Need help reading my Holter monitor test results.

[Jack H]

Wont be able to see the Doctor for another two weeks but was able to get a copy of my results below.  I don't understand what the results are saying and very anxious to know what it means.

This is a Holter monitor for evaluation of chest pain.

FINDINGS:  This Holter ran for 23 hours and 59 minutes.  The average heart rate was 72 beats per minute.  The range is 52 beats per minute at 3:47 in the morning and 112 beats per minute at 10:33 in the morning.  Patient had palpitations while driving, at 12:30, 2:20, 7:34, and 8:34 in the morning, and 9:55 in the morning.  The patient has two ventricular ectopics and 4 supraventricular ectopic events.  The longest pause is 1.2 seconds.  When reviewing dynamic electrocardiogram, demonstrates sinus rhythm.  There appears to be no significant ST-segment changes or heart block.

FINAL IMPRESSION:  SINUS RHYTHM, SYMPTOMS DO NOT SEEM TO CORRELATE WITH ANY ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS.  THERE APPEARS TO BE EARLY REPOLARIZATION ON THE TRACINGS

[va_tony]

I'm no expert but it appears normal to me. Of course, your doctor will give the final pronouncement on that.

But it seems your heart rate is within normal limits.  The ekg did pick up two premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and four premature atrial contractions (PACs) but that's normal too (and harmless). Your cardiologist should explain the significance of the early repolarization but it's my understanding that also is harmless.

[Jack H]

Thank you for your comments.  Can anyone please explain:

1.  SINUS RHYTHM, SYMPTOMS DO NOT SEEM TO CORRELATE WITH ANY ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS

2.  THERE APPEARS TO BE EARLY REPOLARIZATION ON THE TRACINGS

[Pepperliveson]

For the first one, they are saying that when you noted that you were having palpitations (you usually keep a diary when you wear a holter), you actually were NOT because your monitor showed you were in sinus rythym.

[Jack H]

Thank you so much for your comments.
Can anyone give me insite on question nunber two?

[Jack H]

3.  Does the following mean my heart stopped for 1.2 seconds?
"The longest pause is 1.2 seconds".

[nelly14]

The longest pause at 1.2 seconds just means that was the longest interval between beats so if you think about it your heart was beating at 50 beats per minutes at it's very slowest. This was probably while you were sleeping. Pauses under 2.5 seconds are not significant (generally). Your report is very 'normal' sounding

[fizzixgal]

Hi, I see no one has answered your second question yet. My EKG has shown "early repolarisation" in the past, I'm not sure if it still does as I don't know how to read an EKG. The bottom line is that it is usually considered benign BUT, depending on other findings, MIGHT be associated with an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmia. I do know that, as a student pilot, the FAA put me through a real gauntlet of tests to prove that I didn't have structural heart disease when I first applied for a medical certificate, and a cardiologist "in the know" told me that the early repolarisation finding was probably what worried them the most (more so than MVP, which I also "might" have).

A recent editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine:

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/358/19/2063

So the doctors don't seem to agree yet on what this means, but something to take comfort in is that it is seen in 2% to 5% of the population. To me that says that for many or most of us, it is probably a normal variant.