Premature Atrial Contraction
Follow Up Required
Your child participated in a cardiac screening with Who We Play For. An ECG was performed and reviewed by a licensed Cardiologist with specific training on reading ECGs according to the International Criteria.
Initial findings of that ECG indicate that secondary testing is necessary.
What does it mean to have an abnormal ECG?
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Abnormal ECG Flag
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Being flagged with an abnormal from the WWPF Medical Advisory team means our pedicatric cardiologist who reviewed the electrocardiogram (ECG) saw something that matches an abnormality. This does not mean with 100% certainty that there is an abnormality, but additional follow up should be done in order to ensure nothing is wrong.
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It is recommended by the WWPF Medical Advisory Team to receive follow up care within 90 days of an abnormal flag. The person can continue to participate in activities as long as they are symptom free.
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If there was an abnormal flag on an ECG the following symptoms would be cause for immediate medical attention:
Fainting or seizures during or immediately following exercise.
Unexplained shortness of breath.
Dizziness.
Extreme fatigue.
Racing heart (feels like it is beating out of your chest).
Sudden and unexplained death of a family member under the age of 50.
If you experience any of these symptoms get an appointment with a pediatric cardiologist right away.
What is Premature Atrial Contraction?
Premature atrial contraction (PAC), also known as atrial premature complexes (APC) or atrial premature beats (APB), are a common arrhythmia characterized by premature heartbeats originating in the atria. While the sinoatrial node typically regulates the heartbeat during normal sinus rhythm, PACs occur when another region of the atria depolarizes before the sinoatrial node and thus triggers a premature heartbeat. In contrast to escape beats, in which the normal sinoatrial node fails, leaving a non-nodal pacemaker to initiate a late beat.
The exact cause of PACs is unclear; while several predisposing conditions exist, single iscolated PACs commonly occur in healthy young and elderly people.
PACs are often completely asymtomatic and may be noted only with Holter monitoring, but occasionally that can be perceived as a sipped beat or a jolt in the chest. In most cases, no treatment other than reassurance is needed for PACs, although medications such as beta blockers can reduce the frequency of symptomatic PACs.
Diagnosis:
Two PACs with a compensatory pause seen on a ECG rhythm strip. A "skipped beat" occurs and rhythm resumes 2 P-to-P intervals after the last normal sinus beat.
Family History: Review detailed family history.
Consult: Pediatric Cardiologist or Electrophysiologist
Secondary Test Might Include:
NEED INFORMATION
Your child can continue to participate in the current sports season within school/orgnaization guidelines, but should seek the advice of a Cardiologist for a more detailed examination.
Follow Up Care By State
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Heart Screenings
An ECG is one of the only ways to catch a life-threatening heart defect before SCA occurs. Have you been screened?
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AED Placement Programs
AEDs assist in life-saving, time-sensitive measures that must be taken when a person has a SCA event. Make sure your community has an AED.
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Physicians
The physicians involved in WWPF help us to read ECGs from our participants and host ECGs in their offices.
