Premature atrial contractions: Anyone have any helpful info on this?

KarenatMayo, PVCs, by themselves, are the least harmful of the two. However, It is the disease causing them that can be and is more dangerous. For instance, Systemic Gelsolin (either TTR or non-TTR) is considered to be a disease with a high disabling and morbidity and intractability disease. The Protein fibrils invade the atrial and heart muscles and bring about the arrhythmias. The Long QRT reading, and the relatively flat aVL section on a 12-lead EKG are two of the best indicators of one's Gelsolin. Mine looks flat like a frozen lake when compared with the aVR, until you magnify the section about 20 times. Then it is rough like a saw blade. The Long QRT and the flat aVL sections are shouting Danger!

Hi Yorlik - Being on blood thinners is not dangerous at all. With atrial fib 24/7 I would not even try to talk my doctor leaving me off a blood thinner. With atrial fib 24/7 you are at a very high risk of a stroke. I would rather have some bruises now and then (and believe me, I do get those!) but who cares! I would rather being safe than sorry. For the last 28 years I've been at the lab for a blood test once a month, and sometimes more often if the INR was off the required number. A Vit-K shot is rarely needed (I never did in all those 28 years), only if your INR is totally off the charts. Often I can adjust the INR by changing how much coumadin I take for a couple of days. By the way, INR stands for "the International Normalized Ratio (INR) and is a calculation based on results of a test.

I am 66 and in great health. My AFIB started about 5 years ago. It was out of the blue as I go to the gym every day and have been working out for most of my adult life. Skip forward to 2018 I got my first ablation. It cured my AFIB but now I get constant PACs. Bigeminy the doctor calls them. They come in bunches, then subside for a few days. I've tried everything to get rid of them, including a 2nd ablation. Of course as soon as I went under anesthesia, my heart beat steady as a rock, sinus rhythm (my luck). A total waste of time. Doc says they are benign but they are SO annoying. I'm on a low dose of Sotelol which seems to help, but they are so unpredictable. My cardiologist says he will try another ablation, but I don't want to risk what happened the last time.

Following an episode where my wife passed out, my wife's doctor recently did a ECG 12-Lead test in his office and the impression stated::Sinus Rhythm, RSR (V1) nondiagnostic, left atrial enlargement and old anterior infarct. ABNORMAL. Should she see a heart specialist ASAP? What does the test reveal? Is she at risk of heart failure? Thx!

Hi @jimcullen and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Connect is not made up of Mayo physicians, but rather community members and patients just like you and your wife. I would definitely call the physician's office that ordered the ECG so that you can talk with the medical team and determine if they think she needs to see a specialist.

@truus1106, @danab, @predictable and @oldkarl have also participated in this conversation and have had experiences of their own.

After you received the results did anyone call you to talk about the report? Is she currently having any symptoms.

My situation is a bit complicated at the moment and I'm not sure if I'm of any help. My medical background is: *mechanical aortic valve at the age of 49 * permanent atrial fib for about 26 years now * ablation didn't work * I (and my cardiologist) gave up after 7 cardioversions as the Afib returned every time * right now a leakage in the mitral valve (is causing breathing problems and fluid built-up), for which I'll be getting a few tests next week to determine what (if anything) can be done about it. If anybody can relate to this and offer any suggestions, I would be very grateful.

@jimcullen Hi and Welcome to connect. I've had many 12 lead ECGs and the results are usually handed to the Doctor immediately. But based on the information given I can't say if it's a urgent situation but I can let you know that most technicians giving the test are a little knowledgeable about what is urgent and or can wait to be evaluated by a specialist . I thru my experience when I would ask how it looks would get the response "well I'm not allowed to say as I'm not a doctor but if I run out of here urgently might give you a clue. Even EMTs are trained enough to recognize life threatening verses is not an issue or can wait for a follow-up at a later time. I would have some confidence that if the Doctor hasn't either said anything yet or has not called for a follow-up it's probally not urgent.
Now as for the passing out I would tho follow-up and maybe seek an appointment with a cardiologist. Never hurts to know for sure. I hope that sets your mind at ease. Please let's us know how things turn n out and I went thru years of Heart issues so if I can help with any questions please let me know.
Have a Blessed Day

I wish someone from Mayo would call me to talk with me about my experience with Mayo in Phoenix. Certainly 5 years is long enough to wait. oldkarl

Thanks, we have scheduled an appt w/ cardiologist.

Awesome, I hope all goes well.