Issues with mechanical valve & other valves.

[Guest]

Hello,I'm a 51 year old male. I had my Aortic valve replaced with ST. Judes mechanical valve in 2004. Last month I was getting my INR done and I fainted.My cardiologist did an xray of my chest. They told me that they saw something and they had to keep me there for one night.The next day they did a stress echo and Transthoracic Echocardiogram test. Later that day My cardiologist told me he thinks he sees a blood clot on my mechanical heart valve.The next day I had TEE. The results were no blood clots. But I have a moderate stenosis and mild regurgitation in my mechanical aortic valve. When I asked for the report I also found out that I have moderate regurgitation in my tricuspid valve. I also have mild regurgitation in my mitral valve.I also had two Pro B type Natriuretic Test. One when I was in the emergency room in May. The other one was a month later my results on the first test 400.8. The second test was 204. My issue is the my cardiologist never told me about my triscupid heart valve or my mitral valve. He also didn't tell me about the Pro B type natriuretic test. On one hand he is having me see a heart valve specialist in Roanake Va. I'm just wondering is my cardiologist is doing a good job. And what can cause moderate stenosis and mild regurgitation in my mechanical aortic valve ? Thank you.

 

[AZ Don]

Well first I will just say that everyone should always, ALWAYS, ask for copies of their test results. 3 Doctors failed to tell me that I had a dilated aorta. I found out about it when I read a copy of the report I asked for and then I looked it up on Google to see what it meant. Still, I know 2 of these Dr's pretty well and they are generally very good. I wouldn't rule out seeing them just because of this, but I will always ask for copies of any tests they do. To me it seems a rather significant oversight to not mention moderate regurgitation. Mild regurgitation not so much and I don't know what a natriuretic test is. I don't know what might cause the issues with your mechanical valve but probably good to be seeing that specialist.

 

[m1964]

I agree. Thank you AZ Don. Here's information about the test below.

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/brain-natriuretic-peptide-bnp-test

 

[DavesMom]

Hi,

Totally agree with AZ Don that you should always get copies of your report. On my very first CT scan years ago my cardio's nurse said it was all good, but when I read the report it showed I had a 4.4 cm aneurysm. I called and said, " Huh??? What's all this about an aneurysm???" They should have told me.

Same thing happened this year. I met with my cardio's assistant and was told the aneurysm was unchanged. I then asked how my echo looked and she said fine. I got a copy of my reports on the way out and read that I now have moderate mitral annular calcification. It also says there is restrictive inflow due to heavy annular calcification. Not sure what that means, but I'm trying to find out. : )

I sympathize with you - a few years back my echo showed what looked to be a clot on my mechanical valve. After a week of sweating it out I had a TEE and it turned out to be nothing.

Good luck!

 

[neil]

reading the above is frightening stuff to me, I can not read or understand the reports of my heart scans apart from the obvious things and leave that to the experts in that field, I find it awful to think they could make or overlook things like that , we shouldn't be having to read our reports imo when we go to the experts and cant trust them, I have had soooo many appointents with cardios over the years and place my faith in them, it must be awful imo not to

 

[almost_hectic]

Hi,

Totally agree with AZ Don that you should always get copies of your report. On my very first CT scan years ago my cardio's nurse said it was all good, but when I read the report it showed I had a 4.4 cm aneurysm. I called and said, " Huh??? What's all this about an aneurysm???" They should have told me.

Same thing happened this year. I met with my cardio's assistant and was told the aneurysm was unchanged. I then asked how my echo looked and she said fine. I got a copy of my reports on the way out and read that I now have moderate mitral annular calcification. It also says there is restrictive inflow due to heavy annular calcification. Not sure what that means, but I'm trying to find out. : )

I sympathize with you - a few years back my echo showed what looked to be a clot on my mechanical valve. After a week of sweating it out I had a TEE and it turned out to be nothing.

Good luck!

I'm not sure nurses, assistants or echo-techs are allowed to tell you test results in situations like that. That being said their standard response should not be, "oh fine" they should simply state all they do is pass the info onto the doctor and he/she can answer any questions for you.

Doctors on the other hand, that's a whole different story. If you feel you can't trust your cardiologist to have good judgement or your bests interests, then switch! I did, and it saved my life!

 

[m1964]

This coming Monday I have my appointment with the heart valve specialist. I hope I get some good answers then. Thank you for the good information you gave me.