Echo question

[TXpoison]

I was wondering if anyone could help me understand the abbreviations and numbers with regards to the results from my last echocardiogram. There must be two dozens different abbreviations. I have tried searching for some of them but have not had much luck. I had it done in May followed by a visit with my cardiologist who said my bicuspid aortic valve was getting worse and that I would need to start having the echos done every six months instead of annually. I probably should have asked more questions then but I guess I was more focused on my changing condition after 20 years of relative stability.

I posted my first vr.com thread earlier this week and stated that one of the findings from the echo was that I now have ?severe aortic valve stenosis and moderate aortic valve insufficiency?. Several members responded back that I should talk with different surgeons to get their opinions. I have scheduled another appointment with cardiologist to ask more detailed questions and figured if I understood more about the echo results before I saw him I could ask more intelligent questions (I am also beginning to look for surgeons).

Is there a website or other source that could explain the echo results and what ?normal? results would be.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[tobagotwo]

The References Forum has some good places to look: http://www.echobyweb.com/htm_level2_eng/normal_parameters_tt.htm

Another great site: http://www.echoincontext.com/2003_video.asp

However, here are some common ones:

RA= Right Atrium
LA=Left Atrium
RV=Right Ventricle
LV=Left Ventricle

AO=Aortic valve opening, annulus size (N= 1.5-2.6 cm)
AR, AOR, ARD, or similar = Aortic Root Diameter (N= 2.0-3.7 cm)

EF= Ejection Fraction (N= 50%-70%, but 55%-65% is "more" normal)

LVED, LVDd, or similar = Left Ventricle End Diastolic Diameter (N= 3.5-5.7 cm)
LVES, LVDs, or similar = Left Ventricle End Systolic Diameter (N= 2.3-3.9 cm)

LVIS, LVSW, LVWT, or similar = Left Ventricle intraventricular Septal Wall thickness (n= 0.6-1.1 cm)

LVH = Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (ventricle is enlarging in the way that a muscle enlarges when exersize is increased)

PV = Aortic Peak velocity (<1.6 meters/sec)

LVPW, LVP, or similar = Left Ventricle Post Wall thickness (N= 0.6-1.1 cm)

PG, PAG, IG or similar = Peak (Instantaneous) Gradient
MG, MAG, or similar = Mean Gradient

PAS, PS, or similar = Pulmonary Artery Systolic pressure

Best wishes,

 

[TXpoison]

Bob,

Thanks for the answers. I will go check out those numbers now.