Re: Echocardiogram Results

[Guest guest]

,

I'm glad to hear you are going to see a cardiologist to get his/her opinion of this reading of your echo. It's reassuring to see most if not all the issues labeled as "mild" or "trace". The one area of concern is the pressure and honestly even that is suspect without a right heart cath. Pressure readings from echo's are estimates at best. I believe Bruce had a similar reading on an echo recently and when they did the cath his actual pressure reading was I believe at least 20 points lower.

Please keep us posted about what the cardio says!

Beth

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

To: Breath Support <Breathe-Support >Sent: Friday, September 25, 2009 8:42:24 PMSubject: Echocardiogram Results

I received the results of my echo:

1. Left ventricular systolic function is preserved with estimated EF of 60%.2. There is diastolic dysfunction.3. There is mild left atrial enlargement with trace mitral regurgitation.4. There is a trace aortic insufficiency without aortic stenosis.5. There is mild tricuspid with regurgitation.6. There is mild-to-moderate elevation of pulmonary artery pressure as described above. (Pulmonary Artery Systolic Pressure (estimated): 45.0 mmHg)7. There is no intracardiac mass, thrombus or pericardial effusion.My pulmo doc said the diastolic dysfunction might be caused by my sleep apnea and should correct by using the CPAP. I've been using CPAP for about 3 months now. He is going to review my

recordings. He referred me to a cardiologist for a cardiac catheterization test.Anyone have else have echo results like this? Comments?

C_53_Familial IPF_5/09Washington

[Guest guest]

Beth

I had a reading of 47 on the echo. Now the echo is maximum systolic

while the right heart catheter reads average diastolic pressure. The

echo is just a preliminary diagnosis tool in that and many other areas.

My echo led to right heart catheter, VQ, and Cardiac MRI. Now, 47 would

be considered high with 55 a serious reading. My right heart catheter

showed 18 with the normal range up to 25. So, conclusion, no PH.

I am scheduled for echo's every six months now and if there are other

indications or if my echo rises above 50 or up to 55 or so, then the

right heart catheter will be repeated.

We hear people talk about heart catheters so much it scares us a bit,

but the right heart catheter to check for PH is a very easy in and out

procedure. It's done through the neck with little risk. Yes there is

some risk as with anything. The only pain is them pricking you with a

very tiny needle several times to deaden the area. You are fully awake

and I got to watch it on the same monitor the doctor was observing. You

don't feel the catheter itself, just see them moving it around inside

you. The cardiologist didn't even wait to complete the procedure before

telling me my pressure was 18 so I was ok. No waiting for results, at

least in my case.

phassociation.org is a great website for anyone with questions or

wanting to learn more. It also is a source to locate doctors expert in

PH. Most doctors are not. If an echo indicates a potential problem they

should recommend a catheter. If the catheter indicates a problem, them

immediately get to someone expert in that field. Caught early, the

treatments can be effective for many people.

>

> ,

> I'm glad to hear you are going to see a cardiologist to get his/her

opinion of this reading of your echo. It's reassuring to see most if not

all the issues labeled as " mild " or " trace " . The one area of concern is

the pressure and honestly even that is suspect without a right heart

cath. Pressure readings from echo's are estimates at best. I believe

Bruce had a similar reading on an echo recently and when they did the

cath his actual pressure reading was I believe at least 20 points lower.

>

> Please keep us posted about what the cardio says!

>

> Beth

> Moderator

> Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________

> From: worth hope2thend@...

> To: Breath Support Breathe-Support

> Sent: Friday, September 25, 2009 8:42:24 PM

> Subject: Echocardiogram Results

>

>

> I received the results of my echo:

>

> 1. Left ventricular systolic function is preserved with estimated EF

of 60%.

> 2. There is diastolic dysfunction.

> 3. There is mildleft atrial enlargement with trace mitral

regurgitation.

> 4. There is a traceaortic insufficiency without aortic stenosis.

> 5. There is mild tricuspid with regurgitation.

> 6. There is mild-to-moderateelevation of pulmonary artery pressure as

described above. (Pulmonary Artery Systolic Pressure

(estimated): 45.0 mmHg)

> 7. There is no intracardiac mass, thrombus or pericardial effusion.

>

> My pulmo doc said the diastolic dysfunction might be caused by my

sleep apnea and should correct by using the CPAP. I've been using CPAP

for about 3 months now. He is going to review my recordings. He

referred me to a cardiologist for a cardiac catheterization test.

>

> Anyone have else have echo results like this? Comments?

>

>

> C_53_Familial IPF_5/09

> Washington

>

[Guest guest]

I tend to leave these for the experts to interpret, too many technical terms for

me. However, I picked up a copy of the one that I had on the 16th so I could

take it to MUSC with me next month. It started off with " This is a technically

difficult and suboptimal study " . That sort of gave me a chuckle and left me

wondering what's the point? A little humor in my day...

Bob Dopher IPF 04/07

> >

> > Thanks Bruce for the insight and website! What do you think about the

> diastolic dysfunction? My pulmo doc thinks this is caused from sleep

> apnea and should be corrected with my CPAP use, but obviously hasn't.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Bob

Yes, the disclaimers....like saying " if anything is wrong on this report

it's not my fault but it's your body. "

Thats like radiologists and pathologists with statements like " may not

preclude " or " is not inconsistent with " . Or I have a doctor's report

that reads " although nothing to directly indicate, the combination of

factors may possibly be reflective of an undifferentiated xxx, that may

manifest itself in the future. "

> > >

> > > Thanks Bruce for the insight and website! What do you think about

the

> > diastolic dysfunction? My pulmo doc thinks this is caused from

sleep

> > apnea and should be corrected with my CPAP use, but obviously

hasn't.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

BJ...as I recall, I was told about 3-5 hrs. We will stay an extra night (night of testing) so it doesn't really matter. We'll go someplace and have a nice dinner.

MamaSher; 71, IPF 3-2006, OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!

Re: Echocardiogram R

[Guest guest]

Beverley & Sher,Just to give you an idea of how my appointment went at UWMC, not saying it will be the same for either of you, but I was there under 3 hours. I was first seen and evaluated by a Dr. Lacey and an intern. Then the Respiratory Therapist had me do a 6-min walk plus see how many flights of stairs I could do. I did two flights of stairs and my sats dropped to 80! Then he gave me O2 and let me rest and do another 6-min walk using O2. Then I was seen by Dr. Raghu, which probably lasted a little over one hour. I went to the lab for blood tests and left. Make sure you have your medical records forwarded to him before your appointment and take your HRCT. C_53_Familial IPF_5/09WashingtonTo: Breathe-Support Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2009 12:11:37 PMSubject: Re: Echocardiogram Results

BJ...as I recall, I was told about 3-5 hrs. We will stay an extra night (night of testing) so it doesn't really matter. We'll go someplace and have a nice dinner.

MamaSher; 71, IPF 3-2006, OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!

Re: Echocardiogram R