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heart valve regurgitation
There is heart disease on both sides of my family. Two years ago, at age 38, I had a dopplar echocardiogram done. It showed a trace amount of regurgitation for both the tricuspid and mitral valves. It also showed mild regurgitation for the pulmonic valve. I was re-tested two weeks ago. The tricuspid valve is no longer leaking. The mitral valve increased to mild. The pulmonic decreased to a trace amount of leaking. One of my questions is, once there is leaking, can it decrease on it's own? The tech had her cell phone on during the test and had even received and answered a call. Could the cell phone have caused inaccurate test results? If so, should I have the test done again?
Deborah
Deborah
Thank you for your input. I do tend to be a "worry wort" and over-react sometimes, probably due to all of the health issues in my family. My doctor will be having me retested in three years. Take care.
Deborah
Deborah
Okay, I have two responses to your post, and they might seem contradictory.
Normally, if it were me, I wouldn't be worried about the small differences that were found between the two tests. Small variations in echo measurements from one test to a later one are normal, because the echocardiogram is not a precise enough test to expect exactly the same results from one occasion to another. I'm thinking that, in all likelihood, your heart probably hasn't changed much, if at all -- which is a good thing. The variation in measurements could be due to how the tech positioned your body, how she held the wand, or even how high or low your blood pressure was at the time of testing. Unless I had developed some kind of new symptoms since the last test, I would probably just wait and go back for retesting at whatever interval the doctor thinks is appropriate.
On the other hand, I do think it is completely inappropriate for the tech to be talking on the phone while she is doing your test, so if you want to complain about that, go right ahead. The reason why it is inappropriate is exactly because the test is imprecise and because it depends on technician skill to get the best results, and how can anyone give their best effort to a task that demands full attention while talking on a cell phone? So if it bothers you that she was on the phone and wasn't paying full attention, then yeah, go ahead and complain, because you definitely have grounds for a complaint. If you want to go that route, I think they owe you a free re-test from someone who is doing only one thing at a time.
Whether you do or don't demand a re-test at this time, I think if the situation ever comes up again where any kind of health care professional thinks they can perform a procedure on you and talk on the phone at the same time, you should stop them right there. Just stop them and tell them politely, "I'll just wait until you finish your conversation." And just be sweet as pie, and if they don't get off the phone within one minute, then get up and say, "I'll just come back when it's a better time for you." And be exquisitely courteous the whole time, and reschedule the appointment, and ask for a different techician, and don't hesitate to say why.
Normally, if it were me, I wouldn't be worried about the small differences that were found between the two tests. Small variations in echo measurements from one test to a later one are normal, because the echocardiogram is not a precise enough test to expect exactly the same results from one occasion to another. I'm thinking that, in all likelihood, your heart probably hasn't changed much, if at all -- which is a good thing. The variation in measurements could be due to how the tech positioned your body, how she held the wand, or even how high or low your blood pressure was at the time of testing. Unless I had developed some kind of new symptoms since the last test, I would probably just wait and go back for retesting at whatever interval the doctor thinks is appropriate.
On the other hand, I do think it is completely inappropriate for the tech to be talking on the phone while she is doing your test, so if you want to complain about that, go right ahead. The reason why it is inappropriate is exactly because the test is imprecise and because it depends on technician skill to get the best results, and how can anyone give their best effort to a task that demands full attention while talking on a cell phone? So if it bothers you that she was on the phone and wasn't paying full attention, then yeah, go ahead and complain, because you definitely have grounds for a complaint. If you want to go that route, I think they owe you a free re-test from someone who is doing only one thing at a time.
Whether you do or don't demand a re-test at this time, I think if the situation ever comes up again where any kind of health care professional thinks they can perform a procedure on you and talk on the phone at the same time, you should stop them right there. Just stop them and tell them politely, "I'll just wait until you finish your conversation." And just be sweet as pie, and if they don't get off the phone within one minute, then get up and say, "I'll just come back when it's a better time for you." And be exquisitely courteous the whole time, and reschedule the appointment, and ask for a different techician, and don't hesitate to say why.
It is possible there can be reduction in regurgitation. For instance if the valve opening (orifice) begins to calcify the opening may reshape enough to prevent regurgitation.
However, mild, trace, etc. are adjectives indicating a medical condition of little medical significance. Almost, always there is no progression or problems associated with valve leakage.
Gee, are cell phones now interrupting a medical test! It could cause some loss of concentration by the tech and the parameters outlined (identifying chamber walls, etc.) by the transducer may not be as accurate as it should be. So that may effect the estimate...but you should not be concerned as your valve condition is insignificant.
However, mild, trace, etc. are adjectives indicating a medical condition of little medical significance. Almost, always there is no progression or problems associated with valve leakage.
Gee, are cell phones now interrupting a medical test! It could cause some loss of concentration by the tech and the parameters outlined (identifying chamber walls, etc.) by the transducer may not be as accurate as it should be. So that may effect the estimate...but you should not be concerned as your valve condition is insignificant.
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I see clients for a living. From time to time, I have inadvertantly left my cell phone on when I was seeing someone and have had to pick it up in the middle of an appointment to stop the ringer and then had to apologize to whoever I was with. So, if I were you, I wouldn't over-react to something like that. But if you think that your echo tech really wasn't paying attention to what she was doing, or if she behaved in an unprofessional manner, that is something else, and yes, you would be justified in complaining.
Just try to use common sense in whatever you decide to do. The echo results that you got this time were not that different from the ones you got last time. The difference between "nothing" and "trace" can be very slight, and the difference between "trace" and "mild" can be very slight. Obviously, your doctor's opinion about your echo results is more important than anything any of us can tell you.