This echocardiogram shows that the interventricular septum and inferoposterior wall of the left ventricle are symmetrically hypertrophied, each measuring 15 mm in thickness. Normal is 11 mm or less. The aorta, left atrium, left and right ventricular cavities and mitral and aortic leaflets are also seen. In the real-time study that follows, note that the hypertrophied interventricular septum and posterior left ventricular wall further increase their thickness appropriately during systole.
LV hypertrophy -short axis
This is a diastolic still-frame of a 2-dimensional parasternal short axis view of the left ventricle at the level of the papillary muscles. The left ventricle is hypertrophied. In the real-time study that follows, note that both ventricles contract normally.
In the real-time study that follows, note the increase in thickness of the two aortic leaflets, their eccentric motion in systole and their linear position in diastole.
↓ compliance - Doppler
This is a still frame of a continuous wave doppler study from the apex showing the mitral valve inflow velocity profile in our patient.
Normally, the early diastolic, or passive filling "e" wave, exceeds the atrial filling, or "a" wave. In our patient, there is an enhanced late diastolic or presystolic atrial "a" wave. It reflects decreased left ventricular compliance due to ventricular hypertrophy, this represents diastolic dysfunction. This enhanced "a" wave can sometimes correlate with the bedside findings of a palpable presystolic impulse and/or an audible fourth hear sound.
The real-time study follows.