Left Atrial Enlargement

[skipolot]

I have been seeing a cardio for a couple of years and had to recently change to a new one where I lived. Every EKG I have always said "possible left atrial enlargement" but the cardio has never mentioned it being an issue. My echo in 2013 stated that my left atrium was normal. I saw my recent report from my new cardio (in the office who told me that my EKG was normal) in his note said "her ekg was pretty much normal with questionable mild left atrium enlargement." He has never mentioned it to me and now I am worried about what this could mean. I had a stress echo in his office and that was normal as well. Just curious as to why it was mentioned in his report and not to me and that every EKG I have had since 2012 says left atrial enlargement. Should I be worried and what does Left Atrial Enlargement mean? I have attached an EKG from 2012, one from ER in April 2014 and the one from my cardio in July 2014.

[Jerry_NJ]

A leaky mitral valve caused left atrium enlargement in me, but not to a serious degree until I was in "senior" age years.   I underwent surgery to repair the valve to stop the growth.

The echo is the method use to determine my heart size.. and if slightly enlarged but stable there is no action indicated in my experience, it may simply be a case you heart is larger than "normal".  

This noted, an enlarged left atrium is can contribute to, lead to, atrial fibrillation.  I think it could be a good idea to have the size checked every couple of years to establish it the size is growning.  I'd also take a low dose aspirin to help mitigate blood clotting which could, but unlikely, result for even a short run of AFib.  

[Artaud]

Actually, I'm not sure where you attached them, since I can't read them anyway, it's not a problem.

Mild Left Atrium Enlargement.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_atrial_enlargement

The correct determination for Left Atrial Enlargement would be the Echo Cardiogram. I've been reading a page that describes your exact circumstances. The person that read the EKG was adament that Left Atrial Enlargement existed, and questioned the competence of the Echo Technician. After thorough investigation, it was revealed that the echo was indeed correct, no Left Atrial Enlargement existed.

Apparently a distortion in the P-Wave is the EKG way of interpreting Left Atrial Enlargement. From the article, it says: "It  underscores  poor sensitivity of ECG in the  diagnosis  of LAE ."

I'd rely on the echo tests. Ask your doctor the next time you're there, if not Mild Left Atrial Enlargement, what may be affecting the P-Wave.

Here's an interesting image that shows the parts of the EKG Tracing and where the P-Wave is located.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrocardiography#/image/File:EKG_Complex_en.svg