Jonathan's Profile

I am 70 YO white male with severe aortic stenosis. It's been tracked by local cardiologist for about a year, leading to referral to Johns Hopkins Structural Heart Department (I live in Maryland). JH has team approach with a cardiologist, surgeon, and nurse practitioner (NP). In addition to cardiac ultrasounds, I just had contrast CT to assess vascular structure to determine whether I am candidate for TAVR vs. SAVR. I'll have an angiogram on Tuesday to assess coronary arteries - part of determination as to whether SAVR might be necessary to address problems other than the aortic valve. After angiogram, JH will have a joint consultation to determine what procedure is optimal. This blog makes a date field mandatory, but I do not have a real date, yet. My biggest question right now is whether the quick recovery from TAVR outweighs the risk of valve replacement in 10 years, when I may not be candidate for surgical replacement. On other hand, in 10 years, valve-in-valve replacement by TAVR might have progressed significantly.