Anyone familiar with "some junctional rhythm"?

[clawie1]

Hi Everyone,

I am almost 9 weeks post op and have posted a few threads in the past. Today was my 6th week in cardio rehab and at the conclusion of the session, I was told my ekg showed "some junctional rhythm" so tomorrow I will be fitted with a holter monitor. The nurses assured me this was not a life threatening emergency and it sometimes appears after cardiac surgery especially AVR's. My AVR was July 22, 2013. Has anyone heard of this condition? Nita

 

[clay_from_nj]

I Googled it and found this on wisegeek.com:

Junctional rhythm is a heart rhythm originating in the atrioventricular node of the heart, instead of the sinoatrial node, the area normally responsible for regulating the heartbeat. It is not necessarily dangerous, but can be a sign of underlying pathology in need of treatment. An electrocardiogram will readily reveal the abnormal rhythm, and a doctor can use other diagnostic information to determine why the patient's heart rate is not normal. This will be used to decide what treatment, if any, is needed.

The atrioventricular node lies between the atria and the ventricles, acting as a literal junction. In normal sinus rhythm where the heartbeat is regulated by impulses coming from the sinoatrial node, the atria beat first, as is intended. With a junctional rhythm, the atria will still beat first, but the heart rhythm is abnormal. Some people have this type of heart rhythm with no underlying heart problems and may be perfectly healthy and active.