Enlarged Right Atria

[Cinnaspins]

What is an enlarged right atria and what causes it? What is done to prevent further problems?

[Cinnaspins]

It was an EKG reading. I don't know what symptoms are. No one gave me a report on the EKG. I got copy of mine this week, which was taken before surgery 10 months ago. EKG reads: Normal sinus rhythm, rate 78.  Normal P axis, PR, rate and rhythm. Right atrial enlargement - P>0.25 mV. Consider left atrial enlargement P V1 -.10 mV or more negative. Chronic pulmonary disease pattern P righward, QRS small or vertical. I have high blood pressure and cholestrol, which are both being controlled with medication.

[kenkeith]

There are other non- heart conditions associated with right atrial enlargement chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary hypertension, and congenital heart disease—for example, pulmonary stenosis and tetralogy of Fallot (arrhythmia conditions).

You have not provided enough information: was it an EKG reading?  Do you have symptoms? Depending on the underlying cause, pulmonary or heart, would dictate treatment and prognosis.

[kenkeith]

In tricuspid (pulmonary valve) stenosis (narrowed orifice abnormally pressurizes right atrium), the right atrium becomes enlarged, while the right ventricle does not fill completely and remains small.

In tricuspid regurgitation (black flow due leaflets not properly closing or enlarged orifice, etc,) both right chambers (atrium and ventricle) enlarge substantially.

Usually, the stenosis is due calcification...often a process of aging.  The enlarged right atrium is compenstation or over compensation to enables pressures within the cardio/vascular system to provide a working balance between right and left side of the heart for adequate blood velocity and throughput.  If the stenosis becomes severe, the vavle may have to be repaired.