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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Congenital Heart Disease question
Answered by
Cleveland - OH
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Congenital Heart Disease question
by JadeM, Sep 29, 2005 12:00AM
Recently I have been having the following symptoms: blueness around lips after eating, bathing, being startled, exertion and (especially) drinking that lasts several hours; shortness of breath (even when lying down); occasional minor chest pain; blue toenails (feet feel cold); having the feeling of my heart beating in my neck; a flip flopping or skipping kind of feeling in chest; and fatigue with very little activity. I also recently have been diagnosed with hypertension. I had a transthoracic echocardiogram done and it showed a right-to-left shunt w/mircobubble study done 4x. I then had a transesophageal echocardiogram done and they told me I had a PFO (no shunt at rest) and it wasn't causing my symptoms-- nor was any other heart problem. They were just doing the tests and did not see my old echos. I still have symptoms. I am 19 years old and have congenital heart disease; I had an ostium primum asd repair in 1991 and currently have +2 mitral and +1 tricuspid regurgitation and pulmonic insufficiency. Also mild mitral valve prolapse. I am concerned about something on my new echo test which seemed to differ from my old echo test. It shows a mitral peak velocity of 3.39 whereas my old one (5 months ago) showed a peak of 1.1 . Also, my new one shows the Right Ventricle to be 2.3 cm whereas my old one shows 1.7cm. Tricuspid RVSP 37 was 33. Doppler shows 2.76 cm2. I am concerned because I went to a regular doctor and they told me they weren't convinced it isn't a heart problem. Do you know what, if anything, this is indicative of? Thank you very much!
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, Sep 29, 2005 12:00AM
, Sep 29, 2005 12:00AM
JAde,
Overall most people that undergo ostium primum repair do quite well without any significant sequelae unless the primum defect is associated with other congential problems.
Blue discoloration with exercise would have me somewhat concerned that blood is shunting from the right side of the heart to the left. This is called cyanosis and is a concern in someone with a history of congential heart disease. That said, the echo findings do not really suggest that is the case but without being able to see that data, I cannot tell.
It may be worthwhile to discuss these findings with your physican or seek a second opinon.
good lcuk
Overall most people that undergo ostium primum repair do quite well without any significant sequelae unless the primum defect is associated with other congential problems.
Blue discoloration with exercise would have me somewhat concerned that blood is shunting from the right side of the heart to the left. This is called cyanosis and is a concern in someone with a history of congential heart disease. That said, the echo findings do not really suggest that is the case but without being able to see that data, I cannot tell.
It may be worthwhile to discuss these findings with your physican or seek a second opinon.
good lcuk
