Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Do These Echocardiography Results Indicate?
Question: Hi Dr XXXX,
my 15 y old son has had ECHO done last week I did not expect the clinic to call us back but they did. SO now we will see cardiologist next week. He is healthy boy, doing waterpolo. Recently he shared he had some chest discomfort while in school and we took him to our family dr who did not suspect anything but still sent us to do ECho. What would be common teen echo results?I worry..Thanks.
my 15 y old son has had ECHO done last week I did not expect the clinic to call us back but they did. SO now we will see cardiologist next week. He is healthy boy, doing waterpolo. Recently he shared he had some chest discomfort while in school and we took him to our family dr who did not suspect anything but still sent us to do ECho. What would be common teen echo results?I worry..Thanks.
Brief Answer:
Abnormal echocardiography results is discussed below
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. Echocardiography is an investigation in which the heart is examined for structural and functional problems with the help of ultrasound waves.
2. While most teenagers have a normal echocardiography, it is important to know that several abnormal heart conditions can be diagnosed in teenagers.
3. The common abnormal conditions which are diagnosed in teenagers includes the following
(i) Small holes in the heart which cause abnormal passage of blood from the left to right sided chambers in the heart and this is a congenital condition. Though large holes are diagnosed in infancy and childhood, smaller ones can go undiagnosed till adolescent age.
(ii) Valvular defects are then next common problems diagnosed. There are four valves in the heart and the most important valve is the one connecting the left upper and lower chambers and is named mitral valve. There can be many problems with the mitral valve like narrowing of the valve which limits the flow of blood or a prolapse of the valve which causes return of the blood. This leads to decreased cardiac output and therefore ejection fraction is less.
(iii) Heart rhythm disorders can also be diagnosed from an echocardiography and this causes irregular heart beats which leads to deficiency in cardiac functioning.
(iv) Echocardiography can also help study any problems with the walls of the heart chambers. These are grouped under myopathy which is a condition involving heart muscle abnormality.
(v) There can be heart conditions involving abnormal connections of the vessels entering and leaving the heart. This is usually detected in childhood.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Abnormal echocardiography results is discussed below
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. Echocardiography is an investigation in which the heart is examined for structural and functional problems with the help of ultrasound waves.
2. While most teenagers have a normal echocardiography, it is important to know that several abnormal heart conditions can be diagnosed in teenagers.
3. The common abnormal conditions which are diagnosed in teenagers includes the following
(i) Small holes in the heart which cause abnormal passage of blood from the left to right sided chambers in the heart and this is a congenital condition. Though large holes are diagnosed in infancy and childhood, smaller ones can go undiagnosed till adolescent age.
(ii) Valvular defects are then next common problems diagnosed. There are four valves in the heart and the most important valve is the one connecting the left upper and lower chambers and is named mitral valve. There can be many problems with the mitral valve like narrowing of the valve which limits the flow of blood or a prolapse of the valve which causes return of the blood. This leads to decreased cardiac output and therefore ejection fraction is less.
(iii) Heart rhythm disorders can also be diagnosed from an echocardiography and this causes irregular heart beats which leads to deficiency in cardiac functioning.
(iv) Echocardiography can also help study any problems with the walls of the heart chambers. These are grouped under myopathy which is a condition involving heart muscle abnormality.
(v) There can be heart conditions involving abnormal connections of the vessels entering and leaving the heart. This is usually detected in childhood.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
