What is done for atrium enlargement..

[sonya489]

I have found plenty of information on what is done for the regurgitation problem that I am having but I can't find anything about what is done for the enlarged left atrium. I can find stuff about when it's to small but I can't find anything about when it's to big. Does anyone know?
Thanks,
C-YA
Sonya

 

[sonya489]

No One knows nothing????????????
C-YA
Sonya

 

[Perrster]

Google

Google

Sonya,

Are you a "googler?"

I typed in the 3 words (enlarged left atrium) into the www.google.com search engine and it returned over 5,000 entries.

One can do all kinds of amazing research with Google like typing in a phone number and it will tell you who and where it originates or typing in a person's name and getting results.

Try it out for size and I hope this helps.

Regards,

 

[sonya489]

Hi,
I can find plenty of information about what it is but I can't find what they do for it...It never says anything but enlarged left atruim can cause several other things but it doesen't say what they do for it!!!!!!!!!!!


Thanks,
C-YA
Sonya

 

[Mara]

Hey Sonya.
Sometimes once the valve problem is fixed the atria shrink back up. I think that is what happened to me. At my checkup the cardio said there was no evidence of hypertrophy on the echo or EKG. I believe that the hypertrophy he is talking about is the enlarged artia from all the years of my heart having to pump extra hard because of a bad aortic valve.
Otherwise, i don't know of anything.
Call and ask you doctor.

 

[sonya489]

So your enlarged atrium went back down thats kinda neat if it can do that! There just isn't anything I could find on the interent that said what they do for it. I mean I could find alot of stuff about medication for regurgitation,surgery,etc...but nothing about what they can do for this I mean there has to be something....
C-YA
Sonya

 

[JimL]

Sonya,
I go next Thursday for my first echo this year; I'm over ten months past surgery. I am very curious to learn two things: (1) Has my heart returned to normal size? (2) Has my EF climbed back into the normal range. Based on the way I feel, the answer to both questions will be yes.
I used to think that if I worked out, I would get in shape, and things would be easier. Now I'm wondering if the answer all along wasn't that I should have the AVR, and then I would be in shape and things would be easier.

 

[sonya489]

Hi,
My ejection fraction is good it is 62% but then I read when there is a good ejection fraction but an enlarged left atrium that the ejection fraction could be an inconsistant # meaning that part of the ejection fraction# is the backwash. Mine is enlarged to 6.0 and suppose to be at 4.0... I am anxious to see what your echo show make sure to post it....
Thanks for the info:
C_YA
Sonya

 

[ALCapshaw]

Sonya,

That is a good question for your CARDIOLOGIST. Can you get in to see him easily (a rarity these days it seems)?

Will he answer phone calls? or have his nurse field phone calls and call back with his answer?

You really need to get an expert opinion on this one.

'AL'

 

[sonya489]

I will not be able to see the cardiologist for a couple of weeks.

Thanks,
C-YA
Sonya

 

[NancyMVP]

Hi Sonya,
I'm curious if you remember where you heard about the inconsistancy of the ejection fraction.
You said your left atrium is 6.0 .
My left atrium is dialated and is now 4.6. My ejection fraction went up and I thought that was very weird.
I do believe it is an estimation on the part of the echo report.
This time it was noted as 69% where in the past it always said 60-65%. Also I had my last test at a new place. I've had 4 echos since Oct of 2000 when I had my (questionable mini stroke) and 1 TTE. Hope everything works out for you.

 

[sonya489]

I have no idea where I read it it was one of the many heart sites but I thought it was kind of alarming that it might not be a correct # with the atrium enlargement. If I can find it again I will post it here.

C-YA
Sonya

 

[sonya489]

Nancy, Also what have you been told about the atrium enlargment?

C-YA
Sonya

 

[Nancy]

Hi Sonya-

Different Nancy, but if you look in some of the medical sites and do a search on atrium enlargement, there are lots of conditions that cause it, and it is secondary to a lot of problems of the heart.

