Heart Disease Community
Arrhythmia and "pectus excavatum"
About This Community:

This patient support community is for discussions relating to angina, angioplasty, arrhythmia, bypass surgery, cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, defibrillator, heart attack, heart disease, mitral valve, pacemaker, PAD, stenosis, and stress tests.

Font Size:
A
A
A
Background:
Blank
Blank
Blank
Blank Blank

Arrhythmia and "pectus excavatum"

If you don't know what "pectus excavatum", Wikipedia is always a good help: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pectus_excavatum

"Pectus excavatum is a congenital deformity (often present at birth) of the sternum, which is pressed into the chest, resulting in a "caved-in" or sunken appearance."

There are many degrees of gravity. I didn't know I had this until I read on my echo that the exam was compromised by the presence of "pectus excavatum".

Since I have never noticed nothing abnormal on my chest (nor anybody else), probably I have a very subtable version of this abnormally, which is very common in general population.

I read it can cause arrhythmias because it forces the heart to the left. I'm going through a period in which PACs and PVCs are almost ruining my life, and now I discovered that this abnormality maybe causing arrhythmias (I already had an Atrial Flutter cured in ablation), I'm wondering if things are related.

Have someone ever heard something about this?
Related Discussions
3 Comments Post a Comment
Blank
21064_tn?1309312333
Yep, same thing for me.  My doctor mentioned pectus excavatum about 25 years ago, and I get palps....He said there is a correlation, but I don't notice anything unusual or peculiar other than the palps.  He said it is kinda like your chest caves in a bit, changing the anatomical placement of "stuff" inside...but not in a big way.
Blank
Avatar_m_tn
So, my conspiracy theory about pectus causing my atrial flutter or others complex arrhythmias has no basis? Oh well, not funny... :(
Blank
84483_tn?1289941537
I have pectus excavatum used to be more severe , my case got better with age, always was aware of my heartbeat, with tachycardia and PVCs. one cardio once told me that having pectus excavatum probably made me more aware of heartbeat and thus contributed to the anxiety which caused more palps. Both my sons age 18 and 21 have moderate pectus excavatum, curiously enough they are not heart aware like I am and have never complained of palpitations.I have read that there is a connection between the two, though apparently even some severe cases there appears to be no significant problems.
Blank
Post a Comment
To
Go
Blank
Heart Rhythm Tracker
Log your arrhythmias
Start Tracking Now
Blank
Cholesterol Tracker
Log cholesterol over time
Start Tracking Now
MedHelp Health Answers
Top Heart Disease Answerers
976897_tn?1317787410
Blank
ed34
watford, United Kingdom
159619_tn?1318997813
Blank
erijon
Salt Lake City, UT
187666_tn?1331176945
Blank
ireneo
Portland, OR
63984_tn?1362871186
Blank
Flycaster305
OR
61536_tn?1340701763
Blank
anacyde
Avatar_m_tn
Blank
jrbon
Madrid, Spain
RSS Expert Activity
1741471_tn?1349564002
Blank
Parkinson Awareness Month: Parkinso... Blank
May 10 by Michael Gonzalez-WallaceBlank
233488_tn?1310696703
Blank
NEW STUDIES ON PREVENTING PROGRESSI...
May 08 by John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAOBlank
2126606_tn?1346348724
Blank
Heroin Use in the U.S.
May 08 by Clare Waismann Kavin, Blank