The Echocardiogram (Introduction << Previous Page)   7/31/2008

The echocardiogram was performed at a local heart center. It looked like a sophisticated version of the ultrasound that was performed on expectant mothers - but with doppler imaging so parameters such as blood flow aspects can be determined.

I was able to watch the echo during the whole procedure. The inside of the heart, the valve movement, etc, was all clearly visible. Not knowing what to look for, I would have no idea whether there was anything wrong. The procedure was performed by an echo technician - who was apparently not allowed to answer questions that could an any way be construed as a diagnosis. It was pretty facinating overall to be able to have such a detailed real-time view of the heart pumping.

After the procedure, I was sent to a waiting room, while the Cardiologist interpreted the echo. I was not concerned about what the the doctor had to say, because although I was experiencing symptoms, I was never really sure whether they were related to my heart.

Finally, the Cardiologist walked into the room. After the initial greetings, he asked me why I came in in the first place. This seemed to be a positive question - as if he didn't know why I should be there. I simply told him that I went in for a routine Dr. Appt with my primary care physician and he said I had a heart murmur, which should be investgated further. Finally the Cardiologist said "You definately have some things going on here". My 'heart' sank. Part of me was shocked and scared - to have a Cardiologist (a title in itself that instills fear) say that I definately had some things going on with my heart. The other part was not suprised and even validated in that I could always sense something wasn't quite right.

He went on to ask me if I was experiencing symptoms, such as shortness of breath at rest, swelling of the ankles, etc. I told him I wasn't sure. I was never really sure if the tiredness or fatique I was experiencing was a symptom or normal. The only definative symptom I could identify was the ocassional heart palpatations.

He said that regardless of whether I was experiencing symptoms or not, there were three main aspects of my heart function that needed to be discussed. The three aspects, along with their diagnosis were:

• Mitral Valve Prolapse (moderate to severe)
• Mitral Valve Regurgitation (moderate to severe)
• Left Ventrical Dialation (4.6 cm)

Here is an animation clip of the acutal echocardiogram, showing the prolapsing valve. The animation is paused at the prolapse so that it can be clearly seen.

Click here for a larger, slow motion version

The image below captures the frame where the prolapse can most clearly be seen. There is a line superimposed over the approximate point where (according to the Cardiologists) the valve should be stopping during a normal closure if it wasn't prolapsing. In other words, the two leaflets shouldn't go to the right of the line:

As if the first statement by the Cardiologist wasn't enough, when I asked him what needed to be done, he said that surgery is the only option. Wow. I said "what kind of surgery?". He said "Open heart is the only way to resolve this problem - you will need surgery in no less than 10 years". This was quite a shock. I went from feeling very healthy for the most part, to apparently needing open-heart surgery.

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