Inferior Vena Cava

[boblaviche]

What does inferior vena cava fails to close with respiratory maneuvers mean?

[boblaviche]

Thanks I'll give that a try.  I'll let you know what they say.

[ed34]

The rest of the report looks very good. With regards to the inferior vena cava fails to close comment, I would click above on the EXPERTS link, select heart disease in the right column and post your question in there for a Doctor to hopefully explain. It really has confused me.

[boblaviche]

Thank you for your answers.  I'll write the rest here to see if there is a general impression of the overall report if yuo're interested.
Cardic Anatomy
Left Ventricle
The cavity size is at the upper limits of normal.  There was mildly increased wall thickness.  
Systolis function was normal.  The estimated ejection fraction was 55% to 60%.
Wall motion was normal; there were no regional wall motion abnormalities.
Mitral inflow patterns suggest decreased left ventricular compliance.
Aortic Valve:  Tricuspid; mildly calcified leaflets.  Doppler:  Transvalvular velocity was minimally increased.  There was very mild stenosis.  Valve area 2.13cm2 (VTI)
Mean gradient  9mm Hg (S)
Peak Gradient 18mm Hg (S)
Mitral Valve:
Structurally normal valve
Leaflet separation was normal
Doppler:
Transvalvular velocity was within the normal range.  There was no evidence for stenosis.
Mild regurgitation
Left Atrium:  The atrium was normal in size
Right Ventricle:
The cavity size was normal
Systolis function was normal
The estimated peak pressure was 43 mm Hg.
Pulmonis Valve
Structurally normal valve
Cusp separation was normal
Doppler
Transvalvular velocity was within the normal range
No regurgitation
Tricuspid Valve
Structurally normal valve
Leaflet separation was normal
Doppler:
Transvalvular velocity was within the normal range.  There was no evidence for stenosis.
Mild regurgitation
Right Atrium  The atrium was normal in size
Pericardium:  There was no pericardial effusion.
And finally the infamous
Systemic veins:
The inferior vena cava fails to close with respiratory maneuvers.

Is there anything in this section something that needs further attention?

Again thank you for answers for me and many other folks in this forum.

[ed34]

Don't see it listed there.

[boblaviche]

I will list the measurements under the 2D measurements section I don't know the lingo so i'll let you see if it's listed:
Left Ventricle:
LVID ED, chord, PLAX 55mm
LVID ES, chord, PLAX 37mm
LVPW, ED                    11mm
Ventricular septum:
IVS, ED                        11mm
Aorta
Root diam, ED             30mm
Left Atrium
AP dim                         40mm
Vol index                      25ml/m2
Right Ventricle
RVID ED, PLAX          35mm

Does this tell you the dimension you're asking about?

[ed34]

I think curmudgen is right. I've not seen it written that way before, the normal terminology would be ASD or PFO. When you are in the womb, you want the oxygen rich blood from the placenta to go straight to the left side of the heart, so it can be pumped around the body immediately. This is why there is a hole in the wall which separates your left and right atrium chambers. Blood bypasses the lungs and gets shunted through the hole into the left side of the heart. When born, the pressure changes causes this to close, but it doesn't close in 25% of the population. You could reach a fair age before noticing any problems. If the hole is >9mm then this is potentially a candidate for further investigation and possible intervention. Your report doesn't say the size?

[boblaviche]

This is a line in a recent echocardiographiy report under the heading of Cardiac Anatomy and the subheading of:  Systemic veins.

[ed34]

do you think this is what the question is relating to?

[curmudgen]

The "valve"  referred to as the flap of heart tissue that closes the foramen ovale when the first breath is taken due to blood pressure in the atria.  

[ed34]

When I first read your question I was confused because the inferior vena cava doesn't even connect to the respiratory system. Perhaps though they are referring to the Eustachian valve. This is a valve which sits at the junction of the IVC and the right atrium. It should close up when we take our first breaths at birth. I'm just guessing here because there isn't much detail.