how experienced are echo techs? im worried....

[treebeard]

hi,
my cardiologist wanted me to get a second echo becuase the first echo didnt have a clear picture of my aortic valve. the reason being is that the unclear picture may of shown a small mass on the aortic valve on the right ventricle?(i cant remember the note on hand). the echo tech examined me and also showed me the area of the heart that the note is about. she said that everything looked normal. however, my cardiologist is probably going to take a few days to review my labs. the stress is overwhelming for me.

[Meg1976]

A related discussion, Echo issues was started.

[shinsha]

A related discussion, How long should an echo take? was started.

[treebeard]

all things are good with me. thanks for the helpful replies!

[Smitty150]

Echo Techs like all persons in this world, vary in their skill levels.

If a situation iscritical, go for the best (e.g., send your echo to a front-line cardiology center for a second reading).

[treebeard]

thank you for your comments. Clarissairene, sorry for your anxiety. i know how you feel.

[treebeard]

hi,
my first echo was reviewed by the hospital doctor at a community hospital. the doctor stated that everything was normal. since i didnt have time to speak to the doctor about my PVCs, my wife and i felt that we should see another cardiologist at a larger hospital in the city where i can ask all the questions i needed. the new cardiologist reviewed all my tests and did additional test and he said that all looks normal ----- HOWEVER, he said that one of the pictures in the echo was not clear so he wanted me to get a second echo. so before i went to get the second echo, i had to pick up a slip to show the echo department the reason why he is ordering it. to my shock, it was because a possible mass on the aortic valve near the right ventricle =(. ....do different hospitals have different echo machines with diffrent software?????

in terms of signs or symptoms i am experiencing, i just have pvcs that are brought about stress. the reason for the first echo was because i felt my first PVCs happening all day, got scared, so i took myself to the ER. they did all the bloodwork, thyroid, stress nuclear test, echo, xray, and monitor, and all results say i am normal. the echo shows no signs of regurgitation or murmurs.

if i do have a tumor, wont i be experincing something continuosly?

if i had an infection, wont have also have continous symtoms?

i have no history of rhmautic fever, i take no meds, no allergies, i work out all the time, my chelestoral is good, i eat healthy, i just have lots of trouble coping with the unknown....

[Cleveland Clinic]

I can't comment on the echo because I have not reviewed it. Nor am I sure of what the doctor was looking for: a mass on the aortic valve or in the right ventricle. These are very different areas, which have very different reasons for being investigated. A mass on the aorta may be a tumor or infection (endocarditis). A mass on the right ventricle is more likely to be a tumor, but may also be an embolized venous clot, but could also be an infectious process. Part of the answer can sometimes be told by the echo, but probably the most important part comes from your symptoms and signs of infection or blood clots. It is difficult enough for an experienced cardiologist to differentiate these processes that I would not expect an echo tech to be able to do the same. On the other hand echo techs are very familiar with normal anatomy, and if he told you there was nothing there, then more likely than not the first echo had an artifact of some sort and then you probably don't even have a mass in your heart!

[frustratednmemphis]

echo tech should never be giving any results.   Although they are experienced and in a lot of cases through experience know what is on the echo, this is NOT what they are trained to do.  They are not trained to evaluate them, that is up to the Medical Doctors.  
They are trained to perform the echo not to read them.  I had a cardiac echo tech do an echo on me and the reading she got on my ejection fraction was not what the cardiologist read when he evaluated my echo results.  I am in complete agreement in that you should relax and wait for the Cardiologists evaluation.  best wishes to you

[Clarissairene]

Hi there,
Not a doc, just wanted to tell you my expeirence so you dont get down or too worried. Just chill until the doctor calls you back. I had an echo at my primary care physician. They did it in like 5 minutes and said nothing to me. I go see my primary who says i need to see a cardio because I have LVH (enlarged left ventricle) and regurgitation. So I seriously went into depression and panic. Not only did she tell me I had this, she didnt explain it to me so I went online and found a bunch of horror stories and pretty much thought it was the end. Now, 1 week later went to see a cardio and she said she would have liked her own echo because she trusts her cardio echo tech but she said my insurance probably wouldnt cover it and i told her i dont care, do it! luckily they did since they billed it as second opinion. cardio told the tech what the other tech found and the new tech took her time, it took almost 15-20 minutes. She explained some things to me and then found out that the other echo was wrong! No lvh....none at all. I am normal in size. And yes, there was some regurgitation but almost everyone has trace amounts. So..... do I have lvh, no, do i still have panic and anxiety, yes since may 18th the day the imcompetent doctors and echo tech told me I had this. Now I am on anti anxiety meds.

So.... relax and wait for the results. Good thing you had a second echo. Did you go in telling the tech what the other one found so they can take a good look. If you did, thats great.

I hope for the best for you.