Aortic Stenosis
I think the future is that everyone who needs a valve will get a transcatheter valve...It’s going to become the standard - Dr. Catherine M. Otto
image by: National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day
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Building a Better Valve
The TAVR story is a wonderful example of a transformative technology that began with an idea many dismissed,” Dr. Patrick T. O’Gara, the immediate past president of the American College of Cardiology, wrote in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association...
It took a brainstorm and 20 years to produce this breakthrough. The idea sprang to life when a Danish cardiologist heard talks on opening arteries with balloons…
Resources
Replacing a Heart Valve Without Opening the Heart
It's almost unbelievable, in the past, replacing the aortic valve meant a long recovery of at least 9 -12 months before a person felt like themselves again, yet this man got a new valve in a few hours from a catheter passed up through his leg. He'll be home in about three days and when he gets there, he'll be able to walk across his living room without having to stop and reach for a chair to steady himself and take a few deep breaths like he was climbing Mt. Everest. He'll be able to participate in life and not watch from the sidelines.
Barbara Walters’ View from the OR
Barbara Walters’ condition, aortic stenosis, is the most common valve problem in patients over 70. Once symptoms develop the only effective treatment is surgical replacement of the aortic valve.
Clot Risk Is Seen in Some Heart Valves
The Food and Drug Administration and leading cardiologists are warning that aortic heart valves from animal tissue—implanted surgically in thousands of patients world-wide—can develop tiny blood clots, causing the valves to function improperly.
Consider new treatment options for aortic stenosis
In 2002, the first transcatheter insertion of an aortic-valve prosthesis was performed by Cribier and colleagues. Since then, transcatheter aortic-valve implantation has become a viable option for those in whom an open-heart approach is considered too risky.
Diagnosis and management of patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis
The decision for early surgery in patients with asymptomatic severe AS is more complex. In this review, we discuss how to identify high-risk patients with asymptomatic severe AS who may benefit from early surgery.
Genetic Study Identifies Strong Links To Aortic Valve Disease
A genetic component is believed to play an important role in valvular heart disease, but the specific genes involved have not been identified. Now an interntional group of researchers has identified genetic variations that increase the risk for valvular calcification.
Heart Sounds and Bicuspid Aortic Valves - My Beginning
For now, his story has a simple message: heart murmurs are important to understand, and aortic valve stenosis in those with bicuspid aortic valve may not express itself in the typical way. Don't wait until there is a crisis to find out about your heart.
Less-Invasive Treatment Yielded Similar Outcome as Open-Heart Surgery, Study Finds
A minimally invasive procedure to repair diseased heart valves delivered about the same health outcomes for patients as open-heart surgery, a result doctors say could widen use of the new procedure.
Questions About a Popular Heart Procedure
Enter a newcomer, transcatheter aortic valve replacement. T.A.V.R., as it is known, involves a catheter, usually inserted through the groin, that delivers a new valve without a big incision and sometimes without general anesthesia.
Study: TAVR Success Tied to Experience With SAVR
Following the introduction of TAVR programs, hospitals with higher SAVR-related fatalities also had higher short- and long-term TAVR-related deaths.
The painful path to replacing a flawed heart valve
Although valvular heart disease is becoming more common, there is heartening news for patients.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Physician-Patient's Story
Until several months ago, I had severe aortic stenosis. Then something remarkable happened. I received a new aortic valve without having my chest opened.
Warning: Medicare May Be Bad for Your Heart
Aortic valve replacements are superior to open-heart surgery and less risky. So why are they hard to get?
Building a Better Valve
A new approach to replacing narrowed heart valves allows older and sicker patients to survive treatment.
Bicuspid Aortic Foundation
The Bicuspid Aortic Foundation is committed to promoting the well being of those affected by thoracic aortic disease and supporting the pioneering work of dedicated aortic physicians on the leading edge of treatment
Jim's Bicuspid Heart Valve Diary
A recap of goings on in relation to my bicuspid aortic valve disease and aortic aneurysm.
NewHeartValve.com
For people who have been diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis and who are high-risk or too sick for open heart surgery, another option is available—transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This procedure can also be referred to as transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). It is a less invasive procedure that does not require open heart surgery.
Anthony's Heart Valve Replacement Saga
Having a big heart is a serious condition.
Amboss
Aortic stenosis (AS) is a valvular heart disease characterized by narrowing of the aortic valve. As a result, the outflow of blood from the left ventricle into the aorta is obstructed. This leads to chronic and progressive excess load on the left ventricle and potentially left ventricular failure. The patient may remain asymptomatic for long periods of time; for this reason, AS is often detected late, i.e., when it first becomes symptomatic (dyspnea on exertion, angina pectoris, or syncope).
BadAorta
This blog is dedicated to giving patients, family members, and physicians quality medical information about the aorta, its diseases, and how to treat them.
EasyAuscultation.com
The first and second heart sounds are normal. The murmur starts shortly after the first heart sound and ends before the second heart sound. The murmur is mid to high pitched.
Mayo Clinic
Aortic valve stenosis can be treated effectively with surgery. However, you'll need regular follow-up appointments with your doctor to check for any changes in your condition. You may still be at risk of irregular heart rhythms even after you've been treated for aortic valve stenosis. You may need to take medications to lower that risk. If your heart has become weakened from aortic valve stenosis, you may need medications to treat heart failure.
MedicineNet
Aortic stenosis can be caused by congenital bicuspid aortic valve, scarred aortic valve of rheumatic fever, and wearing of aortic valve in the elderly. Aortic stenosis can cause chest pain, fainting, and heart failure leading to shortness of breath.
NHS
Some of the main risks of an aortic valve replacement include: •wound, lung, bladder or heart valve infections •blood clots •strokes •a temporarily irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) •reduced kidney function for a few days
Patient
Patients with AS should avoid heavy exertion. Symptomatic patients require early surgical intervention because no medical therapy for AS is able to improve outcome. Treatment of high surgical risk patients has been modified with the introduction of TAVI.
The Auscultation Assistant
One of the most frequent pathologic systolic murmurs is due to aortic stenosis. Most commonly, aortic stenosis arises from one of three conditions. A patient may be born with a congenital stenosis, or acquire the stenosis from secondary conditions such as rheumatic heart disease or idiopathic calcification of the valves. Persons born with an abnormal bicuspid valve are particularly susceptible to calcification later in life.
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