If you are preparing for or recovering from aortic valve surgery, here is a great way to get your questions answered from a surgical expert. This Wednesday, July 7 at 2pm (EST), Dr. Eric Roselli, one of The Cleveland Clinic’s leading heart surgeons, will answer your questions during a special online chat.
I just received this insightful email from Steve, who recently had heart valve surgery. I thought you might really enjoy it… So, here it is:
Steve Miller -Heart Valve Replacement Patient
Dear Adam - Congratulations on getting that article published in The Chicago Tribune! Also, thank you for writing such an informative and helpful book. I am a nine week recipient of a St. Jude’s mechanical aortic valve. It is working well and I am on my way to full recovery.
I would like to share the following tips, thoughts and ideas – many of which you previously mentioned – to stress their importance to fellow patients.
I just received a question from Emma about the normal size of an aortic valve.
She writes, “Hi Adam, I’ve been diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis although I am asymptomatic. I believe I’m on the path to surgery as my echo shows a valve area of 0.9. I’m curious. What is the normal size of the aortic valve? Thanks for all you do! Emma”
Like Emma, I had this exact question when I was told by my first cardiologist (aka Dr. Bad Bedside Manner) that I needed heart valve replacement surgery.
To help Emma, please see the chart above which contains the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for aortic stenosis. As shown, the severity of aortic stenosis can result from three criteria – valve area (size), aortic velocity and aortic valve gradient.
Specific to size, a normal aortic valve area is >2 centimeters squared (cm2). If the valve area is between 1.5 and 2.0 cm2, the stenosis is mild; if the valve area is between 1.0 and 1.5 cm2, the stenosis is moderate; if the valve area is between 0.6 and 1.0 cm2, the stenosis is moderate-severe; areas of less than 0.6 cm2 constitute severe aortic stenosis.
If you are curious, here is a picture of a normal aortic valve:
And, here is a picture of a stenotic aortic valve that is bicuspid with calcified leaflets:
I hope that helps Emma (and all of us) learn a little more about aortic stenosis and aortic valve size.
I am a huge fan of all types of music – from classic rock to jazz to country to opera to new age. I even play a few instruments including the guitar and bass.
On that note (pun intended), it was 1987 when I first listened to Sting’s second solo release, Nothing Like The Sun. On that cd, there was an incredibly soothing song that would eventually become one of my favorites. That song is “Be Still My Beating Heart”.
I’m not sure if you have similar musical tastes to mine. But, given the theme of this blog and its interesting lyrics, I figured it might be fun to share this calming song with you. Simply press the play button below and make sure the volume on your computer is on.
If you are curious, here are the lyrics:
“Be Still My Beating Heart”
Be still my beating heart
It would be better to be cool
It’s not time to be open just yet
A lesson once learned is so hard to forget
Be still my beating heart
Or I’ll be taken for a fool
It’s not healthy to run at this pace
The blood runs so red to my face
I’ve been to every single book I know
To soothe the thoughts that plague me so
I sink like a stone that’s been thrown in the ocean
My logic has drowned in a sea of emotion
Stop before you start
Be still my beating heart
Restore my broken dreams
Shattered like a falling glass
I’m not ready to be broken just yet
A lesson once learned is so hard to forget
Be still my beating heart
You must learn to stand your ground
It’s not healthy to run at this pace
The blood runs so red to my face
I’ve been to every single book I know
To soothe the thoughts that plague me so
Stop before you start
Be still my beating heart
Never to be wrong
Never to make promises that break
It’s like singing in the wind
Or writing on the surface of a lake
And I wriggle like a fish caught on dry land
And I struggle to avoid any help at hand
I sink like a stone that’s been thrown in the ocean
My logic has drowned in a sea of emotion
Stop before you start
Be still my beating heart
On March 31, we donated $5,000 to the Gift of Life charity to help children born with heart defects. The donation was raised thanks to (i) purchases of my book and (ii) sponsorships from surgeons, clinics and medical device manufacturers.
Today, I learned that our donation will help Victor Manuel Saravia, a 12-month old boy from El Salvador that is very ill. Here is a recent picture of Victor:
