Let's see, dilation is a dangerous pathology?

Dilatation is, as the medical encyclopedia says, a term derived from the Latin word dilatatio, which means "expansion". So in modern medicine, a steady increase in the lumen in the cavity of any organ, leading to an increase in its volume.

Today we will talk about cases of dilatation of the left ventricle of the heart and the lateral ventricles of the brain. We will find out whether these changes are dangerous, and how to deal with them.

Dilatation is a consequence of the accumulation of large amounts of blood

The left ventricle of the heart is the chamber that is responsible for the pumping of blood in our body. It is this part of the heart muscle that performs the functions of the pump: then decreasing, then increasing in volume, it lets the blood from the left atrium and delivers it to the largest artery - the aorta, then spread to all organs of the human body.

In the case where the aorta or its valve is narrowed for some reason, a large amount of blood accumulates in the left ventricle, leading to its overload and causing stretching-dilatation.

This situation can occur with some heart defects, when too much blood is being taken into the left ventricle.

Causes of dilation

Sometimes dilatation of the left ventricle is caused by the transferred inflammation of the heart - viral myocarditis. Often the cause of enlarged lumen is ischemic heart disease or hypertension.

Expansion of the ventricle can appear in the patient in the post-infarction period, being caused first by stretching the area of the infarction (due to the divergence of muscle fibers), and then the neighboring sites. The reason for this is the weakening of the wall of the left ventricle and the loss of its elasticity, which provokes excessive stretching.

How is dilation determined?

Minor dilation is usually an asymptomatic pathology. Patients in this case do not make complaints, which could make suspect the presence of an extension. But if as a result of this pathological process the pumping function of the heart decreases , the patient may display signs of heart failure: weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, edema of the extremities, etc.

The signs of dilation can be determined by the results of an electrocardiogram, but it is impossible to determine it accurately, only with the help of this examination. The main method for this is ultrasound of the heart. It helps to detect a heart attack or heart failure, and this, in turn, indicates the presence of an extension. With the help of ultrasound, the diameter of the ventricle is measured (in other words, its finite-diastolic size is KDR).

However, it should be noted that the CRA is not an absolute indicator. With an average statistical rate of 56 mm, it can vary, depending on the height, weight and physical fitness of the individual. If for a two-meter athlete weighing more than 100 kg the norm can be 58 mm, then for a woman weighing 45 kg and reaching a height of only 155 cm, this indicator is already a sign of dilatation.

How serious are the consequences of dilation

The article already mentioned that dilation is a possible impetus to the development of heart failure. In addition, in the enlarged ventricle, the development of some forms of arrhythmia, including life-threatening ones, is possible.

Following the appearance of this pathology, the patient may have an expansion of the diameter of the valve ring, which leads, as a rule, to deformation of the valve itself and as a consequence to the development of the acquired defect - mitral insufficiency.

Therefore, it is very important that dilatation of the left ventricle of the heart be detected in time and its adequate treatment started under the control of the cardiologist. This will help stabilize the patient's condition and significantly improve the duration and quality of his life.

What is an easy dilatation of the lateral ventricles?

The human brain also has cavities called ventricles. There, a spinal fluid (cerebrospinal fluid) is produced, which is discharged through special channels. As a rule, the expansion of the ventricles is a sign that either a liquid is produced in excess, or it does not have time to recover normally, or some obstacles stand in its way.

Normally the depth of the lateral ventricles of the brain is from 1 to 4 mm. At large indices, which cause the disappearance of their lateral curvature, we are talking about dilatation. But it should be borne in mind that this is not a diagnosis, but a symptom of a disease that doctors should identify and eliminate.

Is it always dangerous to have a dilatation?

Clinical practice shows that dilation is not always a sign of the presence of any significant pathology. It is most often found in premature babies, because the size of these ventricles is much higher than that of babies that appear on time, or is a feature of the structure of the skull of a particular child.

But nevertheless, the presence of the diagnosed dilatation of the lateral ventricles of the brain requires observation of the dynamics of growth and development of the baby. If violations during the control period is not detected, the baby is considered healthy.

Do not be ill!