Patrick's Profile

I was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve(normally tricuspid) around age 10 (1978 or so). Over the years I've been told if I had trouble with it, it would need to be replaced. Around 1998 my yearly echo-cardiogram started to show calcification of the valve and every year since it has gotten a little worse. As of now, I still do not have any symptoms(shortness of breath, fatigue etc) but my latest echo showed that the calcification build up has narrowed the opening (called stenosis) to a critical point. If I don't have my aortic valve replaced very soon, I risk complete valve failure. I have decided to have my surgery at Brigham and Women's hospital in Boston. *UPDATE 11/2016 5 1/2 years post surgery, feeling great!