Nutrition Health Chat: Tuesday, Dec. 8th, 5-6 PM Eastern. Learn how vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients affect your health. Free live Q&A. Join us!
Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
VSD
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
VSD
by midd, Jun 03, 2003 12:00AM
I have a VSD since birth. Recently I have been told (by echo) that I had a dilated right ventricle and the tricuspid valve was at mild +1 regurg and trace on all the other ones. This is different from an echo a year before. The echo said my BP was 126 so there was no evidence of significant PH. The VSD is pulling a cusp from the aortic valve into the vsd to the point that until I had a TEE done they thought it was aortic. I get dizzy sometimes while doing stuff and sometimes when not doing anything. I get short of breath really easy whey working outside. I smoked for about 16 years, am now 37.
1. With the RV being dilated what are the chances that it will continue?
2. Does the RV and the tricuspid valve regurg go hand in hand?
3. Should there be further test done? Which ones.
4. Is there a chance of developing PH?
Thank you for your help.
1. With the RV being dilated what are the chances that it will continue?
2. Does the RV and the tricuspid valve regurg go hand in hand?
3. Should there be further test done? Which ones.
4. Is there a chance of developing PH?
Thank you for your help.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-RCJ, Jun 03, 2003 12:00AM
Midd,
Thanks for the question.
The key point to understanding what will happen to you is whether or not the RV is dilating. If the RV has significantly dilated since the previous echo, then you need further workup of this VSD. If the RV has not significantly dilated, then continued expectant management is fine.
RV dilation implies that the RV is experiencing volume overload from the left ventricle, and may eventually fail. RV failure can cause a multitude of symptoms, with swelling of the abdomen and legs usually being the first manifestation. This can then progress to pulmonary hypertension and shunting of blood from the right to the left, then with LV failure.
I would recommend that you be seen at a large center to determine the size and function of the RV, as well as the size of the VSD. Assessment of the pulmonary artery pressures is also in order. The testing to do this depends on the center -- you want tests that can answer these questions. Most centers will do this through TTE, TEE, and maybe a pulmonary artery catheterization.
Good luck.
Thanks for the question.
The key point to understanding what will happen to you is whether or not the RV is dilating. If the RV has significantly dilated since the previous echo, then you need further workup of this VSD. If the RV has not significantly dilated, then continued expectant management is fine.
RV dilation implies that the RV is experiencing volume overload from the left ventricle, and may eventually fail. RV failure can cause a multitude of symptoms, with swelling of the abdomen and legs usually being the first manifestation. This can then progress to pulmonary hypertension and shunting of blood from the right to the left, then with LV failure.
I would recommend that you be seen at a large center to determine the size and function of the RV, as well as the size of the VSD. Assessment of the pulmonary artery pressures is also in order. The testing to do this depends on the center -- you want tests that can answer these questions. Most centers will do this through TTE, TEE, and maybe a pulmonary artery catheterization.
Good luck.
Member Comments (2)
by midd, Jun 03, 2003 12:00AM
Would a University Hospital such as University of Missouri be acceptable or would a Heart Center be better equipped to look at everything?
