“34 M/ Just received my Echocardiogram results, very worried”
So I have a couple of uncles who've had heart issues at a relatively young age and I also suffer from extreme health anxiety. So I went and had an Electrocardiogram done just to make sure everything is ok and below are my results, I've highlighted the areas I'm concerned about. The doctor hasn't called me about these they posted them on the web portal, I'm still waiting on a call back. But in the mean time I'm freaking out over these results, I usually work out especially cardio 5 days a week and try to watch what I eat. I'm in pretty decent shape I'm 5'11 185lbs. Should I be super concerned about these? Also can being extremely stressed/anxious when I took the test or taking my prescription Vyvanse earlier in the day effect the results?
Interpretation Summary:
Normal left ventricular size, wall thickness, wall motion, with low
normal
systolic function and ejection fraction of 50-55%. The average global
longitudinal strain is-14.8%, also indicative of mildly reduced function.
Normal right ventricular size and function.
Borderline dilated aortic root measuring 3.6 cm in diameter.
No significant valvular abnormalities seen.
Narrative
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Echo Findings
Aortic Valve:
The aortic valve is trileaflet.
Aortic valve is mildly thickened.
Borderline aortic root dilatation.
Aortic root measures 3.6 cm in diameter.
No aortic stenosis.
There is no aortic regurgitation.
Mitral Valve:
The mitral valve is normal in structure and function.
There is trace mitral regurgitation.
Tricuspid Valve:
The tricuspid valve morphology and motion is normal.
There is trace tricuspid regurgitation.
Pulmonic Valve:
The pulmonic valve is not well visualized.
Right Ventricle:
The right ventricle is normal in size and function.
Pulmonary artery pressure could not be evaluated due to inadequacy of
tricuspid regurgitation jet.
Right Atrium:
The right atrium is normal in size.
Left Atrium:
The left atrium is normal in size.
Left Ventricle:
The left ventricle is normal in size.
There is normal left ventricular wall thickness.
The left ventricular systolic function is low normal.
Ejection Fraction = 50 - 55%
The average global longitudinal strain is-14.8%, also indicative of
mildly
decreased left ventricular function.
The left ventricular wall motion is normal.
Pericardium:
The pericardium appears normal.
Diastology:
LA Volume Index = 22.18cc/m2.
E / E' = 6.03
Interpretation Summary:
Normal left ventricular size, wall thickness, wall motion, with low
normal
systolic function and ejection fraction of 50-55%. The average global
longitudinal strain is-14.8%, also indicative of mildly reduced function.
Normal right ventricular size and function.
Borderline dilated aortic root measuring 3.6 cm in diameter.
No significant valvular abnormalities seen.
Narrative
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Echo Findings
Aortic Valve:
The aortic valve is trileaflet.
Aortic valve is mildly thickened.
Borderline aortic root dilatation.
Aortic root measures 3.6 cm in diameter.
No aortic stenosis.
There is no aortic regurgitation.
Mitral Valve:
The mitral valve is normal in structure and function.
There is trace mitral regurgitation.
Tricuspid Valve:
The tricuspid valve morphology and motion is normal.
There is trace tricuspid regurgitation.
Pulmonic Valve:
The pulmonic valve is not well visualized.
Right Ventricle:
The right ventricle is normal in size and function.
Pulmonary artery pressure could not be evaluated due to inadequacy of
tricuspid regurgitation jet.
Right Atrium:
The right atrium is normal in size.
Left Atrium:
The left atrium is normal in size.
Left Ventricle:
The left ventricle is normal in size.
There is normal left ventricular wall thickness.
The left ventricular systolic function is low normal.
Ejection Fraction = 50 - 55%
The average global longitudinal strain is-14.8%, also indicative of
mildly
decreased left ventricular function.
The left ventricular wall motion is normal.
Pericardium:
The pericardium appears normal.
Diastology:
LA Volume Index = 22.18cc/m2.
E / E' = 6.03
Male | 34 years old
1 Answer
That is a normal echocardiogram for a relatively young, healthy patient. I did extra training in echocardiogram and got board certified. Few cardiologist do that. Low normal EF 50-55% is still normal. We see this all the time in 20 yr olds. The heart is strong so it doesnt need to increased systolic squeeze to maintain cardiac output. All of your chambers are normal sized and all the valves are normal. I read 200 echos a month and you learn to read between the lines. I can tell by everything else being normal, they undercalled the EF. Its very subjective and if 10 cardiologist read your study there is a 5-10% difference in reporting. That has been proven and documented in cardiac literature. Yours is a normal study . Same thing with aortic root diameter. 2 d echo is very user dependent. If the calipers arent just right and the images were obtained correctly, its not uncommon to have standard deviations between interpretation of 3-5mm. That makes a size of a pinhead or thickness of a quarter. Its not a very accurate measure of the root or ascending aorta. We arent concerned about something like aneurysm until diameter is > 4-4.5 and surgery until its 5 or greater. They can recheck echo in a year. If its normal again then its usually nothing. If you are still concerned , have them order a CT scan with aortic angiography. That study (or MRA) is more accurate . For echocardiogram, a trans esophageal echo is good standard. We sedate you and put probe down throat. This has far superior spatial resolution then trans thoracic echo ( much less tissue artifact). Mostly RELAX
