AboutDavid Richardson Expertise Adult heart function and disease. Not very good about children lesss than 12. Hypertension is o.k. Heart rhythm a special interest.
Experience Certified in cardiology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Was chairman of division of cardiology at the Medical College of Virginia. Am now mostly retired.
Organizations Fellow of American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology and member of American Physiological Society..
Publications Circulation, American Heart Journal, Hypertension.
Education/Credentials M.D. from Harvard Medical School. Residency training at Yale Uhniversity School of Medicine and Medical College of Virginia.
Awards and Honors Gold Heartt Award from American Heart Association in 1995.
Question I've asked you questions before on this forum and have always appreciated your opinions and expertise.
I had been having some chest and back pain so my new doc had me do an echo today.
My aortic root measured at 3.8
I have had echos from my cardiologist every year due to a bicuspid aorta so we looked at past measurements of the aortic root to compare.
In Nov 08 - it was 3.2
In April 08 - it was 3.3
In April 07 - it was 3.2
In April 06 it was 3.6
The 3.8 is listed as borderline. My current doc is concerned by not overly so, due to the 3.6 measurement in 2006. A cardiologist has yet to review the current results so he said there may be a bit of "wiggle room" with the 3.8 measurement.
I am really freaked out by this result. Why would the root grow so quickly? Could the measurements be off? Should I get a second echo just to validate this measurement?
I have been watching my bp closely for the past few years and work out regularly. Things seemed to be going well, so I'm very surprised and upset to have this result.
Thanks for any advice you could give.
Answer Dear Mark,
My textbook says upper limit of normal aorta is 3.7 cm, so yours is borderline.
Once aortas start to dilate, they may proceed rather rapidly.
Yes, of course the measurements may be off.
Ask about transesophageal echo to get another view of the aorta.
I understand your upset and am very sorry you're having to face this.
Please write back if this note doesn't answer all your questions.
