Aortic Valve Stenosis and Heart Valve Replacement Procedures

Being faced with the option of whether to have surgery or not is concerning enough in itself. But, when it is related to your heart, it carries even more weight and concern. If you have been diagnosed with aortic valve stenosis, you perhaps considering whether heart valve replacement surgery is the proper choice for your situation. Nevertheless, to make an educated call, one must understand what aortic stenosis is and how it is affecting your heart and body.

The aortic valve controls the flow of oxygenated blood from the left ventricle into the aorta. The aorta is the biggest vessel in the body which transports blood from the heart to the body and it’s main organs. When one develops aortic valve stenosis, the opening that allows the blood to flow from within into the aorta begins to narrow. This narrowing causes the heart ( particularly the left ventricle ) to compensate by working/pumping harder to maintain blood flow from deep inside in to the body. Without treatment (like heart valve replacement) the left ventricle will increase in size and thickness because of the added stress of working against the narrow opening. The heart itself will only be able to support this self-induced compensatory action for a few years, not treated it will eventually give way to heart failure.

The progression of aortic valve stenosis is comparatively slow. Many people could have mild cases of aortic stenosis, but with the body’s ability to compensate, may not realize they’ve a problem until signs of this disorder happen. Symptoms that go with aortic stenosis and at last lead to heart valve replacement include chest pain particularly with exercise, extreme lightheadedness following activity, irregular heart beat rate, pulsations and/or shortness of breath. After symptoms happen, the sole true treatment is surgery. These symptoms indicate that damage to the valve has occurred and the debate about replacement is important.

While most doctors agree that itis better to hang around for surgical intervention until symptoms develop, there are the few individuals that may gain advantage from heart valve replacement before symptom show. Folks that suffer from aortic stenosis run a higher possibility of sudden death because of the chance of heart failure. But, symptoms of heart failure sometimes precede a lethal event. However, thereis a small number of folks that can have severe stenosis without presenting with symptoms. One indicator could be linked to individuals that develop low blood pressure during or following exercise. This may suggest possible aortic valve stenosis and these individuals should seek medical recommendation as quickly as possible. The decision about surgery will be acombined effort between the patient and the various expert physicians planning and implementing the hospital treatment.