Echo are confusing...

Ok I'm having a hard time find the answer to this question - why do echocardiogram parameters vary so much?

Thanks to Kenkeith I found the website referenced, but my (normal) values are different...so I started looking for normal echo parameters and find one range say for LVEDD is (50-70) but other ranges say normal is (35-57).  

What do most doctors use for parameters for echo's? is there a universal one or do we go by what is the "normal" range they have listed on our tests?

It's confusing and so are the results - I think I finally found my septal measurement - LVIS   12  (6-11) but I can't find any info on it - what does lvis stand for?

Thanks for any help - another question on my long list...

[is_something_wrong]

Hi Lisa =)

I think you're mixing up some of the terminology!

LVEF (Left Ventricle Ejection Fraction) is normal 50-70%
LVEDD (Left Ventricle End Diastolic Diameter) is 35-57 mm. (millimeter, european units)
LVIS (Left Ventricle Intraventricular Septum) - wall between LV and RV should be 6-11 mm. If yours is 12, it indicates very mild hypertrophy.

[Mom2four85]

This is in reference to this thread: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Heart-Disease/When-is-a-ventricle-to-thick-/show/1388676  ; I was questioning about echo parameters and why there are differences in the measurements sometimes -  Sorry to confuse anyone...does that make sense now?

I asked Kenkeith about this -  "Left Ventricular Internal Dimension (systole); normal range 21 - 40 mm.  The report is an estimate of LV dimension and the given size is 40 mm and certainly within the margin of error"

"For clarification: The normal values for LV systolic 30 to 40mm.  LV diastolic is 52 to 70 mm.  The septum wall (separates the left side from right side (11-13 mm). With HCM the septum is often is enlarged as well."

The link he gave me is this - http://www.researchgate.net/group/internal_medicine_clinical_pharmacology/board/thread/14141_echocardiography-refvalues_updates_2009

LV diastolic diameter 35-57mm
LV systolic diameter 24-35mm
LVSeptum diastolic diameter 7-12mm

a dr on all experts says this is a good site - http://www.echobyweb.com/htm_level2_eng/normal_parameters_tt.htm

End-diastolic diameter 49±4 mm  
End-sys tolic diameter 30±5 mm
Interventricular septum thickness 9±1 mm

here's one for CHF patients...
left atrium 36 to 47 mm
aortic root 33 to 44 mm
left ventricular end-diastolic diameter 52 to 70 mm
left ventricular end-systolic diameter 30 to 40 mm
left ventricular wall thickness 11 to 13 mm

one for healthy hearts
left atrium 35 to 41 mm
aortic root 32 to 39 mm
left ventricular end-diastolic diameter 53 to 58 mm
left ventricular end-systolic diameter 30 to 40 mm

My results:
LVEF  40% (50-70) Left Ventricle Ejection Fraction
LVEDD  44 (35-57) LV end diastolic diameter
LVESD  36 (23 - 40)  LV end systolic diameter
LVIS      12  (6-11) Left Ventricle Intraventricular Septum
LA         39 (19-40) Left Atrium

The link kenkeith gave me was great for some things I didn't have parameters to such as:
Systolic 15–25 mm Hg
Diastolic 8–15 mm Hg
Mean 10–20 mm Hg
PCWP (PAOP) 6–12 mm Hg
Cardiac output 3.5–5.5 L/min
Cardiac index 2.8–3.2 L/min/m2

My results were
LVEDP - 34mm Hg (Left ventricular end diastolic pressure)
Cardiac Output - 4.9 liters/min
Cardiac Index - 2022

a couple of things I did not find parameters for, unless I mixed up their abbreviations, any idea where to find these?

Ascending Aorta 29 (21 - 34)
LV diastolic function: E/A, DT E'- E/E'  - no normal parameters shown for this

[Mom2four85]

I should not post before coffee lol that title should be Echo's are confusing or my echo is confusing me...arrrgg I need to go back to grammar 101 :P

Is_something_wrong - yes my LVIS was dx as mild "concentric" LVH

That leads me to another question....where does the concentric part on an echo come into play - what shows them that it's concentric? why isn't that listed in any values or parameters on the echo?

I haven't found any answers, which isn't surprising it seems all I have are questions and no answers.  I know the CLVH has something to do with my Cardiomyopathy but that's about all I know.

My pulmonic valve was not well visualized, they couldn't even get a measurement.

Which leads me to frustration and other questions knowing a month after I had this Echo done, that my Catherization showed my LVEDP was elevated at 34 mm HG.