what is supraventricular ectopy?

My 19 yo daughter has been c/o "pounding heart, trouble catching breath with alot of pain" for the past 6 months.  Her doctor ordered an echo and 24 hour holter monitor.  The echo came back normal with the size of her RA as "borderline" with moderate mitral regurg.  The holter monitor, however, was interpreted as follows: baseline rhythm is normal sinus rhythm/sinus arrhythmia.  Heartrate ranging from 40-146 bpm. Moderate supra-ventricular ectopy as quantified above, NSR without ST segment depression.  Is this a common thing for someone as young as she is?  I, myself, have tachy-brady syndrome with valvular disease.  Is this the same thing?

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

I am the wrong person to ask if it is common because I have selection bias -- almost everyone I see has symptoms like this.  I don't think it is that common, but I do see a lot of it in clinic.  Tachy-brady syndrome can manifest like this.  

The valvular heart disease should be followed for symptomatic changes over time.  Clarify this with your doctor, but it does not sound like a life altering problem.  The valvular disease should be followed.

I hope this helps.

[smco]

A related discussion, Supraventricular ectopy was started.

[cpro9877]

A related discussion, Tachybrady Syndrome was started.