Heart Murmur Surgery – HELP!
September 21st, 2007The worst thing about being diagnosed with a severe heart valve disorder is not knowing what to expect. When a cardiologist tells you that your heart valve is suffering from severe stenosis or severe regurgitation, the human brain has no relative platform to understand that fact.
The unknown can be compounded when the cardiologist then proceeds to tell you that you need open heart surgery.
GULP!
Or, as they say in Yiddish, “Oi Veh!”
How do I know such things?
Well. I had a heart murmur for the first thirty-three years of my life. I say “had” because my I no longer have a heart murmur. I guess that is the one of the big benefits of aortic and pulmonary valve replacement surgery… No more murmur!!! 
Anyways, I just received an urgent email that inquires, “I need heart murmur surgery. I have a heart valve murmur. Can you help me?”
So you know, this is a tough question to receive, and even attempt to diagnose. I’m not a doctor. I’m not a cardiologist. I’m just a patient that had a double heart valve replacement surgery known as the Ross Procedure.
However, I can tell you that you will not have heart murmur surgery. This may be a little technical, but your next step will not be heart murmur surgery. It will most likely be a heart valve repair or heart valve replacement.
As I personally experienced, heart murmurs are symptoms of heart valve disorders. Heart valve disorders can be classified as stenosis or regurgitation, more commonly known as heart valve leaking. There are other disorders known as prolapse, Tetralogy of Fallot, etc.
Anyways, that said, you are not going to have heart murmur surgery.
My suggestion is that you talk with your cardiologist to better understand your heart valve disorder that is causing the heart murmur and then determine your next steps.
I hope that helps answer some of the confusion about heart murmur surgery.
Keep on tickin!
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| About The Author: Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. This unique book integrates clinical research with the personal experiences of 135 former patients to help future patients and their caregivers better understand the problems, the opportunities and the realities of heart valve surgery. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here. |
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