"Rare ectopic cardiac abnormalities observed"

YawnGirl · Post by **YawnGirl** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 8:43 pm

I was looking at my original sleep study report and noticed it said "rare ectopic cardiac abnormalities observed". My doc never brought it up. I searched on this forum, googled, binged, and yahooed it and couldn't get info I could really understand. Anyone know what this means?

Gerryk · Post by **Gerryk** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 8:48 pm

If the doctor writes things the way most docs would it would mean that it didn't happen often or not enough to be of any concern. A cardiac abnormality can be just about anything that isn't normal. Now don't let that freak you out because many people have something that is a little out of the ordinary. I have never seen two people have the same cardiac trace.

But so you are more comfortable call your doctor and ask him. Say what does this mean? You scared the hell out of me!

Don't try searching online you won't find anything written about it by your doctor, just call his office.

Gerry

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 9:02 pm

YawnGirl wrote:I was looking at my original sleep study report and noticed it said "rare ectopic cardiac abnormalities observed". My doc never brought it up. I searched on this forum, googled, binged, and yahooed it and couldn't get info I could really understand. Anyone know what this means?

Sure - he coulda meant the leads were loose and the signal was noisy? Ask him - he would be the only one to know what "he" meant.

YawnGirl · Post by **YawnGirl** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 9:25 pm

Gerryk wrote:If the doctor writes things the way most docs would it would mean that it didn't happen often or not enough to be of any concern. A cardiac abnormality can be just about anything that isn't normal. Now don't let that freak you out because many people have something that is a little out of the ordinary. I have never seen two people have the same cardiac trace.

But so you are more comfortable call your doctor and ask him. Say what does this mean? You scared the hell out of me!

Don't try searching online you won't find anything written about it by your doctor, just call his office.

Gerry

I will ask my GP next week I have a follow up with him anyway. I fired my sleep doc because he won't talk to a patient without them having an appointment. I had to make an appointment and pay a copay to get a copy of my prescription! Thanks for the response!

JohnBFisher · Post by **JohnBFisher** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 9:31 pm

YawnGirl wrote:... "rare ectopic cardiac abnormalities observed" ... Anyone know what this means? ...

You might want to look at:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency ... 001100.htm

Appears it is normally benign and might just have meant your heart was under some stress due to the apneas. Of course, as noted, it's always wise to ask you doctor about it.

MauraAnderson · Post by **MauraAnderson** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 9:46 pm

I'll point out that in typical medical parlance, a "rare" anomaly on a cardiac test often means it's HAPPENING rarely during the test, not that it's a rare condition or disease effect. And an anomaly can be anything from one PAC to a slightly offbeat rhythm one time during the test. Only your dr can tell you for sure, but don't fear it's evidence that you have some 1 in a million catastrophic disease.

In my case, I had a bout of 6 PACs during my split-night sleep study. My sleep dr noted them and encouraged me to see a cardiologist. I have a congenital heart wiring problem that causes atrial fibrilation. Annoying as heck and motivation for my 2010 goal of losing 100 lbs but not something I'm at all likely to drop dead from, especially not with treating my OSA.

- Maura

DreamOn · Post by **DreamOn** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 10:07 pm

They showed up on both of my sleep studies too, YawnGirl. Mine were noted as "rare PVCs" (premature ventricular contractions), which are also called ectopic heartbeats. I do sometimes feel them when I'm awake, especially when I'm falling asleep, but not as often since starting CPAP. The irregular beats feel like your heart is fluttering, pounding, missing a beat, double-beating, or doing a flip-flop. Good times.

Sorry to hear about your bad experience with your sleep doctor. What a ripoff! I hope you've been able to find a better doctor whose primary concern is his/her patients -- not the almighty dollar!

~ DreamOn

Gerryk · Post by **Gerryk** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 10:46 pm

Just so you know, a PAC is a premature atrial contraction and many people walk around with that no biggie but let a doctor look and say no biggie. A PVC is a premature ventricular contraction. Now a pvc can be serious or deadly if it hits at just the right time. A Pvc can be caused my many things but many times it is caused my a lack of oxygen in the blood, such as when you have a low 02 sats. If a pcv occurs at the right time your heart can go into V-Fib which is ventrical vibrilation. This is deadly if not corrected by a pre cordial thump or via defibrillation.

I have seen people with many pcv's and new medics treating them for a cardiac event. When in reality I could walk in and hear their breathing throw a pulse ox on them and a non rebreather mask and the PVC's went away. No it's not magic, it's just experience.

I am not saying what you had is any of these. I do believe if you had any of these problems your doctor would have sent you off in an ambulance.

I had to think about this for a minute and believe I got it all correct, but I dropped my medic about 12 years ago and ride the big red truck now.

I get to do what every little boy wants to do when he is 6 years old. I get to blow the siren and air horns!

To think I get paid to do that.

Gerry

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 10:49 pm

Ectopic just means out of the box, not usual, as in an ectopic pregnancy, but in itself does not signify anything bad or worrisome. Just ask the doc whether they matter to anything... everyone's unique medically and at any give time anyone can show odd or unexpected quirks but they may not be long lasting and usually don't mean much in the scheme of things. And sometimes machines malfunction and throw what docs call "artefact" into the mix, making results looked skewed, but they're not.

DreamOn · Post by **DreamOn** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 11:37 pm

Gerryk wrote:Just so you know, a PAC is a premature atrial contraction and many people walk around with that no biggie but let a doctor look and say no biggie. A PVC is a premature ventricular contraction. Now a pvc can be serious or deadly if it hits at just the right time. A Pvc can be caused my many things but many times it is caused my a lack of oxygen in the blood, such as when you have a low 02 sats. If a pcv occurs at the right time your heart can go into V-Fib which is ventrical vibrilation. This is deadly if not corrected by a pre cordial thump or via defibrillation.

Well, I must be extra-special because my September sleep study (no CPAP) showed "rare PACs", and my October titration study showed "rare PVCs". When I asked the sleep doctor about it he didn't seem concerned. It is something I intend to discuss with my regular doctor at some point, though.

Robespierre · Post by **Robespierre** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:54 am

An ectopic heartbeat is one originating any place other than the sinoatrial node. If the ectopic focus is in one of the atria, it results in a PAC. If the ectopic focus is in one of the ventricles, it results in a PVC.

Jim

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