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Question:
What do the comments on an echodoppler result mean?
I recently had a 2D ECHO/DOPPLER and have a couple of questions. 1) What does trivial MR and trivial AR mean? 2) EF 55-60% 3) LA at upper limits of normal at 4. 4) PAP could not be estimated? 5) What does it mean probably sensitive to catecholamines?
submitted by Patty from Houston, on 10/31/09
Answer:
by Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, Michael J. Mihalick, MD
Dear Patty: I'll try to answer your questions in order: 1) The ultrasound machine can detect mild backflow through the aortic and mitral valves. This technique records movement of red blood cells and is so sensitive that when it is trivial it may not represent an actual "leak". It was mentioned to indicate that the amount of "leaking" is within the range of normal.
2) The EF or Ejection Fraction is the percentage of its total volume that the heart ejects. Normal is 55-60%.
3) LA = Left atrium (4 cm.)
4) PAP = Pulmonary artery pressure (the artery from the heart to the lungs). The pressure can be calculated from the velocity of the small back flow leak many of us normally have through the tricuspid valve from the right ventricle. If the leak is absent or not strong enough to detect, the pressure cannot be estimated and can be either normal or abnormal.
5) I am not sure about this one. It could mean several things, but probably nothing serious. You need to ask the interpreting doctor.
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Updated November 2009
