RBBB
 

Anyone out there with RBBB picked up on routine ECG? I have, and would be interested to hear of your experiences. Thanks.

Hi! Hope this helps.
Firstly, remember each medical case is different, these are just my experiences which could be and are probably totally different from yours and then again may be not!

Well,I joined the RAF in 84 and had an ECG then and every couple of years since. I was grounded for a couple of years with a gut problem. In 96 I attempted to regain an RAF "flying" medical cat and at same time went to the CAA for a Class One medical. The CAA highlighted that I had a RBBB (Right Brundle Branch Block)(which I had never been informed of) and did I have a history of this. The answer was yes and it was first shown on my first and every subsequent ECG. So everything was fine... and still is!
The follow was gained from my Doc: apparently RBBB is a "difference from the norm" and about one in every 10 people have it. If you have had it since birth or childhood then it should not be a problem, however, if you develope it later in life then it COULD be a sign of something more sinister. I'm not saying the above is true or not, it's just what the docs told me. Ask them and be pushy if need be, if you don't receive the answer you want go to someone else/get a second opinion/see a specialist. Any more questions please ask! At what stage was it pointed out to you, first ECG? - What have the docs said?

Cheers

[This message has been edited by pieman# (edited 21 May 2000).]

Hi Pieman, thanks for your contribution.

I had a slight trace of a RBBB initially, but it became fully developed a couple of weeks ago on a routine ecg. I was referred to a cardiologist who had me do a treadmill exercise test. All this while I was in the dark about all these things. I found out things by browsing the web, looking for RBBB; all the things you mentioned were also discovered on the net. After I had done the treadmill test I was still in the dark about how I fared as the young doctor who conducted the test could not or would not tell me much, saying that my cardilolgist would give his assessment. I was also confused about the object of the stress test as the medical technician told me that they only wanted to see my cardiac performance up to 85% of my max heart rate, but the test took me beyond, up to 96% when I couldn't take it anymore and asked for the test to be stopped - I thought I had failed! But a week later my cardiologist told me that I had passed and that my heart is in good condition. I found out from him that although the object of the stress test was to achieve 85% of my max heart rate, they also try to reach 100%!!! If only I had been told this I wouldn't have been so anxious.

I hope by sharing this, others who come across similar situations would be better informed. Ours must be the most highly regulated and scrutinised profession in the world, what with 6-nonthly medicals, regular ECGs, chest X-Rays, audiograms; as well as the regular base-checks+IR, line checks; and FDRs and CVRs to keep an eye on our every move in the cockpit!

Choont

Excellent! Glad everything is OK for you now. It is very difficult to understand how terrible it can be to go thru something like this when your whole career/income is on the line. Keep well!

Cheers
Pieman