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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Breathing Difficulties, Enlarged Heart, Emphysema. Had Quad Bypass Surgery And Back Surgery. Done Chest X Rays. What Do We Expect?

My husband has been in very poor health for app 10 yrs. He is 75 yrs of age. He has had quad bypass surgery in 1999. He also had a severe back surgery about 9 yrs ago. He has not been active since back surgery. Getting worse and is having a hard time with breathing. Got a call today from chest xrays that he has enlarged heart and enphysema. Echo gram and breathing test is schduled. He is not active at all anf sits in reclainer or on bed most of the time. What can I expect from all of this. YYYY@YYYY
Mon, 28 Oct 2013
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Cardiologist,  's  Response
Respected Ma'm
Thanks for writing to us.
There are many possibilities with such a report. Emphysema means that there is more than normal retention of air in his lungs. This is a progression of his lung disease (chronic pulmonary disease) or it may be simply related to age. This may not be associated with definite clinical deterioration.
Heart enlargement on x-ray can be due to a bad technique (expiratory film), a fluid around heart, enlargement of heart chambers or at times normal variant. ECHO will helps us in knowing the exact cause.
Sincerely
Sukhvinder
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Breathing Difficulties, Enlarged Heart, Emphysema. Had Quad Bypass Surgery And Back Surgery. Done Chest X Rays. What Do We Expect?

Respected Ma m Thanks for writing to us. There are many possibilities with such a report. Emphysema means that there is more than normal retention of air in his lungs. This is a progression of his lung disease (chronic pulmonary disease) or it may be simply related to age. This may not be associated with definite clinical deterioration. Heart enlargement on x-ray can be due to a bad technique (expiratory film), a fluid around heart, enlargement of heart chambers or at times normal variant. ECHO will helps us in knowing the exact cause. Sincerely Sukhvinder