Dr Tom MabinVergelegen Mediclinic

Somerset WestJanuary 2015

for the Helderberg Cardiac support group

Electrics of the heart

AV Node

Conduction system of the heart(electrics)

plumbing…arteries

angiogram

electrics….ECG….

Normal(sinus) heart rhythm

Heart speed

fastslow

Atrial fibrillation

Heart block

Ectopic beats

ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation

26 AthletePulse meterIrregular heart beatHealthy heart reassure ; no meds

75PalpitationsWeight lossNo medsAtrial fibrillation

THYROID ENLARGED

TREAT THYROID

32Intermittent

palpitationsHealthy heartATRIAL TACHCARDIA

ABLATION

cured

78BP meds for 20 yearsPalpitationsAtrial fibrillationMEDICATIONWARFARIN(or similar)?ABLATION+PACEMAK

ER

Electrics of the heart

AV Node

Atrial fibrillationCauses:-

HypertensionAgeCoronary diseaseValve diseaseHeart failureLung diseaseExcess thyroidinnocent

Treatment>65 years: WARFARINMedicationOccasionally

pacemaker

<65 yearsMedicationAblationOccasionally:

Warfarin

Atrial fibrillationIrregular heart rateTop chambers(atria)

chaoticStagnation in atriaSmall clotsEmbolise= 15% stroke/year….Reduced by ½ withWARFARIN or NOAC

Slow pulse:heart block86HealthyBlackoutsHR 30/min=heart block

PACEMAKER

81Previous heart attackHeart failureBlackouts= serious problem

VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA

DEFIBRILLATOR

The irregular heart beat

Diagnosis and management so much depends on the

patient and the underlying heart

condition