitted, what will her health status in near future. Please give your suggestions ASAP because I am undergoing a lot of stress and pain.

Yes, the condition can infect the heart's natural pacemaker. The heart's "natural" pacemaker is called the sinoatrial (SA) node or sinus node. It's a small mass of specialized cells in the top of the heart's right atrium (upper chamber). It makes the electrical impulses that cause your heart to beat.

s possible the damage to the nerve is part of the problem or it is possible the scarring from the ablation meant to fix the sa node is causing problems itself. I suspect the doctors are being cautious and maybe hoping it resolves on its own though the fact that the ablation was over a year ago that doesn't seem likely in my opinion. Unfortunately sa node modifications care a high risk of needing a pacemaker.

Then there is the wonderful back-up on the electrical system of the heart. The SA Node, in the Atrium, is the heart’s natural pacemaker. It discharges, the signal travels, and activates the AV Node, from there going into the ventricles. But what if the SA Node fails? Surprisingly, if the AV Node does not receive a signal from the SA Node, it discharges by itself, and causes the heart to beat. Mind you, the heart beats at a much slower pace, referred to as Bradycardia, but it does keep beating.

I have an svt avnrt that required the modification of my avnode which is the point in the heart where the signal is distributed as opposed to the sa node where the beat is generated. I have not heard of too many cases of an sa node modification beyond it being actually eliminated and a pace maker put in. That said, my avnrt would register at 230bpm so I wonder if it is possible your doctor meant avnode as opposed to sa node?

A third degree AV block, also known as complete heart block, is a defect of the electrical system of the heart, in which the impulse generated in the atria (typically the SA node on top of the right atrium) does not propagate to the ventricles.

We will be seeing an EP for the first time on the 19th, but the Cardiologist has spoken with the EP and although we have not met with him yet, they are thinking this is the course of action to be taken. The only information I could find on SA node was on a John Hopkins Website. I am sorry you are going through this at such a young age.

So, in theory, yes an object buried in the av node, could sufficiently damage the cells and destroy the function of the av node.

The following excerpt was taken from an article that was copied from this web address: http://www.healthandage.com/Home/gid2=2089 This has to be one of THE BEST descriptions of the causes of arrhythmia I have EVER SEEN. For all of you who are trying to understand what is going on in there, here it is!!! Kudos to the author!!!!! Your Heart's Clock Regulates Its Rhythm - Part XIV Ed G.

Hi mcalderon91723, If this were me, one of the things I'd like to know would be what terminated the 7.5 second pause? My understadning is that every cell in your heart can become a pacemaker. It's nature's wonderful backup system in case the regular pacemaker signal doesn't reach the ventricles. The noraml pacemaker is a group of cells in the atrium called the "sino atrial node" or SA node.

I also got the 2 leads pacemaker and my av node ablated in 1985. The doctor said the pacemaker will pace out of any rhythms. As soon as the pacemaker is working, don't have to worry about the rhythms including V-Fib. Ask Dr McWilliams, he told some people here that long term pacing the right ventricle can cause heart failure. I don't want my heart fail... but my heart does make a lot of mistakes! Take care.

If I'm reading your follow-up correctly, the discussion with the EP centered around ablating the SA node? Read the study again, they didn't ablate to the point of disabling the SA node. None of the patients in the study required a pacemaker. The SA node was left intact.

So you are saying the ventricles are not pumping? I do not know much about junctional rhythms though it sounds a bit like afib me. From what I have read junctional rhythm is a sign the avnode has taken over for the sinus node failing to keep the whole heart pumping. So maybe it is the atria aren't pumping similar to afib. Well I am not a doctor so they should be the ones to explain what is going on with you but I do hope that this clears up. Hang in there I do hope you feel better soon.

Pacemaker of the heart sa node

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