Echo report

vivian said:

My mother has been feeling really exhausted and shortness of breath in the last few months and
recently was hospitalized dur to fluid in lungs. Her echo test indicates that:

IMPRESSION:

There is mild degenerative valvular disease. There is hemodynamically mild aortic, mitral and
tricuspid insufficiency. There is normal left ventricular function. Antibiotic prophylaxis against
endocarditis is indicated.

Could someone please explain to me in simpler language what all these means? Is her condition
serious? Is this a congestive heart failure? My mom is 83 and she has been on blood thinner for a
year and has high BP problem. She has difficulty breathing from time to time and is always tired.
Her family doctor seems to think nothing can be done at this time to improve her condition and that
its a matter of time. Naturally we are very worried. I would appreciate any advice that could help
her to breathe easier. I suggested to give her oxygen through the

You did not mention diuretics. I always thought that they were given when there was fluid on the
lungs but perhaps there is a contraindication because of her BP and her age. Perhaps the valves are
not bad enough for replacement to be considered and it would be traumatic surgery at her age. I had
three damaged valves but the mitral has been replaced and I am a lot younger than your Mum. I should
have thought there was something to give her to help her breathing. It is so distressing and I hope
that something can be done. Diana

Quoted message said:

nose but her doctor does not think its a good idea.

vivian said:

My mother has been feeling really exhausted and shortness of breath in the last few months and
recently was hospitalized dur to fluid in lungs. Her echo test indicates that:

IMPRESSION:

There is mild degenerative valvular disease. There is hemodynamically mild aortic, mitral and
tricuspid insufficiency. There is normal left ventricular function. Antibiotic prophylaxis against
endocarditis is indicated.

Could someone please explain to me in simpler language what all these means?

The echo report describes only mild abnormalities.

Quoted message said:

Is her condition serious?

Clinically, yes. Based on the echo impressions, no.

Quoted message said:

Is this a congestive heart failure?

Clinically what you describe sounds like congestive heart failure. Because the echo report reports
normal left ventricular function (presumably systolic), the problem is likely diastolic dysfunction.

Quoted message said:

My mom is 83 and she has been on blood thinner for a year and has high BP problem. She has
difficulty breathing from time to time and is always tired. Her family doctor seems to think
nothing can be done at this time to improve her condition and that its a matter of time. Naturally
we are very worried. I would appreciate any advice that could help her to breathe easier. I
suggested to give her oxygen through the nose but her doctor does not think its a good idea.

I suggest a second opinion from a cardiologist.

Humbly,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

Dr. Chung:

Thank you very much for your response. I was quite distressed when I last posted and I had
quoted my mother's test from Dec last year. The latest echo test was dated Oct 29 and the
impression as follows:

*Normal LV size and function. LA measures normal in size, but visually appears enlarged. Mild
degenerative valvular changes.*

From my own interpretation of the test results I also got the impression (hoping) that it wasnt
really serious and the fact that she was discharged with no further warning from hospital doctor
gave us hope that as long as her BP was under control she should be fine.

We were shocked and upset that her family doctor was so pessimistic in the subsequent visit and
hinted that my mother's days are numbered. The doctor never said anything in this concern and
suddenly it came to this. She never referred my mother to a specialist until now, though my mom has
been seeing her regularly for almost 10 years.

Sorry for the rant but we don't know what else to do other than waiting to see the specialist end of
month. My mother still has shortness of breath but her blood pressure seems fine. The family doctor
did not like the idea of giving my mom oxygen through the nose thinking that she might depend on it
too much. Thanks again for your help and time.

Dr. Andrew B. Chung said:

vivian said:

My mother has been feeling really exhausted and shortness of breath in the last few months and
recently was hospitalized dur to fluid in lungs. Her echo test indicates that:

IMPRESSION:

There is mild degenerative valvular disease. There is hemodynamically mild aortic, mitral and
tricuspid insufficiency. There is normal left ventricular function. Antibiotic prophylaxis
against endocarditis is indicated.

