Dr. Fett

[miracle baby]

I was wondering what a couple of medical terms mean. These are from a chest xray. 1.vascular prominence 2.basilar atelectasis
3.bibasilar atelectasis
THANKS
KAREN

[JAMESFETT]

vascular prominence: blood vessels more visible than ordinary. could be meaningless (variant of normal) or could mean pattern seen with increased vascularity from other causes, such as heart failure (which in your case I don't think it is that at all because you are doing well and farther out from original diagnosis.

basilar: the lower part of the lungs, the bases, down by the diaphragm

bi-basilar: both right and left sides of lower part of lungs

atelactasis: collapse of a small part of the lung, could just be due to lack of a deep breath, and in normal clinical situations, without symptoms, that report wouldn't mean much or anything.

James

[miracle baby]

This Was My Chest Xray The Day I Went To My Dr. With Shortness Of Breath When I Was Pregnant.i Just Wanted To Know So I Can Put It Behind Me.

[JAMESFETT]

That information on a woman who has symptoms of shortness of breath in the last month of pregnancy would prompt a physician to do two things:

1)Blood test, called "BNP" (B-type natriuretic peptide) that helps to distinguish pulmonary (lung) causes of shortness of breath from cardiac (heart) causes, and

2)Echocardiogram.

Did you receive a diagnosis of PPCM shortly after that? How are you now?

James

[miracle baby]

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer all the guestions you are asked. How acn we make more Doctors aware of ppcm.:)

[JAMESFETT]

Keep on doing the same things you all are doing and any researchers are doing, that will spread the word. There are pieces being fitted into the puzzle. When we know the cause and even before that when we understand not only the effective conventional treatment for PPCM (diuretics, ACE-I, BB)but also the newer more effective treatments, the word will be out there and everyone will know everything important about PPCM. When I worked with Indian Health Service, any new doctor coming into the SouthWest, was given a "crash-course" about Plague (Bubonic plague, caused by Pasturella pestis), so that when the first case came to them they would recognize it immediately. We'll get the word out so that PPCM will be the same way.

James