echo lingo

NancyMVP · Jul 18, 2002

Every time I have a new echo cardiogram there seems to be something new added. I received a copy of the report in the mail.

Just to refresh your memories. I have Mitral valve prolapse with moderate to severe reguritation. Thickenened mit ral valve with mild systolic prolapse. Dialated left atrium-remaining chamber sizes within normal limits. Left ventricular wall motion is symmetrical and systolic function is normal.

Anyone know what this means if its good or bad high or low?
After Mild tricupid regurgitation (it says) with estimatated pulmonary artery systolic pressure 28 mmHg.

Also it says ejection fraction 69%
under that it says fraction shortening 39% > 25%

Other than that I'm good for another 6 months unless I develop symptoms.

Hope everyone is doing well. I've been peeking in every so often.

Ross · Jul 18, 2002

I'd like to take a stab at this, but I know I'll be wrong. I do know that your ejection fraction is very good. I know, that doesn't tell you much huh?

NancyMVP · Jul 19, 2002

Thanks anyway Ross
I actually have a friend that does echo cardiograms.
Last night I called her she said the part with the ejection fraction shortening is supposed to be over 25% and it is so thats ok. YesI I know 69% is good.
estimatated pulmonary artery systolic pressure 28 mmHg. she says isn't high but she doesn't know what is too high. It was never mentioned on my echos before.
The most changed part of my echo actually is my left atrium went from 3.4 cm to 4.6 since December. I thought I saw 3.9 on the tech's computer screen . My friend said the doctor must had read i differently.
I guess we can educate each other. Thanks anyway. Anyone else wanting to add some input is appreciated.

fdegranville · Jul 21, 2002

Echo report

Echo report

Hi Nancy,
Pulmonary pressures above 30 would put you into mild pulmonary hypertension. I would ask the doctor about the LA measurement. It seems weird that it would go from 3.4 - 4.6 without any change in the amount of regurgitation?
fdeg

Lisa in Katy · Jul 22, 2002

A high ejection fraction isn't necessarily good. From what I understand, it addresses how much blood leaves the chamber, but not how much returns. My EF was very high (can't remember the number anymore), but the reason was that I had a very strong jet shooting through the valve followed by severe regurgitation. The chamber was very dilated, because of the excess blood in that chamber. I think low ejection fractions come from stenosis, so if stenosis isn't your problem, that number is probably meaningless. My problem was called mitral insufficiency, meaning that it didn't work in either direction.

Personally, I think that the dilation of the chamber is important, because the larger it gets and the longer you wait, the longer it takes to return to a normal size after the surgery. My echo wasn't all that bad, but my cath was a different story. The doctor told me that if someone suddenly developed a valve and heart like mine, they would be dead within a short time - surgery not fast enough.

I'm not a doctor, and some of this info could be wrong, but it's my opinion.

NancyMVP · Jul 22, 2002

pulmonary pressures

pulmonary pressures

Hi All, Thanks francesca I think you pointed me in the right direction.

I found several links on the subject. As well as on medhelp.org in the cardiolgy forum that aquired PPH can be reversed if caught early.
Here is part of what one of the links states

Hypertension is a medical term for abnormally high blood pressure. Normal average (also called "mean") pulmonary artery pressure is about 14 mm Hg at rest. In patients with PPH, the average blood pressure in the pulmonary artery is greater than 25 mm Hg at rest and greater than 30 mm Hg during exercise. This abnormally high pressure (pulmonary hypertension) is linked with changes in the small blood vessels in the lungs. These changes increase resistance to blood flowing through the vessels. This increased resistance puts a strain on the right ventricle, which now must work harder than usual to move enough blood through the lungs.

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4752

thanks nancy anyone else have had this problem???