My MIL is scheduled for knee replacement. At my request my wife asked as part of her physical before surgery they evaluate her heart.

The anesthesiologist ordered an Echo Cardiogram. This is the report. We don't understand it. An understanding of it before visiting the anesthesiologist would help us. Thanks

She has very mild regurgitation through some valves (mitral, aortic) but it is not severe enough to warrant treatment at this time and her overall cardiac output is satisfactory (EF= Ejection Fraction = the % of the blood in the left ventricle that is pushed out with each contraction of the heart). There is some thickening of the wall of the left ventricle which indicates there has been some strain on the heart; the notes indicate she has hypertension so that may explain it (heart has to work harder to pump blood out).

She apparently has atrial fibrilliation - this is not an echocardiogram finding but rather something that would be have been seen on EKG and it is referenced in the notes.

My guess is that the echo was done because the anesthesiologist heard a murmur due to the leaking valves. To my reading the leakage (regurgitation) is not severe enough to be of concern, but I am no cardiologist.

The anesthesiologist will take her hypertension and AF into account in choice of anesthetic.

Should make sure the surgeon is aware of her AF it though asshould be factored into her post-operative care (especially important to be on anticoagulants). Should also get under the regular care of a cardiologist for her HF and hypertension, it is recommended that people with AF be on lifetime prophylaxis for blood clots.