What is Left Atrial Rhythm and is it related to Afib?

[bean_counter27]

I have paroxysmal Afib, which appears to be well managed with Flecainide and Metoprolol. I am having an unrelated medical procedure next week so my anaesthetist sent me for an ECG, which I had to drop back to her office.

After getting the ECG done by a nurse at my local GP's rooms, the nurse took the ECG to my GP before returning to give me a copy. I noticed on the ECG the diagnosis information stated "Suspect left atrial rhythm?" Nothing was said to me about the result except the nurse provided me with a copy of my previous ECG (Dec last year) to provide to anaesthetist in case she wanted it for comparison. It was done by my cardiologist in my annual check up. I also had a cardiac MRI done in February this year to check for any myocarditis or scarring from having COVID last year, which coincided with with several AFIB events in the months following, which have since settled down. My cardiologist reviewed the results of the MRI and in a telephone consult in March (2023) advised there were no signs of myocarditis or scarring - so all good and I wouldn't need to see him again for another 12 months.

Anyway, does anyone know what Left Atrial Rhythm is and its significance? Googling hasn't yielded much and I'm wondering whether there's an issue I should see my cardiologist about sooner than my annual checkup in March next year.

[CDreamer]

Such a generic phrase it really doesn’t mean much at all. It will be the detail of the ECG trace that your anaesthetist will compare the 2 traces and make a decision. I doubt anyone here other than an a doctor would be able to make a comment as it sounds so generic however I would be encouraged by that and suspect it’s nothing to be worried about and obviously outside of your GP surgery’s ability to say. If they had seen something that worried them I am sure they would have referred you asap or written to your surgeon so they have left it to the anaesthetist who is the one who will be monitoring you to make them aware of something to look out for.

Hope all goes well for you.

[bean_counter27 in reply to CDreamer]

I had similar thoughts but just thought I'd raise in case I needed to be proactive about it. Thanks for the feedback.

[BobD Volunteer]

Complete waste of words! I hope your left atrium has a rhythm or you would be in trouble, It is beyond me why some people use such meaningless expressions. Dont worry amd let your anaesthetist deal with it.

[Autumn_Leaves]

If the ECG generated a “diagnosis” then just ignore it. It’s only an algorithm. It’s the tracing that matters. Reading ECG tracing is a specialist skill that even many GPs aren’t able to do, not like a cardiologist who looks at ECGs many times every day. These machines are notorious for coming up with all sorts of bizarre conclusions so I’d just go with what the doctors say rather than what an algorithm throws out.