Charlie McAvoy treated for abnormal heart rhythm

[RedOctober3829]

Charlie McAvoy underwent a successful procedure today at the Massachusetts General Hospital to treat an abnormal heart rhythm, the team announced. More to come. . .

 

[Rico Guapo]

WTF.

Hope he's ok, where the hell did this come from?

 

[cshea]

Team says expected recovery is 2 weeks.

 

[cshea]

WTF.

Hope he's ok, where the hell did this come from?

Here’s the team release. Seems he felt palpations during a game in November. They diagnosed him with this condition back then.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Boston Bruins Team Internist Dr. David Finn has issued the following statement on Charlie McAvoy :

Charlie McAvoy underwent a successful procedure today at the Massachusetts General Hospital to treat an abnormal heart rhythm.

Following the Bruins game on November 26, 2017, Charlie told team physicians that he experienced heart palpitations during the game. Subsequently he underwent an evaluation, which diagnosed him with a supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). The type of SVT Charlie has is not considered to be dangerous to his health but can recur at any time and causes significant symptoms.

After consultation with team physicians, as well as experts in this type of heart condition, Charlie decided to have the condition treated with a procedure called an ablation. The decision to have the procedure done at this time is due to a high probability of recurrence. During the period from the initial occurrence ‪through Saturday's game, Charlie was cleared to play by the medical team and was monitored closely.

He will be monitored overnight at Mass General and the expected recovery period is two weeks.

https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruins-issue-update-on-charlie-mcavoy/c-295183992

 

[FL4WL3SS]

I'm dealing with something similar (AFib) and can say that it's a very scary and awful feeling. I have not had ablation yet, but will most likely go that route in the future.

I'm glad he's getting the proper treatment, it's scary shit.

 

[mwonow]

I work pretty closely with a guy who just had this procedure. It is (as Flawless says) scary and awful, but fwiw, he seems fine now. Of course, he's not an athelete, but he's not 20 and in peak condition, either.

T&P for Charlie and all the McAvoys...

 

[fiskful of dollars]

A radio frequency ablation is done most commonly to remove a group of cells interfering with normal cardiac conduction pathways. It is most commonly used in atrial fibrillation but is also (but less commonly) used in SVT. My guess is that McAvoy had a re-entrant loop in his atrium which caused his heart to beat very rapidly. These re-entrant loops cause the normal conduction pathways to misfire, essentially triggering a very fast (150-200+ BPM) but regular heartbeat. The symptoms can vary. Usually this is a relatively benign condition - even though it doesn't feel benign when it's happening to you! In most people, these SVT episodes are treated in the ER and once resolved, the patient is sent home. Treatments usually include an A-V nodal blocking medicine (adenosine) or electrocardioversion (gentle shock) if the patient is unstable. Sometimes a simple vagal maneuver (bearing down, exhaling forcibly, coughing, cold water on face, etc.) can resolve the problem. I suspect he underwent an ablation to minimize the likelihood of recurrence and repeat episodes. Unfortunately, a RF ablation is often only a temporary fix but it can allay symptoms for years. Prob a good idea in a pro athlete. Atrial fibrillation is a much more serious condition and can be career threatening depending on multiple factors. SVT is much, much less serious so long as there no underlying cause...i.e. structural heart disease, congenital defects, etc.

 

[TheRealness]

A radio frequency ablation is done most commonly to remove a group of cells interfering with normal cardiac conduction pathways. It is most commonly used in atrial fibrillation but is also (but less commonly) used in SVT. My guess is that McAvoy had a re-entrant loop in his atrium which caused his heart to beat very rapidly. These re-entrant loops cause the normal conduction pathways to misfire, essentially triggering a very fast (150-200+ BPM) but regular heartbeat. The symptoms can vary. Usually this is a relatively benign condition - even though it doesn't feel benign when it's happening to you! In most people, these SVT episodes are treated in the ER and once resolved, the patient is sent home. Treatments usually include an A-V nodal blocking medicine (adenosine) or electrocardioversion (gentle shock) if the patient is unstable. Sometimes a simple vagal maneuver (bearing down, exhaling forcibly, coughing, cold water on face, etc.) can resolve the problem. I suspect he underwent an ablation to minimize the likelihood of recurrence and repeat episodes. Unfortunately, a RF ablation is often only a temporary fix but it can allay symptoms for years. Prob a good idea in a pro athlete. Atrial fibrillation is a much more serious condition and can be career threatening depending on multiple factors. SVT is much, much less serious so long as there no underlying cause...i.e. structural heart disease, congenital defects, etc.

Appreciate this explanation. Well said.

My father has AFIB as well, and has had some scary episodes. Glad to know McAvoy will be fine and back relatively soon.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

A radio frequency ablation is done most commonly to remove a group of cells interfering with normal cardiac conduction pathways. It is most commonly used in atrial fibrillation but is also (but less commonly) used in SVT. My guess is that McAvoy had a re-entrant loop in his atrium which caused his heart to beat very rapidly. These re-entrant loops cause the normal conduction pathways to misfire, essentially triggering a very fast (150-200+ BPM) but regular heartbeat. The symptoms can vary. Usually this is a relatively benign condition - even though it doesn't feel benign when it's happening to you! In most people, these SVT episodes are treated in the ER and once resolved, the patient is sent home. Treatments usually include an A-V nodal blocking medicine (adenosine) or electrocardioversion (gentle shock) if the patient is unstable. Sometimes a simple vagal maneuver (bearing down, exhaling forcibly, coughing, cold water on face, etc.) can resolve the problem. I suspect he underwent an ablation to minimize the likelihood of recurrence and repeat episodes. Unfortunately, a RF ablation is often only a temporary fix but it can allay symptoms for years. Prob a good idea in a pro athlete. Atrial fibrillation is a much more serious condition and can be career threatening depending on multiple factors. SVT is much, much less serious so long as there no underlying cause...i.e. structural heart disease, congenital defects, etc.

Are you a cardiologist or an EP?

 

[fiskful of dollars]

Emergency medicine. Wasn't sure if you meant emergency physician or electrophysiologist

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Yeah was wondering if you were an Electrophysiologist. Just started with a new doc and was going to see if I could bounce some things off of you. I can take it to PM if so.

 

[fiskful of dollars]

Sure...happy to help but I am an ER doc, not a cardiologist. Manage A-fib, SVT every day but I'm not an "expert". PM me anytime.