TIL Adenosine is an organic compound that, when injected, stops the heart for a few seconds and is used to treat heartbeats, that are too fast (140-250bpm), in effect turning it off an on again. - eviltoast
  • Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    I’ve had it done couple times to attempt stop tachycardia. My heart used to randomly get stuck in sinus rhythm at 180bpm, which was annoying.

    Adenosine blocks electrical signals through the atrio-ventricular (AV) node for a second or two. So you appear to flatline on an ECG. It never worked for me. A Diltiazem injection was what reliably worked to reset my rhythm.

    I’ve since had a cardiac ablation to fix my hearts fucked up wiring. A doctor sends a scope into an artery in your leg, travels up to your heart, finds the cells that are causing electrical impulses to loop uncontrollably, then burns them.

    It’s about a 45 min procedure door to door, and it’s the equivalent of removing some excess solder from a bad circuit board. So yet another IT department inspired fix.

    • AstralPath@lemmy.ca
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      3 months ago

      My mom’s about to get this done. How is the recovery? Is there anything I should consider so that I’m useful helo if needed after the procedure?

      • Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        Pretty unremarkable. You basically can’t lift anything heavy for a few weeks so you don’t break the old artery incision. Your mom will basically need you to be a butler / maid for a few days.

      • AlecSadler@sh.itjust.works
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        3 months ago

        I was back at work (at a computer) the next day. Recovery was fairly simple. I don’t recall any major meds being needed and I wasn’t in pain.