Gradient

[derekzmom]

Derek had his echo yesterday and the PC said that his gradient was 70. What does that mean?? He kept asking if he had fainted or passed out, which he hasnt so Im thinking 70 is not good. They are going to do his surgery early in the New Year and I should know by the end of next week what the date will be. I think he is going to have the Ross/Konno as the PC realizes that a mechanical is not a good choice for him at the moment.

Hugs

Allison

 

[dwfreck]

Allison,

"Gradient" refers to the difference in pressures between one side of a heart valve and another. It is usally expressed in units of milimeters Mercury (symbol mmHg). You're usually interested in a gradient if you're looking at a "stenotic" valve (one that doesn't open all the way, or has some other narrowing). I have a stenotic aortic valve, so my doc is watching my aortic gradient. If I remember correctly, for the aortic valve a gradient of 75mmHg or more is the threshold for repair or replacement. I don't know about the thresholds for other valves or for children, so you might want to ask Derek's doc to explain a little more.

 

[derekzmom]

Thanks Dale,

It would be the pressures around his aortic valve.

Hugs

Allison

 

[dwfreck]

Allison,

I forgot to mention that the gradient threshold might be different for children.

 

[derekzmom]

While I was at work tonite I ran over to the main hospital and found one of our internists and he said that 70 is very severe and needs fixing. He explained it to me like when you are blowing up a balloon and the pressure where you blow is much larger than the pressure inside the balloon. The pressure on the lower side of the aortic valve is alot higher than it is on the upper side.

Hugs

Allison