New Valve AVA

[BGold]

I had my valve replaced on April 2nd with an Edwards 23MM Pericardial Magna Ease Aortic Valve. Surgery and recovery went extremely well.... However...my follow up echo says everything is working fine and that my AVA is 1.5cm which is smaller than I would have thought. I knew it would not be the full normal size but didn't expect this. Anybody have feedback on their results after replacement?

 

[ElectLive]

It's actually not that small when compared to post-op evaluation of the Perimount Magna for your size valve: http://www.cardiovascularultrasound.com/content/9/1/37. EOA is inherently smaller than a normal native valve, and the individual size that fits each patient does make a big difference (23mm v 27mm, for example). Echo measurements of course aren't that precise either. Mine actually measured 3.25 which was completely off the charts...not at all a number I trust.

I remember having a discussion about this with another member a few years ago, and his was about the same as yours, but at 25 mm, although he did have another valve. Anyway, it can vary a lot either through type of valve, "installation", or just measurement, and there are actually a lot of patients whose valves would still be classified as mildly (or even moderately) stenotic even with a newly implanted valve...primarily at the smaller sizes (23 mm and below).

 

[ElectLive]

Bgold - I found the thread I mentioned: http://www.valvereplacement.org/forums/showthread.php?38627-Bovine-vs-porcine plus also another discussion here: http://www.valvereplacement.org/forums/showthread.php?38131-Valve-area-after-surgery. One thing I'd forgotten is that the other member's (normofthenorth) surgeon had indicated that very often EOA will measure smaller on an early echo than it will later on. Oh, and by the way, that particular thread covered primarily other things, so try not to get sidetracked by all the cow and pig jokes! :wink2:

 

[BGold]

ElectLive
Thanks for the info... I will check it out.