Dilation is, as the medical encyclopedia says, a term derived from the Latin word dilatatio, which means "expansion". So in modern medicine they mean a persistent 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 lateral ventricles of the brain. Find out whether these changes are dangerous, and how to deal with them.
Dilation is a consequence of the accumulation of large amounts of blood
The left ventricle of the heart is a chamber that is responsible for pumping blood in our body. It is this part of the heart muscle that acts as a pump: either decreasing or increasing in volume, it draws blood from the left atrium and delivers it to the largest artery - the aorta, so that it can then spread to all organs of the human body.
In the case when 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 also occur with some heart defects, when too much blood enters the left ventricle.
The causes of dilation
Sometimes dilatation of the left ventricle is caused by transferred inflammation of the heart - viral myocarditis. Often the cause of the expansion of the lumen is coronary heart disease or hypertension.
The expansion of the ventricle may appear in the patient in the post-infarction period, caused first by stretching the infarct area itself (due to the divergence of muscle fibers), and then neighboring areas. The reason for this is the weakening of the wall of the left ventricle and its loss of elasticity, which provokes excessive stretching.
How is dilatation determined?
Minor dilatation is usually an asymptomatic pathology. Patients in this case do not show complaints that could lead to suspect the presence of an extension. But if, as a result of this pathological process, the pumping function of the heart decreases , then the patient may show signs of heart failure: weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling of the extremities, etc.
The signs of dilatation can be determined by the results of the ECG, but it is impossible to identify 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 disease, and this, in turn, indicates the presence of expansion. With the help of ultrasound, the diameter of the ventricle is also measured (in other words, its finite-diastolic size - CDR).
True, it should be borne in mind that the CRC is not an absolute indicator. With an average norm of 56 mm, it can vary, depending on the height, weight and physical fitness of a particular person. If for a two-meter athlete weighing more than 100 kg, 58 mm can be the norm, then for a woman weighing 45 kg and reaching a height of only 155 cm, this figure is already a sign of dilatation.
How serious are the effects of dilatation?
The article already mentioned that dilatation is a possible impetus for the development of heart failure. In addition, in the enlarged ventricle, the development of some forms of arrhythmia is possible, including life-threatening ones.
Following the appearance of this pathology, the patient may experience an expansion of the diameter of the valve ring, which usually leads to deformation of the valve itself and, as a result, to the development of an acquired defect - mitral insufficiency.
Therefore, it is very important that the dilatation of the left ventricle of the heart be detected in time and its adequate treatment begins under the supervision of a cardiologist. This will help to stabilize the patient's condition and significantly improve the duration and quality of his life.
What is mild dilatation of the lateral ventricles?
The human brain also has cavities called ventricles. They produce cerebrospinal fluid (cerebrospinal fluid), which is excreted through special channels. As a rule, ventricular dilatation is a sign that either the fluid is produced in excess, or it does not have enough time to clear normally, or there are some obstacles in its way.
Normally, the depth of the lateral ventricles of the brain is from 1 to 4 mm. At high rates, causing 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 must determine and eliminate.
Is dilatation always dangerous?
Clinical practice shows that dilatation is not always a sign of the presence of any significant pathology. It is most often found in premature babies, due to the fact that the sizes of these ventricles are much larger than in babies that appear on time, or is a feature of the structure of the skull of a particular child.
Nevertheless, the presence of a diagnosed dilatation of the lateral ventricles of the brain requires observation of the dynamics of growth and development of the baby. If violations are not detected during the control period, then the baby is considered healthy.
Do not be ill!