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Echo Results After PVC's
I am a 36 year old caucasion male, 6'2, and around 250. By most scales I am considered to be obese, but most people would just say I have a thick, football player build. About a month ago I was plagued with my first set of PVC's. After having my ECHO these were the results:
RVID: 2.25 cm
IVSD: 1.35 cm
LVIDd: 5.32 cm
LVIDs: 3.38 cm
LVPWD: 1.35 cm
AO Root: 3.75 cm
ACS: 2.18 cm
LA Diam: 4.35 cm
EPSS: 1.13 cm
AV Peak: 1.3 m/s
LVOT Vel: 96 m/sec
MV E Peak: 79 cm/sec
MV A Peak: 69 cm/sec
E/A Ratio: 1.14 ratio
MV PHT: 53 msec
MVA: 4.15 cm2
TV Peak: 88 cm/s
PV Peak: 116 cm/s
Ejection Fraction: 60-65%
Moderate LVH, trace tricuspid and mitral regurgitation, and trivial pericardial effusion.
My questions are as follows:
1) With the LVH and the atrial dilation, should this give me any reason to worry about future heart problems? Is it normal for my ranges to be a little larger due to my build? I had previously had problems with hypertension, but I have controlled normal blood pressure now.
2) On previous ECHO's I never had any type of regurgitation from either tricuspid or mitral valves... is this a reason to do future monitoring and something to be concerned about?
3) Should I be worried about the pericardial effusion? What exactly does it mean to be trivial? Is this something I should be monitoring?
4) Do you see any other values in the above ECHO that would warrant concern?
5) Finally... I am still being plagued with these PVC's. Is there anything structurally going on in my heart from the ECHO that would explain why these have started?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
1) With the LVH and the atrial dilation, should this give me any reason to worry about future heart problems? Is it normal for my ranges to be a little larger due to my build? I had previously had problems with hypertension, but I have controlled normal blood pressure now.
Your ventricle is thicker than normal. What you need to do is control the risk factors that could lead to further hypertrophy -- hypertension is the key. Make an effort to lose some weight and take mediations for hypertension if you have it. Someone your size is also at risk for sleep apnea. If people tell you that you snore, stop breathing in your sleep or are overly tired during the day, it might be worth talking to your doctor about sleep apnea -- this can cause high blood pressure and indirectly LVH.
2) On previous ECHO's I never had any type of regurgitation from either tricuspid or mitral valves... is this a reason to do future monitoring and something to be concerned about?
It does not sounds like significant regurgitation. Just about every echo that I read has at least trace regurgitation. Our machines are very sensitive. This is not a cause for alarm.
3) Should I be worried about the pericardial effusion? What exactly does it mean to be trivial? Is this something I should be monitoring?
Do not worry about this. Most people have trivial or minimal fluid around their heart. Trivial means that it is noticed but not significant. The scale is usually trivial -->mild-->moderate-->severe.
4) Do you see any other values in the above ECHO that would warrant concern?
Focus on reducing the risk factors for LVH. This is the only one that jumps out.
5) Finally... I am still being plagued with these PVC's. Is there anything structurally going on in my heart from the ECHO that would explain why these have started?
Probably not. Some people just have PVCs, rarely are they a medical concern. Your heart function is normal.
The atrial dilation is probably from increased pressure in your heart. LVH leads to a stiffer, less compliant heart. The decreased compliance increases the pressure inside your heart and that increased pressure can lead to dilation of the atrial chambers. Focus on reducing your risk factors for LVH -- hypertension, possibley sleep apnea.
I hope this helps. Thanks for posting.
Your ventricle is thicker than normal. What you need to do is control the risk factors that could lead to further hypertrophy -- hypertension is the key. Make an effort to lose some weight and take mediations for hypertension if you have it. Someone your size is also at risk for sleep apnea. If people tell you that you snore, stop breathing in your sleep or are overly tired during the day, it might be worth talking to your doctor about sleep apnea -- this can cause high blood pressure and indirectly LVH.
2) On previous ECHO's I never had any type of regurgitation from either tricuspid or mitral valves... is this a reason to do future monitoring and something to be concerned about?
It does not sounds like significant regurgitation. Just about every echo that I read has at least trace regurgitation. Our machines are very sensitive. This is not a cause for alarm.
3) Should I be worried about the pericardial effusion? What exactly does it mean to be trivial? Is this something I should be monitoring?
Do not worry about this. Most people have trivial or minimal fluid around their heart. Trivial means that it is noticed but not significant. The scale is usually trivial -->mild-->moderate-->severe.
4) Do you see any other values in the above ECHO that would warrant concern?
Focus on reducing the risk factors for LVH. This is the only one that jumps out.
5) Finally... I am still being plagued with these PVC's. Is there anything structurally going on in my heart from the ECHO that would explain why these have started?
Probably not. Some people just have PVCs, rarely are they a medical concern. Your heart function is normal.
The atrial dilation is probably from increased pressure in your heart. LVH leads to a stiffer, less compliant heart. The decreased compliance increases the pressure inside your heart and that increased pressure can lead to dilation of the atrial chambers. Focus on reducing your risk factors for LVH -- hypertension, possibley sleep apnea.
I hope this helps. Thanks for posting.
I also forgot to mention in the above question.. that I had left atrial dilation. Could you please address this as well?
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