Balloon Valvoplasty - Useful?

[Ashley]

Just wondering if anyone has an opinion on the use of a balloon valvoplasty procedure in a young adult (does 25 still count as young?) in order to buy some time until surgery has to be done. I'm not entirely sure if my cardiologist is thinking about doing it in order to allow me to be more active (safely) or if it is an effort to put off surgery - but either way, does this seem like a good/bad idea? I had a successful balloon procedure done when I was 16 - but I know that as you get older, the valve becomes harder to manipulate and the procedure has a decreased chance of being successful. There are also risks associated with it - so I'm not sure if it is worth it or not. Any information that I can take to my cardiologist would be helpful.
Thanks!

 

[RCB]

Same here-bad results

Same here-bad results

Just wondering if anyone has an opinion on the use of a balloon valvoplasty procedure in a young adult (does 25 still count as young?) in order to buy some time until surgery has to be done. I'm not entirely sure if my cardiologist is thinking about doing it in order to allow me to be more active (safely) or if it is an effort to put off surgery - but either way, does this seem like a good/bad idea? I had a successful balloon procedure done when I was 16 - but I know that as you get older, the valve becomes harder to manipulate and the procedure has a decreased chance of being successful. There are also risks associated with it - so I'm not sure if it is worth it or not. Any information that I can take to my cardiologist would be helpful.
Thanks!

Ashley,
I had a BV procedure in '96 too. For me, it worked out badly. It didn't last very long, didn't really solve anything and it just put off the surgery that I should have had in the first place. Instead my atria enlarged and my a-fib did not responded
to Maze surgery.
If I had it to do over again, I would have been better off to consult with
a surgeon. Dr. Sarano of Mayo did a study of when to have surgery- the results show people who wait do not have as good an outcome as those who have surgery at an early stage.
Cardiologist, don't do surgery, they manage the problem. I you want to fix the problem, see a surgeon.
That is my experience for what its worth.

 

[Karlynn]

(does 25 still count as young?)

Oh, yes, it certainly does! If 46 is still a young adult I would imagine 25 is!

 

[Ashley]

Oh, yes, it certainly does! If 46 is still a young adult I would imagine 25 is!

Of course! I mean young adult as in young enough to be considered for a balloon

 

[bvdr]

Ashley, I was evaluated for mitral valve balloon angioplasty for mitral stenosis shortly before I had MVR. I know it is used more successfully for mitral stenosis than aortic stenosis. In my case I couldn't have it since I had too much mitral regurgitation as well. I was told that the regurgitation would likely get much worse with the procedure so I would loose any benefit of relieving the stenosis. Offhand, I can't think of any members that have had it done to the aortic valve.

 

[Bunny_Rabbit]

Hi Ashley

I had a Mitral Balloon Valvuloplasty done in 2002 when I was...um...29. I think. And that's still kinda young...ish. I often wish I would have just had surgery. It would have been over and done with, and I wouldn't have to wait to get worse.

Like Betty, I can't think of anyone who has had a Valvuloplasty on their Aortic valve. Other than you of course.

Where abOOts in Canada are you?

 

[Mama2Rylan]

ME TOO! I had a balloon done on my Aortic Valve!

ME TOO! I had a balloon done on my Aortic Valve!

I had a balloon valvuoplasty (however the heck you spell it ) last year...i was about 30 weeks pregnant at the time...my cardiologist thought it would be a good idea because it would allow me to carry my baby a couple more weeks...because my aortic valve wasnt doing so well with the pregnancy,they thought it would be best to deliver my baby at 33 weeks (that was the longest they wanted to hold off in fear my heart wouldn't take anymore) so i had my baby and after six weeks my body was back to "normal" ...(i don't know if you can call it normal when your belly is hanging to the floor )...it has been a year later and i am just now going to have my surgery...

i think there is an up side and down...i mean i do believe that it should buy you more time before you HAVE to do the surgery...but for me its just been a year of worry...i am always thinking something bad is going to happen with my heart...if i could go back and do it over i would have the balloon to hold off on the surgery just because i had a son who was premature and needed my full attention...but if that wasnt the case i think i would just have forgot the balloon and went straight to surgery....

hope that helped

 

[Ashley]

Thanks Everyone for your replies

Bunny_Rabbit - I am in Toronto. I can see what you mean about just going ahead and getting the surgery over with. I'll have to have a long chat with the cardio about the benefits versus the risks. If it will only buy me a year, than I am not sure, but we'll see.

Mama2Rylan - Thanks! That does help. It is interesting to me that you carried a baby before having the surgery - I am glad that everything went well My cardiologist has pretty much told me not to think about having a baby before surgery, so I have to weigh that into my timing decision too. I wish you the best with your surgery

Ashley

 

[Mama2Rylan]

Thanks Everyone for your replies

Bunny_Rabbit - I am in Toronto. I can see what you mean about just going ahead and getting the surgery over with. I'll have to have a long chat with the cardio about the benefits versus the risks. If it will only buy me a year, than I am not sure, but we'll see.

Mama2Rylan - Thanks! That does help. It is interesting to me that you carried a baby before having the surgery - I am glad that everything went well My cardiologist has pretty much told me not to think about having a baby before surgery, so I have to weigh that into my timing decision too. I wish you the best with your surgery

Ashley

Ashley
Your cardiologist would be 100% correct! I didn't really understand my heart condition until after I was already pregnant...so there wasn't much I could do about it...My pregnancy was TERRBLE! I was in the hospital for quite a bit of it and had to have my baby very early...It very upsetting to know that by trying to save your own life you are putting your babies life at risk....my son had to stay in the hosptial in ICU for a few weeks...but he is fine now Overall I would say anytime you are thinking about having a baby and you do have a heart condtion%, you NEED to consult with a doctor first...pregnancy takes such a toll on your body and your heart my not be able to make it through...

Good luck with your decision!!

Sara

 

[Ashley]

Ashley
Your cardiologist would be 100% correct! I didn't really understand my heart condition until after I was already pregnant...so there wasn't much I could do about it...My pregnancy was TERRBLE! I was in the hospital for quite a bit of it and had to have my baby very early...It very upsetting to know that by trying to save your own life you are putting your babies life at risk....my son had to stay in the hosptial in ICU for a few weeks...but he is fine now Overall I would say anytime you are thinking about having a baby and you do have a heart condtion%, you NEED to consult with a doctor first...pregnancy takes such a toll on your body and your heart my not be able to make it through...

Good luck with your decision!!

Sara

Sara,
That makes sense - I am so glad that both you and your baby are fine now. Sorry to hear that your pregnancy was terrible
Thanks for the advice
Ashley