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450617 tn?1205543861

Atrial Premature complexes

Hi, I have a 7 year old little girl who just recently had an EKG that came up as Atrial Premature complexes. Also her BPM I thought were quite low for a child her age. It was 67...She has a cardiology appointment coming up but was wonder why a 7 year is going through this and will this get better or worse for her. What should I expect? Will she need a Pace Maker or meds. for the rest of her life?
Someone please help if you have any answers for me I am going out of my mind...

Sincerely
Rose
7 Responses
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1137980 tn?1281285446
Thanks for updating us about your daughter.  I was thinking of you both today.......i agree with LBBBguy on this one and his post.....i too as a parent would definately get the logistics on how it would be done.  The good news is..........that she is 7 years old because most children and infants just breeze thru these procedures like a cake walk, recover far faster than we would and many many times have no further problems in life as she grows........think back to the hundreds of incidents you've read about infants and children having major surgeries of any part of the body and then we hear the stories that they never ever had problems again...so that is very optimistic to me.  And i know if that were my daughter i would protect her in any way i could to ensure her safety thru the procedure.  If it is what LBBBguy says that he's researched and its fixable...well from Mom to Mom  you know what needs to be done.....whats so great is now you know what you are up against and now have to fight for not only your little girl but yourself and at least now you are armed.  You want to minimize her risk before they get in there to correct it and i know to try to keep a 7 year old calm is like trying to herd a bunch of cats almost impossible but i agree...call the doc and have them tell you what is best in limiting her for the moment but especially what to avoid.....good luck and keep us posted........
Helpful - 0
1140055 tn?1264056251
Hi there,
I've been reading this thread, and first just let me say I know this must be so difficult and frightening to deal with. They just don't include stuff like this in the parenting books.

I would call your cardiologist first chance you get in the morning and get some clarification on what kind of activity is OK for your daughter. I've only had a chance to read the Mayo Clinic's page on PDA, so that's really all I know about it, but it sounds like you've got some difficult days ahead, but also that your daughter's condition is fixable, which I think is good news. Is the surgery option open heart or can it be done with a catheter? Hopefully the latter.

Hang in there!
Helpful - 0
450617 tn?1205543861
I came back from the cardiologist w/ my 7 year old today and so far they diagnosed her w/ PDA -Patent Ductus Arteriosis. It's an abnormal connection between the two major blood vessels leaving the heart.
She still has a stress test to go through but that isnt til April.
What does this mean should she still be on a NO strenuous Activity or can she do what she was doing all along.I read all there is to know about it. I just dont dont what to do. They mentioned surgery. I am definately considering it after the doctor telling me she could develop an infection around her heart from it. If anyone is familiar with this at all please dont hesitate to share your experience or input.

Thanks

Rose
Helpful - 0
450617 tn?1205543861
I just wanted to thank you guys for the quick responses. I love this site for this reason, people who have or are going thorugh the same things and can relate.
I am trying not to drive myself crazy because I know there are a few things that can be the underlying cause. I myself was born w/ WPW and I think thats what scares me most because I suffered w/ it for years before getting a true diagnoses and was treated for everything but what it actually was.. I was on numerous medications to stop the rapid heart rate. I am learning more and more on WPW that I never new. Actually quite frightning to know that I could have gone into Cardiac Arrest.
My main concern however is my 7 year old experiencing chest pains with any strain. Just laughing hard affects her at times to where she starts to cry. The doctor recently put her on a NO STRENUOUS activity. How do you tell a 7 year old who is extremely active Not to laugh to hard or lower her activity levels...
Helpful - 0
187666 tn?1331173345
Just my own experience here but I've had arrhythmias for as long as I can remember. I have PAC's like your daughter plus PVC's and atrial tachy. My first memory of arrhythmias was about first or second grade. I was leaning against my desk practicing my penmanship when my heart would start pounding and racing. I had to lean back quickly because I was afraid someone would see my body moving in time with the rhythm. Funny I didn't worry about my heart at the time, just whether someone would see my body acting weird.

But I'm now 57 and doing fine. Still have the arrhythmias but I've been married for 36 years, have 3 grown children and I've been working with wildlife for 19 years. So not all arrhythmias are dangerous or disrupt a person's life.

See what the doctor says and yes, she may grow out of it.
Helpful - 0
1137980 tn?1281285446
i agree w. Jerry....you need to not panic until all the facts are in however....it is extremely common when a child under the age of 12 has a variety of thing going on with them most commonly asthma and outgrow it by the time they are 12 years old.  You have to remember that her body is not done growing inside or outside and that is why alot of occurances correct themselves.  Premature contractions are just that...her heart is just beating a little early and it could be caused by something so simple as a virus, cold, flu anything.  Lots and lots of healthy humans have this and the chances of her having a pacemaker because of it...well you'll probably win the lottery before than happens. Don't read more into it than what there is.....her heart isn't even at 50% of its growth yet at 7 years old....trust me on this one...wait for your appt. and i bet you'll hear the same thing or that old saying that doctors use...."we'll just keep an eye on it"  don't scare yourself or her treating her like she's fragile china here...i know its easier said than done...i have kids too but just hold on....i bet anything she'll be fine....she's just having some early beats is all.................good luck Rose and let us know after her appt. we're here for you to vent......
Helpful - 0
612551 tn?1450022175
COMMUNITY LEADER
Please, wait for your doctor's appraisal.  I doubt that anyone on this community would give you any frightening opinions, but it is possible and they may well not apply.

While I know nothing other than what I have read and seen in many years of life, I'd offer the optimism that the problem is something your daughter will outgrow given her young age.  

If she has no problematic symptoms, and in adults atrial misbehaving frequently is asymptomatic.  My Atrial Fibrillation is mostly so... I can detect it if I focus on my pulse... but back to the important question you ask:  I think you have a very good chance that the condition will pass or require only minor treatment... god bless.
Helpful - 0
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