Doctor accidentally fixes patient’s irregular heartbeat - by sticking a finger in a very unexpected place
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- A 29-year-old man from Queens experienced rapid heart palpitations at 140 bpm and was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib), a common type of arrhythmia disrupting the heart's normal rhythm.
- During hospital admission, a routine digital rectal exam was performed to check for gastrointestinal bleeding, which unexpectedly slowed his heart rate to 80 bpm and resolved the irregular heartbeat.
- The exam likely stimulated the vagus nerve, activating the parasympathetic nervous system and slowing electrical conduction in the heart, similar to the effect of the Valsalva maneuver the patient performed.
- While traditional AFib treatments include medications and electrical cardioversion, this case suggests vagus nerve stimulation via rectal exam could be a potential alternative, though further research is needed.
- The patient was also prescribed anticoagulants to prevent blood clots, and no history of heart problems or signs of heart attack were present in this case.
