36 yr old female had Echo done & need info.

Hello, a little background-I'm 36, female & my nurse heard a heart murmur so she sent me to have an echocardiogram done.  Now I have the results back & I'm wondering if anyone knows what any of it means.  The nurse simply told me that we need to watch my blood pressure.  The results are:

-Normal left ventricular systolic function with est. ejection fraction of 65%. Evidence of a left ventricular diastolic compliance abnormality on the doppler exam.  Wall thickness is normal, no wall abnormalities.
-Mildly dilated left atrium. (range 35-58mm) is 48
-No mitral valve prolapse. Normal-appearing mitral valve leaflets.
-Trace of mitral regurgitation (range +1-+4) is +2
-no evidence of atrial septal defect or patent foramen ovale
-in pulmonic valve there is a trace of regurgiation (range +1-+4)

On the dimensions everything is in normal range but this:
LA I-S (30-55 mm) is 60
LA A-P (19-40) is 35
RA I-S (30-55mm) is 52 (Not quite over yet but almost)

Just wanting to know if anyone knows what all this means.  Heart disease runs on both sides of my family so this is scary to me.  Any information is greatly appreciated!





Everything else says is normal.

[kenkeith]

The anteroposterior (AP), superior-inferior (SI), and medial-lateral (ML) left atrial dimensions are determined at the end of ventricular systole using different angles and a cross section.

Cross sectional echocardiography can provide a reliable estimate of left atrial dimensions. In relation to heart murmur associated with the mitral valve the cross section examination of the left atrium using multiple cross sectional views was/is necessary to detect asymmetric left atrial enlargement and to measure the degree of left atrial dilatation.

My records show left atrium range is 1.9 - 4.0 cm.  The range you provided for LA (48) is a measurement for left ventricle (diastolic)!...normal range 3.5 - 5.7 cm and the 48 is within the expected range for LVED.

[BionicBabe]

Have you asked to have a doctor explain the results of the echo to you?  Is the healthcare in this country so bad that doctors can't even explain these reports to their patients? Your not the first person to post on this forum about receiving echo results with no explanation. Good luck figuring it out!

[kenkeith]

What can't you figure out?  The echo report comments everything is normal as cdrobinson recognizes, and there is a specific question asked relating to cross-section images of the left atrium and that question has been answered.  The dimensions are larger than regular length and width representation because the angle represents a larger area viewed (normally) but the results are within the normal range.  Did I miss something?

If everything is normal, it seems to me the doctor wouldn't/shouldn't take time to discuss normal results. I get a letter stating no change and if a change and relevant that would be noted.

[BionicBabe]

Kenkeith, why are you nitpicking at me about my response to cd's post? I'm not going to quote cdrobinson's post to you. But I think you should reread it because she/he does not say "everything is normal" and he/she was asking for a general explanation. Call me crazy, but I still think it's a doctor's job to give their patients explanations, even if it's good news. Sorry if my comment offended your political sensitivities or perhaps you just think I'm ignorant. I don't really see the point in your personal questions to me: "What can't you figure out?" and "Did I miss something?"

[kenkeith]

You're overreacting and apparently you are sensitive!.  I answered cdrobinson's question, but you submitted a response that puzzled me...I asked a simple question what don't you understand? and implicit to my comment I would help you understand. If cdrobinson has a followup question, we will try and answer.

Almost all threads on this forum are for discussion and different views are welcome...we all learn from the experience of others...no need to make make personal comments other than direct a question to an individual regarding the subject discussed.  That's what I did?  The logic how asking a question can be equated to being political or getting personal escapes me.  Sorry.

[BionicBabe]

I'll send you a message with my response; I don't think this thread is the place to engage in a disagreement.