D.I.V.C ?

[Frances123]

Afternoon chaps and chapesses. On an echo report it says... Right atrial size is normal. Left atrial size is normal. Dilated inferior vena cava. What does Dilated inferior vena cava mean anyone please. This is on an old echo.

Also after 14 years of acid reflux which started due to aspirin in my early afib journey I have now been diagnosed with Hiatus Hernia. I know I didn’t have it 3 years ago. Does anyone know if these are more prevalent in those with AFib? It’s just a random thought that entered my mind.

Stay warm, safe and dry people. xxx

[BobD Volunteer]

The superior adn inferior vena cava are the veinous equivalent to the aorta. In the words teh large veins which carry non oxegenated blood on the right side of the heart. Dilated obviously means in the case enlarged.

Can't see why a physical condition such as HH can be caused by AF but no doubt the reverse is possible via vagus nerve.

[Frances123 in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob. I was comparing first echo (2007) with latest just to see any changes. Vena cava on first one but not mentioned on last 2 I had for ablation. Only ever had 3 and 13 years apart. Can it repair and what does it actually mean/do to have a dilated one? Thanks. X

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Frances123]

Sorry you got me there. Never heard of it and never seen mention on any of my echos.

[Frances123 in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob. I’m just being nosy and like a challenge 🤣

[seasider18 in reply to BobD]

Very true for me in relation to the vegas nerve that I blame for nearly everything

One doctor many years ago told me that I could have it cut. I looked it up and the consequences would be terrible.

[KMRobbo]

After a discussion with my GP a couple of years ago i understand that you have to be careful with reading too much into echoes . One of mine said mild LVH (left ventricle hypertrophy) and trivial mitral valve leakage . Scared the sh*t out of me at the time as i had just had an ablation for flutter and was trying to get over the 3 weeks of flutter and get back to exercise. . In a nutshell my GP advised that an echo is an opinion as it is not an excact measurement and its result based on the operators assesment versus an average he/she expect to see. As you know we are all different so If it's "mild" it can be just slightly over average or borderline and is noted so it can be checked at the next echo to see if it is getting worse. As an example my GP showed me my previous echo where I was noted as a mildly dilated left atria which was not noted on the later one so had either fixed itself or the second echo operator disagreed with the first. It could be the same with your vena cava. Similary i was advised that at 58 she would have been surprised if there was not "trivial" mitral valve leakage. However if I later suffered some symptoms heart related , then it is recorded so if i the symptoms look like they could be valve related then there is something to check if it has indeed got worse. I went away satisfied and carried on with life including the exercise with no issues .

I am not medically trained and in this instance it clearly showed by reading too much into the echo notes! Best wishes.

[Frances123 in reply to KMRobbo]

Thanks KMRobbo. Oh I know what you mean about reading too much into reports but I was being nosy. Knowing how things can change and as my echos have been 13 years apart I wondered if there was any change. I assumed there might be, through age if nothing else. I’m not worried and as I say just nosy. I know I am in good hands anyway. I learnt recently how different technicians and hospitals opinions can differ but I hadn’t heard of vena cava or it’s function and was curious.

Take care.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to KMRobbo]

I applaud you post as it is basically what Dr Gupta posted in one of his videos. Echocardiogram is highly subjective and operator dependent.