NSR--what does it mean? Off topic possibly but don't know who else to ask

NSR

by Hartje5 - 2017-10-02 17:24:31

I think NSR would be a heart beat that shows the complete QRS complex. That is a heart beat without arythmia's.

 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/QRS_complex

In afib for instance is a heart beat without the P wave.

NSR

by marylandpm - 2017-10-02 19:01:27

  From someone who has been dealing with Afib and AFlutter since getting a PM my gold in life now is NSR.   It' has consumed my life for the last two years with meds and procedures.  Not being in NSR sucks. 

NSR does not care about how

by LondonAndy - 2017-10-02 19:50:36

You are achieving a normal sinus rhythm thanks to artificial stimulation. So pacemaker is doing it's job and all is well as far as the body is concerned 

Giving me a brain workout!!

by 0o0 DC 0o0 - 2017-10-03 13:47:18

Haha!... I am currently recovering from my 1st PM surgery 7 days ago and so given I haven't used my head for a couple of weeks I like how finicky that question is :)!  Firstly, I am not a human cardiologist and this answer I am going to give is probably wrong in some areas (and seriously stretching my “knowledge”) so if any of this is incorrect then PLEASE feel free to correct it :)!

I had always considered that when interpreting an ECG/EKG in order to say the patient had NSR the trace had to display certain features:

1. A P-wave before every QRS complex (and a QRS after every P)

2. Regular rate

3. Regular rhythm

For the most part, this definition would suffice but in actual fact these details are neither required or sufficient, the term ‘sinus rhythm’ actually only identifies the pacemaker controlling the atria (in the case of NSR this must be the atria’s own natural pacemaker = sinus node). Also, as many will know and already have experience of, you can have regular P-QRS complexes that originate entirely from an ectopic atrial source (i.e. not the sinus node but another source such as an atrial lead in a mechanical pacemaker!)

So, to answer one part of your question (and this is being pedantic!) if every one of your beats is initiated in your atrium by your device (i.e. a non-sinus or ectopic source) then I would imagine that using the term SINUS in the terminology NSR in this instance is not scientifically correct.

Despite this, my normal (non-pedantic) interpretation of it would be that being told your heart is in NSR demonstrates that your mechanical pacemaker is performing in a manner that is essentially indistinguishable (ECG-wise anyway) from a natural sinus node initiated heart rhythm, which can only be a good thing :)!

As for the second part of your question, and as far as I am aware, an ‘abnormal sinus rhythm’ does not exist as its own specific entity, I guess that would just fall under the heading of ‘arrhythmias’, of which there are many as we know!

P.S.

by 0o0 DC 0o0 - 2017-10-03 13:53:21

I have said this on another post previously but I must just say a thank you to everyone who regularly posts on this brilliant website. Without knowing you have provided so much support over what has been a difficult few weeks, from initial diagnosis to PM surgery last week. Thanks again and now having joined I hope to be able to provide similar constructive comments for others :).

Nsr

by Ashmarie8353 - 2017-10-05 13:31:05

There are many types of rythyms. You can have sinus tachycardia sinus bradycardia. A normal sinus rythym is one without an arrhythmia looking at different EKG tracings you can see the difference a normal one will look the same with each beat where as an abnormal one will look different there are a lot of websites out there that show you the different tracings and explain them. An abnormal rythym could just be where an extra beat is there or one is missing. I know its difficult to understand all of the different rythyms but as long as you are having NSR then I wouldn't worry to much your PM had your back