Long Q-T Syndrome Diagnosis and Treatment Continued

An Implantable Cardiographer Defibrillator, or ICD, is a chest implantable defibrillator that regulates the heartbeat when it senses life-threatening rhythms, and then delivers a life saving-shock. This type of remedy is a last resort and is only used:

· If the patient does not respond to medication

· If medication has intolerable side effects

· If there is a direct line of sudden death in the family history

· If the patient’s first symptom is a close-to-sudden-death experience.

Back

Treatment for Long Q-T Syndrome (LQTS) changes depending on whether it is acquired or inherited LQTS. For inherited LQTS, there are three main types of treatment. Since different types of mutations occur, it is up to the doctor to determine which is the best treatment. For acquired LQTS, doctors may try to find, remove, or correct the problem normally with medication.

Any person over fifty with LQTS who has not suffered from any signs or symptoms must be carefully monitored; however, the chance that someone over fifty will develop symptoms is normally small enough not to require them to be on daily medication.

Beta Blockers are another treatment for inherited LQTS, because they slow down the nerve impulses coming into the heart. When the nerve impulses are slowed down, the heart works less strenuously, and there is a lesser chance of a prolonged long Q-T interval.