Gradient is 68

[Deb1125wa]

I just found out from my cardiologist that my gradient went from 40 to 68 in exactly 12 months between echos. He explained that this mean I'm facing valve replacement surgery in the next 12 months or sooner, but can anyone tell me just how severe 68 actually is. Is it still in the moderate stage or am I now in the severe stage? Where does one have to be with their gradient level before it's considered critical? I just froze when he was explaining all of this to me and nothing has sunk in. Any information I can get would be extremely helpful to me right now.

 

[epstns]

Hi Debby,

The gradient is the pressure difference from one side of the valve to the other. From the use of pressure gradient I am going to presume you have aortic stenosis (didn't check profile, sorry). If that is the case, then from what I've read, the 68 is in the severe range - maybe not "critical" but above moderate. My own gradient was measured at 44mm Hg, and the cardio said his cut-off for considering it severe is 50mm. That agrees with some of the stuff I have read elsewhere.

There are other statistics they measure to help grade your stenosis. The average valve area and flow velocity are two common indicators. Also, from what my own cardio tells me, the primary indicator is symptoms - if you have symptoms, they will likely act sooner as the odds go against us if we're symptomatic and don't repair or replace the valve.

Lots of info on this site. Search through it, read and then tell us more about your situation and ask all the questions you can think of. Someone here will probably have a good answer in common English!

 

[taranjit]

As little as I know about gradients, there is a MEAN gradient and there is a PEAK gradient.. Which one is 68?.. some docs look at the mean as well as the peak...

 

[Deb1125wa]

I'm having a hard time maneuvering around in here so I hope you get both get this reply. Thanks for the replies and the words of confidence. I'm definitely scared but after looking thru this website, it has taken a little of the fearfulness away.

 

[lcwhitney]

This is a great site. Lots of very supportive people here. How severe your valve problem is depends on which valve is involved. For a pulmonary valve 68 is getting into the severe category and it is different with each of the valves.

Lettitia