By: Carol Lang

Carol Lang — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 06:24:11 +0000

I feel compelled to share my experience on this issue. I am a former ICU nurse that had a mechanical AVR this past June. My cardiologist had been monitoring me very closely for the past 14 years. When he told me my echo had progressed to severe AS, & it was time for a cath & surgery, I was shocked! I asked how this could be possible, as I had no symptoms & had never looked or felt better in my life. (I am nearly 5 years post gastric bypass surgery & have lost nearly 100 lbs)
He told me, “Years ago, these patients with severe AS had episodes of “Sudden Death Syndrome”, and all the resuscitation efforts were to no avail. Because the valve gets so tight, it’s impossible to circulate the emergency drugs during the “Code Blue”. Because you have no symptoms, you are probably a low risk patient & should do fine.
You may think you are “not broke”. But trust me, if your numbers are 0.4-0.6 cm2, you ARE broke & you need to fix it!

By: nancy mallinger

nancy mallinger — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:42:12 +0000

I have been diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis (.4-.6 cm2) and have no symptoms. But every doctor that I have seen (and there have been quite a few) insists that I have a replacement now. I have surgery set for Tuesday, but I’m having a very hard time wrapping my head around the fact that I’m having this incredibly big surgery when I feel fine and have not noticed any decline in my stamina, etc. I was always of the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” school.

Comments on: Indications For Aortic Valve Replacement Due To Aortic Stenosis

By: Carol Lang

By: nancy mallinger