Submitted by Dr T on December 29, 2014 – 6:25pm
Question:
I’m 27. I had pectus excavatum that became noticeable at puberty . I had the nuss procedure done at 19 years old and the bar removed at 21 . It went well and I noticed I had better exercise tolerance afterwards. My dad and family members have no history of pectus however my dad was just diagnosed with afib atrial fib after he got sick and went to the dr. He is 72 and for all he knows this was his first episode. He also has sleep apnea and an underactive thyroid but otherwise healthy and they said his heart was normal.
I’m wondering does having had pectus excavatum increase my risk of afib later on and also since my dad just got afib at 72 does that increase my risk . The last time I went to the doc for a regular checkup the dr felt my heart and didn’t say there was a murmur or anything wrong, however I’m just wondering how genetic is afib . I read one article that said 2/3 of ppl who had lone afib had some degree of pectus . Does my risk go done now that the pectus has been repaired for several years ? Thanks
I’m wondering does having had pectus excavatum increase my risk of afib later on and also since my dad just got afib at 72 does that increase my risk . The last time I went to the doc for a regular checkup the dr felt my heart and didn’t say there was a murmur or anything wrong, however I’m just wondering how genetic is afib . I read one article that said 2/3 of ppl who had lone afib had some degree of pectus . Does my risk go done now that the pectus has been repaired for several years ? Thanks
Hi Ben,
A pectus is sometimes associated with cardiac conditions such as Marfan’s Syndrome and Mitral prolapse.
So-called lone atrial fibrillation sometimes develop in younger patients without any evidence of cardiac or other disease, with a higher incidence occurring in patients with a pectus excavatum. It has been postulated that mechanical compression may be a cause for chronic irritation of the heart, hence AF. I don’t know whether patients with a successful repair run the same risk. Genetics play a role in Marfan patients.
Hope this helps,