ekg report

[xiaoxia]

what's Borderline ECG & right bundle branch block?

[ed34]

I've done some extensive searching and found a few things, you probably know these.....
LBBB is very common, and as we age there is more chance of developing it. By the age of 80, 11% of people will have it. LBBB is quite common during angioplasty when the catheter tickles the right bundle branch, but things return to normal pretty quickly when the catheter is removed. If a patient suffers LBBB, a temporary pacemaker is usually fitted for the procedure. When working hard, RBBB seems to have little/no effect on performance, quite the opposite to LBBB.  

So, as usual, it looks like you are spot on :)

[erijon]

I have not noticed that myself nor have I read anything to suggest that. I have a normal heart rate response to exercise and I can predict my heart rate at each stage up to 170. Also, I never seem to feel any more PVCs than normal which is how I would assume the delay would feel, but at those rates my guess is the only way to pick up a change in the delay would be to use an EKG.

[ed34]

Hi Jon,
           As a matter of interest, as the heart rate increases, does the delay increase too? Logically thinking, this would be the case, but logic often fails in anatomy lol.

[erijon]

I would just add that RBBB is very common and not usually of any prognostic significance unless you already have heart disease. As Ed stated, the impulse finds a way around the blocked electrical path and compensates. So unless your issue is caused by damaged heart cells from a previous MI, it really does not mean anything. I'm 53 and have had that finding on every EKG ever done and the cardiologists have all said to ignore it. However, when the computerized EKG picks it up, it will show the results as borderline abnormal, don't get too worked up over this.

Jon

[ed34]

Borderline ECG means you are JUST inside the limits with the readings. Right bbb means that the usual route the signal takes to activate the muscle in the large right chamber is blocked. The signal cannot get thru the usual route. There can be different reasons, but it generally finds a different way around, through normal heart cells. However, this can cause a delay, meaning the right chamber is contracting slower or is delayed compared to the left. This is probably what they are referring to with regards to borderline. Causes could be genetic history, certain infection types, recent heart attack, heart disease. If the cells are damaged, then there is always the option of a pacemaker. This will ensure the signal goes to the right chamber the same time as the left.