Could someone please explain to me in simpler language what all these means?

The echo report describes only mild abnormalities.

Quoted message said:

Is her condition serious?

Clinically, yes. Based on the echo impressions, no.

Quoted message said:

Is this a congestive heart failure?

Clinically what you describe sounds like congestive heart failure. Because the echo report reports
normal left ventricular function (presumably systolic), the problem is likely diastolic
dysfunction.

Quoted message said:

My mom is 83 and she has been on blood thinner for a year and has high BP problem. She has
difficulty breathing from time to time and is always tired. Her family doctor seems to think
nothing can be done at this time to improve her condition and that its a matter of time.
Naturally we are very worried. I would appreciate any advice that could help her to breathe
easier. I suggested to give her oxygen through the nose but her doctor does not think its a
good idea.

I suggest a second opinion from a cardiologist.

Humbly,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD Board-Certified Cardiologist heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

Hi : My mother was not given anything in hospital other than preparing her for a test. She bascially
drained the fluid on her own. She is older so I think a surgery to repair her valves might be
riskier. We are now hoping to get oxygen supply for her and hope it would help her. Good to hear you
are doing great after the repair surgery. Have you been suffering long before surgery I would like
to hear your experience.

Rgds, V

Quoted message said:

vivian said:

My mother has been feeling really exhausted and shortness of breath in the last few months and
recently was hospitalized dur to fluid in lungs. Her echo test indicates that:

IMPRESSION:

There is mild degenerative valvular disease. There is hemodynamically mild aortic, mitral and
tricuspid insufficiency. There is normal left ventricular function. Antibiotic prophylaxis
against endocarditis is indicated.

Could someone please explain to me in simpler language what all these means? Is her condition
serious? Is this a congestive heart failure? My mom is 83 and she has been on blood thinner for a
year and has high BP problem. She has difficulty breathing from time to time and is always tired.
Her family doctor seems to think nothing can be done at this time to improve her condition and
that its a matter of time. Naturally we are very worried. I would appreciate any advice that
could help her to breathe easier. I suggested to give her oxygen through the

You did not mention diuretics. I always thought that they were given when there was fluid on the
lungs but perhaps there is a contraindication because of her BP and her age. Perhaps the valves
are not bad enough for replacement to be considered and it would be traumatic surgery at her age.
I had three damaged valves but the mitral has been replaced and I am a lot younger than your Mum.
I should have thought there was something to give her to help her breathing. It is so distressing
and I hope that something can be done. Diana

Quoted message said:

nose but her doctor does not think its a good idea.

vivian <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Dr. Chung:

Thank you very much for your response. I was quite distressed when I last posted and I had quoted
my mother's test from Dec last year. The latest echo test was dated Oct 29 and the impression as
follows:

*Normal LV size and function. LA measures normal in size, but visually appears enlarged. Mild
degenerative valvular changes.*

From my own interpretation of the test results I also got the impression (hoping) that it wasnt
really serious and the fact that she was discharged with no further warning from hospital doctor
gave us hope that as long as her BP was under control she should be fine.

We were shocked and upset that her family doctor was so pessimistic in the subsequent visit and
hinted that my mother's days are numbered. The doctor never said anything in this concern and
suddenly it came to this. She never referred my mother to a specialist until now, though my mom
has been seeing her regularly for almost 10 years.

Sorry for the rant but we don't know what else to do other than waiting to see the specialist end
of month. My mother still has shortness of breath but her blood pressure seems fine. The family
doctor did not like the idea of giving my mom oxygen through the nose thinking that she might
depend on it too much. Thanks again for your help and time.

You are very welcome.

Glad to hear that the referral has been made for your mom to see a cardiologist.

Things should work out fine. I am not sure why her family doctor was so pessimistic.

Humbly,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

Have you

Quoted message said:

been suffering long before surgery I would like to hear your experience.

Rgds, V

I have tried to send you an email but there is something wrong. Will try again tomorrow. My story
too long for group (and they have heard much of it before). Diana