Pre op Tests

[Davewm]

Good afternoon all.

I wonder if anyone can help me to understand something with regards to pre op tests.

I've been referred to Essex Cardiothoracic Centre. I was diagnosed with Severe Mitral Valve Prolapse which will require repair to the valve. The Consultant at Ipswich Hospital said I needed the following tests.

1) Lung function test

2) Transesophageal Echocardiogram

3) Angiogram

4) Carotid Doppler Scan

Unfortunately the angiogram showed that I have 2 arteries with 75/94% narrowing and 2 arteries with 50/74% narrowing. This means I will also have to have a Coronary bypass graft.

Essex CT have said that I may need to have an Aorta CT Scan before seeing the Heart Surgeon.

Does anyone have any thoughts as to why I would need this additional test?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

David

[Lezzers]

I'm afraid I can't answer your questions but the Essex cardiothoracic centre really is one of the best. you're in good hands with them.

[BigT2013]

I have had Open heart surgery for very severe mitral valve prolapse and very severe regurgitation and PFO closures amongst other things .

Lung function is simply to check how good your Lungs are and to access any issues there may be with anesthetic during surgery etc.

T. O. E gives the surgeon very, very detailed and 3D information to help during surgery they also use this during surgery to assist.

Angiogram identifies issues with the arteries (which it appears it has highlighted an issue.)

Carotid scan again highlights any further issues.

Aortic scan for the same reason.

It's simply the surgeon wants to identify any issues before surgery.

I was told this by my surgeon 😷.

Because it is a major operation and fairly risky he will want all issues identified before he starts.

He won't want to keep opening up (operating in) the chest every 5 minutes to repair something else.

This being the case he/she will try to repair all issues at the same time during the same operation.

It is possible to have mitral valve repair, CABG, septal defects and Aortic repairs etc all at the same time during same operation.

In my case I had valve, 2 pfo/SDclosures

Chord repairs and implant at the same time. Op took little longer than usual but all fixed in one hit 😁.

Basically they want as much info as possible.

Try not to read to much into all the tests, try not to worry u got this 👍

[Kristin1812 Heart Star in reply to BigT2013]

I was told the TOE gives a completely different pic of the valve from behind your heart, the usual echos are from the front.

[BigT2013 in reply to Kristin1812]

It does that is correct the probe for TOE is within millimetres of the heart when scan done through the chest it has to penetrate skin bone, muscle so less accurate, it is very, very detailed and in 3 Dimensions gives exact images of the valve.

Also other structures of the heart, it was during mine the found two PFO (holes in the heart and ruptures 😲) During mine the also identified the leak was worse than they thought so I went from being stable to URGENT!!

I have seen mine (TOE scans, standard scans and MRI Scans) the consultant showed them too me TOE and MRI are very detailed .

It also can show and record images of the leak in real time so they can see the leaking blood flows.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star in reply to BigT2013]

Sounds amazing. I love those amazing images of our own heart beating! Really reassuring.

I’m just sad they couldn’t get the wretched TOE thing down my throat! Not even a paediatric one they specially ordered, for their failed third attempt.

I hope all goes well for you.

[BigT2013 in reply to Kristin1812]

I have had my open heart surgery 😷! All repaired now.

Almost exactly 12month ago.

I'm ok👍

[Davewm in reply to BigT2013]

Thanks for your very informative and encouraging reply.

Kind Regards

David

[Alison_L in reply to Kristin1812]

I had to have 3 doses of sedative before they could get it down my throat! It felt like a large SLR camera gaffer-taped to a garden hose

[OttoK]

Hi, I had the first of the three tests you have plus the aortic scan. In a way I am the other way round: I need a new aortic valve and they are checking if there is anything else that needs fixing. My guess is it's a "while we are at it" issue. That is, if you need a new aortic valve, they may as well give you that at the same time as fixing the arteries, rather than go in again at a later stage. For me they have said we might fix the arteries at the same time as the aortal valve. I see that BigT2013 and others are saying the same thing.

Cheers, Otto

[Davewm in reply to OttoK]

Hi Otto

Thanks for your reply.

Kind regards

David