If you have a heart murmur can an ECG help diagnose the possible problem?

[COYW]

Hi all. My daughter is the issue above. Can anyone advise? Thanks! 😀

[Celtic]

It would usually be an echocardiogram rather than an ECG. One of the possible results could be a leaky heart valve. Good luck wishes for your daughter.

[COYW in reply to Celtic]

Thanks 🙏🏻

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

The ECG would indicate a murmur but little else. A competent cardiologist can do a lot with a stethoscope; loudness, position (listening back, front, side) and type of sound. X-ray would show a structural problem like enlargement of the heart. An echocardiogram gives a good overall view of how the heart and valves are working. There are more invasive tests like catheterisation where a dye would be injected to observe the the blood flow around the affected valve(s).

[COYW in reply to MichaelJH]

Thanks Michael 🙏🏻

[Hidden in reply to COYW]

I had a heart murmur and as already stated, an ECG provides no information relating to the cause and an echocardiogram is needed. However, speaking from experience the latter depends very much on the knowledge and experience of the person carrying out the procedure which is very complex and relies on accurate interpretation. This uses ultrasound which by definition will not produce clearly defined images, and experienced cardiologists that have published research papers on this topic refer to it as a subjective test.

I was diagnosed with aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve opening) and cardiac surgeons have to rely on these tests in deciding when to operate. There is also a similar procedure where the transponder (a smaller version) is inserted into the esophagus (known as a TOE -trans esophageal echocardiogram) which is more accurate being closer to the heart.

I mention all this as I saw evidence of inconsistencies in the specific measurements (I has four 'echos' over three years, the last being a TOE). Heart valve stenosis is graded as either mild, moderate or severe and surgery is usually recommended only when the latter stage is reached. In my case these actually improved according to the TOE which is impossible as stenosis is a degenerative condition caused by calcification of the valve 'leaflets'. This had to mean either the previous echo figures from a year ago were incorrect, or the latest from the TOE and this is where the 'subjective' element comes in to the procedure.

A decision was made for my valve to be replaced even though the stenosis was graded as 'moderate'. So needless to say, I have mixed feelings about this method of diagnosis.