Can you explain in simple terms whether my echocardiogram is normal, what findings would be abnormal, and what I should watch for?

Your Echocardiogram is Essentially Normal

Your echocardiogram shows a structurally and functionally normal heart with only trace valve leakage that requires no treatment or follow-up. 1

What Each Finding Means

Heart Pumping Function (Left Ventricle)

• Ejection fraction 55-60%: This measures how much blood your heart pumps with each beat. Normal is above 54% for men and 57% for women, so your heart is pumping normally. 2
• Normal size and function: Your main pumping chamber is neither enlarged nor thickened, ruling out conditions like heart failure or cardiomyopathy. 2

Heart Filling Function (Diastolic Function)

• No diastolic dysfunction: Your heart relaxes and fills with blood normally between beats. Abnormal findings would include restrictive filling patterns or elevated filling pressures. 3

Heart Chambers

• Normal left atrium (21 ml/m²): Your upper left chamber is normal-sized. Enlargement would suggest chronic valve problems, atrial fibrillation, or elevated heart pressures. 1
• Normal right atrium and right ventricle: The right side of your heart, which pumps blood to the lungs, is structurally and functionally normal. 2

Heart Valves

• Trace mitral and tricuspid regurgitation: These are trivial amounts of backward leakage through your heart valves—essentially normal findings on Doppler imaging that occur in healthy people. 4
• All four valves structurally normal: No stenosis (narrowing), no significant regurgitation (leakage), and no vegetations (infections). 2

Blood Vessels

• Aortic atherosclerosis: This indicates plaque buildup in your aorta (the main artery leaving your heart). While noted, the report does not describe it as severe or requiring immediate intervention. This is a marker of cardiovascular risk that should be managed with standard preventive measures. 2
• Normal pulmonary artery pressure: No evidence of pulmonary hypertension. 2

Other Structures

• No pericardial effusion: No fluid around the heart. 2
• No masses or clots: No tumors, thrombi, or vegetations detected. 2
• Normal inferior vena cava: The vein returning blood from your lower body is normal-sized and collapses appropriately with breathing, indicating normal right heart pressures. 2

What Would Be Abnormal

Critical Findings Requiring Immediate Referral

• Ejection fraction below 40%: Would indicate systolic heart failure. 1
• Severe valve disease: Mean aortic gradient >40 mmHg, aortic valve area <1.0 cm², or mitral regurgitation with vena contracta >7 mm. 1
• Regional wall motion abnormalities: Would suggest coronary artery disease or prior heart attack. 1
• Pericardial effusion with chamber collapse: Would indicate cardiac tamponade, a life-threatening emergency. 2
• Intracardiac masses or vegetations: Would require urgent evaluation for clots or endocarditis. 2

Moderate Abnormalities Requiring Cardiology Follow-Up

• Left ventricular hypertrophy: Wall thickness >15 mm would suggest hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or uncontrolled hypertension. 1
• Chamber enlargement: Left atrial volume index >34 ml/m² or left ventricular dilation would indicate chronic volume overload. 2
• Diastolic dysfunction: Restrictive filling pattern (E/A ratio >2 with short deceleration time) would signal advanced heart disease. 1
• Elevated pulmonary pressures: Would suggest pulmonary hypertension or left heart disease. 5

What to Watch For

Symptoms Requiring Immediate Medical Attention

• New or worsening shortness of breath, especially when lying flat or with minimal exertion—may indicate heart failure even if today's echo is normal. 1
• Chest pain or pressure with exertion—coronary artery disease can exist with a normal resting echocardiogram. 2
• Fainting, dizziness, or palpitations—may indicate arrhythmias or valve problems not apparent at rest. 1
• Sudden decline in exercise tolerance—a key trigger for intervention even when echo parameters are borderline. 1

Important Caveats

• A normal echocardiogram does not rule out coronary artery disease: Blockages in your arteries may not affect heart function at rest. If you have chest pain or cardiac risk factors, stress testing may be needed. 2
• The aortic atherosclerosis finding warrants cardiovascular risk management: Ensure your blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes (if present) are optimally controlled, and discuss aspirin therapy with your physician. 2

Follow-Up Recommendations

• No routine cardiology referral needed: Your trace valve regurgitation and normal chamber sizes do not require specialist follow-up. 4
• Repeat echocardiography only if symptoms develop: Mild valve findings without symptoms or chamber enlargement typically require repeat imaging only every 3–5 years. 1
• Continue primary care management: Focus on controlling cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking cessation, diabetes management) given the atherosclerosis finding. 2