In review, last week I traveled to Ft Worth for a nuclear stress test on my heart. The results were available this past Saturday. The salient part of the reported result is quoted below:
“Procedures Date Name Performed by 10/16/2024 Tte W/doppler Complete
Notes: Studycast study 52688127 conclusions (added Sat, 19 Oct 2024 11:26:29 -0400) Normal LV systolic function with EF 53%. Left ventricle cavity is normal in size. No significant wall motion abnormalities in the areas visualized. Left atrial cavity is normal in size. No significant wall motion abnormalities in the areas visualized. Left atrial cavity is moderately dilated at 4.9 cm. RVSP measures 21 mmHg. Impaired left ventricular relaxation”
So what does all this gibberish mean? I copied the above text to Google’s NotebookLLM where I received the following plain English summary:
The patient’s cardiovascular health status presents a mixed picture with both positive and concerning aspects.
Positive Findings:
●The patient’s left ventricle (LV) exhibits normal systolic function with an ejection fraction (EF) of 53%, indicating the heart effectively pumps blood out to the body.
●The left ventricle is also normal in size, and no significant wall motion abnormalities are observed in the visualized areas.
●The right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) is measured at 21 mmHg, which falls within the normal range.
Concerning Findings:
●Despite normal LV function, the patient exhibits impaired left ventricular relaxation. This suggests a problem with the heart’s ability to fill with blood properly during the relaxation phase (diastole).
●The left atrium is moderately dilated at 4.9 cm. This enlargement may result from impaired relaxation of the left ventricle, as blood backs up into the left atrium.
Overall:
The patient’s cardiovascular health status is not entirely healthy. While his heart is pumping efficiently, the impaired relaxation and dilated left atrium raise concerns. These findings could be indicative of conditions such as diastolic heart failure or other cardiac abnormalities. Further investigation and monitoring are likely necessary to determine the underlying cause and appropriate management for this patient’s cardiovascular health.
It will be interesting to hear what the cardiologist has to say about all of this during our teleconference later this week which I will share. Keep in mind I am an 85-year-old veteran on 100% disability who was exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam, have had a triple bypass and am currently on PD. In this regard, I bet that we will get a “Let’s keep an eye on it.”
Leave a Reply