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What Does My ECG Report Indicate?
Question: I found out this morning that a portion of my heart wall (lower part of heart) showed akinetic during an echocardiogram. What does this mean for me and is this reversible?
Brief Answer:
Probable ischemia to the heart
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern. Thank you for your question.
Akinezia is used to describe a portion of the heart muscle (heart wall) that has been substrate to acute or chronic ischemia, and the most common cause of it is myocardial infarction (sudden total blockage of a coronary artery, in this case probably of the right coronary artery, since the akinezia is of the inferior wall, that causes infarction of the area). Now, a simple echo cardiogram cannot describe to when this episode has happened, although it shows, with highest probability, this pathology of the heart wall. Up to 20% of inferior myocardial infarctions are not "captured" by the person suffering it, because they tend to appear with atypical symptoms and signs: such as shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, heavy sweats (mostly cold). I would recommend you to carry out these tests:
- EKG - to see the heart's electrical system, if it shows signs of necrosis
- troponin I and CK-MB - which are enzymes that show cardiac cell destruction and may be found up to 7 days after the episode of myocardial infarction has happened
- a coronary angiogram - to quantitavely assess the blockage/s within the coronary arteries and, if possible, to treat it/them with stent implantation.
I hope my answer is thorough and helpful. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions.
Best regards,
Dr. Meriton
Probable ischemia to the heart
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern. Thank you for your question.
Akinezia is used to describe a portion of the heart muscle (heart wall) that has been substrate to acute or chronic ischemia, and the most common cause of it is myocardial infarction (sudden total blockage of a coronary artery, in this case probably of the right coronary artery, since the akinezia is of the inferior wall, that causes infarction of the area). Now, a simple echo cardiogram cannot describe to when this episode has happened, although it shows, with highest probability, this pathology of the heart wall. Up to 20% of inferior myocardial infarctions are not "captured" by the person suffering it, because they tend to appear with atypical symptoms and signs: such as shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, heavy sweats (mostly cold). I would recommend you to carry out these tests:
- EKG - to see the heart's electrical system, if it shows signs of necrosis
- troponin I and CK-MB - which are enzymes that show cardiac cell destruction and may be found up to 7 days after the episode of myocardial infarction has happened
- a coronary angiogram - to quantitavely assess the blockage/s within the coronary arteries and, if possible, to treat it/them with stent implantation.
I hope my answer is thorough and helpful. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions.
Best regards,
Dr. Meriton
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Naveen Kumar
Thank you Dr. Siqeca,
I only got this information this morning and so I cannot fully recall the exact place of the Akinezia (I do know lower heart). She has referred me to a cardiologist and so I am sure an EKG and other tests will happen. But in general, can this be reversed? If there is damage can surgery repair and can a person live a full and normal life with the right interventions? Thank you.
I only got this information this morning and so I cannot fully recall the exact place of the Akinezia (I do know lower heart). She has referred me to a cardiologist and so I am sure an EKG and other tests will happen. But in general, can this be reversed? If there is damage can surgery repair and can a person live a full and normal life with the right interventions? Thank you.
Brief Answer:
It may not be reversible, but a normal life can be lived
Detailed Answer:
Hi again.
If the infarction has happened, there is a little chance that this can be reversible. But, if only one artery has caused this, during angiogram, angioplasty with stent implantation may be carried out and have the artery opened. There is a good chance that, in this "dead" area of the heart, there are groups of cells that have survive, and will benifit from this intervention. Up until now, there is no need for any open surgery intervention. However, with proper medication, a totally normal life can be continued
I hope my follow-up is helpful.
Kind regards,
Dr. Meriton
It may not be reversible, but a normal life can be lived
Detailed Answer:
Hi again.
If the infarction has happened, there is a little chance that this can be reversible. But, if only one artery has caused this, during angiogram, angioplasty with stent implantation may be carried out and have the artery opened. There is a good chance that, in this "dead" area of the heart, there are groups of cells that have survive, and will benifit from this intervention. Up until now, there is no need for any open surgery intervention. However, with proper medication, a totally normal life can be continued
I hope my follow-up is helpful.
Kind regards,
Dr. Meriton
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
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