holter monitor finds...APB's and Tachardia

[Heart3]

I had this holter monitor study done about 4 weeks ago.  The flutters/or tachardia's are what really freak me out.  I can handle the pvc's or pac's.

Is this something I should worry about.  I am going away soon on a cruise and I feel scared due to the findings below.

Please expalin them to me in sections so I could understand them it laymans terms.

Thank you -- I appreciate it.


Long-term ECG monitoring was performed using a Continuous-Loop
Recorder ("King of Hearts") to evaluate this patient with palpitations
to rule out significant arrhythmia. Reported medications include ASA.
------

The baseline recording was sinus at rates 67 to 76 BPM without
ectopy.
------
The baseline intervals were as follows: rate 72 BPM: QT .38, QRS
.08, PR .13 (all within normal limits).
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A total of 15 recordings were transmitted.

There were 11 recordings with complaints of "palpitations,"
"flutter" and "double PVC" that showed sinus rhythm at rates 57 to 107 BPM with 8 isolated APBs

------
and 4 brief runs of non-sustained atrial
tachycardia (3 to 8 beats), at rates 122 to 170 BPM (Strips
#3,4,6-10,12,14-16).
-------

Thank you again

[Fran71]

That was really interesting! I often wondered why we with PVCs should not worry that we may go into VF, since AF is so common. Thank God VF is not common at all!

Thanks

Fran

[Heart3]

Thank you.  Very interesting.  You are very knowledgeable.

On the current holter monitor (2week) that I did, mostly PAC's showed and the 4 runs of the Tach.  

But about 3 years ago, I must have had thousands of PVC's  I even ended up in the ER a couple of times because they were non stop for 2 months.  Every other beat or every couple of beats and they were not concerned.   I guess when I started gettting the flutter thing about 6 months ago, I only knew my previous history of the PVC's and was really scared that I was getting runs in the ventrical.  

So I am much more releaved after reading the comments posted on this thread.  

I hope they just go away all together and I don't have to think about a thing, but that my be hoping too much....

I appreciate all the comments thanks..:)

[netrox]

non-sustained atrial tachycardia is not something you should worry about.

The atrial part is much more likely to be choatic than ventricular part. When the atrail fibs, it won't kill you instantly and the risk of stroke due to blood clot remains low when you simply take aspirin. Atrial tachy is nothing to be concerned at all but it sure can make you feel tired.  

If your ventricular beats are skipped way too many times, then it becomes a concern but even with that, it rarely fibs. The ventricular part has a lot of redunduncy. It takes a LOT of certain cirstamances to make it v-fib - the timing, the electrolyes, the rate, and so forth. Venctricular is a LOT more resistent to fib than atrial.

If you have many PAC's, you will likely get into A-Fib. That's not the case with PVC's. Clearly, each works differently. Wierd, isn't it?

[Heart3]

Thanks so much for your comments.  

It is comforting to read that I am not alone.  And I realize that, and luckily I don't have the Atrial thing a lot, but when it does it, it just feels so odd and instantly brings me to tears.  I am such a wimp..

[tickertock]

I am not a doctor but if it can be of any comfort , with normal cardiac evaluation ,most cardios and EPs dont even think non sustained ventricular tachycardia is of any significant concern, so non sustained atrial tachycardia is probably even less of a concern.From what I gather 4-12 beats would not be enough to "act up on", probably most people with an holter for 48 hours would show this finding so it is regarded of no clinical significance, that's not to say it's not distressing to those who feel it, believe me I know, I ve been there many many times. Like the doc said enjoy the cruise and good luck.

[Heart3]

HI:  Thanks for that archive thing.  But that was mostly on PVC's and PAC's which I have and they don't bother me.  I am more concerned about this non-sustained atrial tachardia.  I don't understand that and wanted more information on it.  I guess I am afraid that it won't stop.  But All of my other heart test are normal, so I guess it is nothing to worry about.
Thanks

[mrbh]

Found this in the archives. You might find it helpful.

http://www.medhelp.org/perl6/cardio/archive/13537.html

[Cleveland Clinic]

heart,

The terminology of flutter and double PVC are referring to the symptoms you had. During these symptoms, your heart rate was regular (sinus) with an occasional atrial premature beat(APB) which is a normal finding. The brief runs of non-sustained atrial tachycardia are also not a significant finding. If the rest of your cardiac evaluation has been unrevealing, these findings carry no significant negative prognosis.

good luck

enjoy the cruise.