So if the problems that caused are corrected, chances are that the enlargement will improve also.

What particular condition or conditions you have that are causing it for you, only your cardiologist could answer. See what he says about what solutions are available for you.

 

[sonya489]

Nancy,

I think I found the information the page I printed out doesn't have a link printed on it I have no idea why but at the top in the corner it says:

ACC/AHA TASK FORCE REPORT
JACC Volume 32 No.5
November 1,1998:1486-588

I will type some of it in:


Chronic Asymtomatic Mitral Regurgitation

The duration of the phase of MR is variable but may last for many years. However the prolonged burden of volume overload may eventually result in LV dysfunction. In this phase,contractile dysfunction impairs ejection and end systolic volume increases. There may be further LV dilation and increased LV filling pressure. The hemodynamic events result in reduced forward output and pulmonary congestion. However, the still favorable loading conditions often maintain ejection fraction in the low normal range.50-.60 despite the presence of significant muscle dysfunction. Correction of MR should occur before the advanced phases of LV decompensation.

Next Paragraph:
Assesment of LV function in the patient with MR is made difficult because the loading conditions present in MR facilitate ejection and increase ejection fraction,the standard guide to LV function.

I think this is the one I was reading but I'm not 100% sure!

C-YA
Sonya

 

[sonya489]

So what do you think Nancy?
C-YA
Sonya

 

[gary]

Left atrium enlargement: Having been stress tested

Left atrium enlargement: Having been stress tested

a month ago, and learning my LA has dilated to 3.9, I asked my cardiologist if this could be reversed in any way and he said no.

Mitral valve has had a leak for 50 years and now approaches +2, after successful AV replacement 2.5 years ago, likely causing the dilation. I asked if curing the leak with a mitral repair or replacement would permit the LA to return to normal and he said no to that, too.

Though 3.9 is not worrisome right now, he wants another measurement in 5 months to determine if my exercise regimen or a combination of factors is going to work to increase the LA or leave it steady.

 

[Rain]

Thickness of heart walls?

Thickness of heart walls?

My cardio told me that mine would never return to its normal size because it had been enlarged for such a long time before I had the surgery. BUT... it has gone down slightly. After reading this thread I checked my echo reports. The curious thing I noticed is that the thickness of the walls in my heart have gotten thicker... you think that?s because of the exercise and lifting wieghts I started doing after the surgery? Hopefully that is a good thing?! I never noticed it before.

January 25, 2000 is probably when my heart was at it?s worst. My surgery was 4-6-00. Anyway.. here are a few of the numbers off of before and after echos of my heart. I think if my screwed up heart can go down in size, surely everyone?s would ...at least to some extent after fixing the valve problems.

1-25-00 Left ventricular diastolic dimension 6.2
7-16-01 4.9

1-25-00 Left ventricular systolic dimension 4.4
7-16-01 3.5

1-25-00 Left ventricular ejection fraction 50%
7-16-01 55%

1-25-00 Right ventricular dimension 2.8
7-16-01 2.5

1-25-00 Septal thickness .8
7-16-01 1.1

1-25-00 Posterior wall thickness 0.8
7-16-01 0.9

1-25-00 Left atrial dimension 6.0
7-16-01 5.7

Interesting, this crazy heart stuff.

 

[gary]

It appears that my LA dilated AFTER

It appears that my LA dilated AFTER

successful AV replacement surgery, for the same reasons yours narrowed!

It was hoped that the new AV would allow more efficient action of the mitral valve, possibly even permitting it to close and stopping the leak entirely. It was thought that possibly the blood leaking back into the left ventricle from the faulty AV was impinging on its action and the relief would allow the valve to function properly or close to it.


Yes, this heart stuff is crazy.

 

[sonya489]

So what yall are saying is replacemnt of the valve or repair didn't change the size of the atrium that it stays the same. But if you don't have replacemnt right now and you are at a 6.0c. enlargement does it keep getting bigger.....?
C_YA
Sonya