The day finaly came!

[Susan BAV]

Bicuspidia is very common (about 20% of aortic valve disease)
Your are young. Question: are you a male or a female ? !
This is an important issue for the choice of the valve

Hi Arthur and welcome to the site. Glad you found us.

Would you mind explaining more about that male/female valve choice question? I had my bicuspid replaced over three years ago. When I researched it then, the proportion of male to female with bicuspids was something like 3 or 4:1, if I recall exactly; but I've never heard or read anything that would indicate tissue choice should be different for a male or female bicuspid and I find that interesting.

Take care and post again. And again, Welcome!

 

[magpeg]

My valve replacement

My valve replacement

Hi my name is Margaret, I had a valve replacement on 7th March 2007.

Right up untill the night before my operation, I had not decided which valve to go for, I always leaned towards the tissue valve since finding out that I needed the Aeorta valve replaced. After a chat with my consultant I made my mind up to have a tissue. It is coming up for nine weeks on the 9th, and in my opinion well, I am due back tomotrrow to see my Consultant for my check up, and looking forward to the future.

Yes... Today was my 6 months echo and they discovered dynamic enlargement of my LV. So, the surgery is comming. The valve will be mechanical. I want very much to have the On-X valve. I don't know however, what to do about. Please, give me an advice!
I'm not scared of the surgery. The thing, that I asked all the cardiologists today, was about my life expectancy. Everybody knows the main risk factors (ACT and Endocarditys). Excluding them, with my great overall health and no other heart problems (even no symptoms yet), I have a life prognosis practicaly not limited. I know it is still too optymistic, but there may be some truth, hmm?
OK. What I wanted to ask you, guys, is about my bicuspidia. I have read a lot about the dilation and aneurism of the aorta by the BAVD's. To I told this to my cardio (she is very educated of congenital deffects), but she answered "Your aorta is fine! No signs of any changes". So they will replace only my valve. What is your opinion about? Do I have to insist on second observe on my aorta?

Thank you!

 

[Phyllis]

Welcome Margaret. Best wishes on your coming check-up and thanks for an encouraging post for those in the waiting room.