Paravalvular leak

[tonyg01]

I have a prosthetic aortic valve and have just been diagnosed a paravalvular leak.

There is contradictory information on the internet: don't do anything until symptoms or treat with keyhole repair or treat with another open heart surgery replacement.

I dread to think of a 2nd surgery, I also don't want another period waiting for symptoms, as I did with my original valve before replacement.

Has anyone any knowledge of what the treatment process is in the UK out of the 3 options above?

Does anyone know if keyhole repair is now widespread?

Any advice appreciated.

Regards

Tony

[Chappychap]

Hello Tony,

I'm not medically qualified to answer your specific question. What I can say is that keyhole heart surgery is growing so fast that whatever you read on the internet is almost certainly out of date.

Heart surgeons used to be the rock stars of the medical world, in 2008 open heart operations peaked in Britain at over 41,000. By 2019 that had fallen to 31,000, and keeps dropping all the time. With forecasts that open heart operations will soon fall below 20,000 British heart surgeons are increasingly concerned that there isn't enough work to go around.

What's driving the decline is "interventional cardiologists", these aren't surgeons, but they perform more and more keyhole operations in Britain, in particular on valve related procedures. For example TAVI procedures used to be reserved for only the oldest and frailest patients. Those whom it was feared wouldn't survive the trauma of open heart surgery, but now TAVI has become the de facto standard even for younger and stronger patients. This causes some friction between surgeons and interventional cardiologists, which means there's even more reason to utilise your right to a second opinion.

So, if a keyhole option is a possibility for you, then don't be shy about expressing a preference. You may have to be referred to another hospital, but there are actually more alternatives out there than are often initially presented to patients. So keep pushing.

Good luck!

[Wellington19]

Sorry no idea, when they replaced my aerotic valve at st barts, they didn't even tell me it was leaking, they didn't tell me when i went to John RATCLIFFE for a check, only found out when they sent a written report to me

[Celtic1956]

Hi my name is Tony I had a triple bypass and aortic valve replaced at kings collage hospital three years ago one year later they found the replaced valve developed a leek (cow aortic valve) they replaced it with another prosthetic valve in through the groin paravalvuler inside the one that leaked no pain during opp and let home the next day so don't worry it's nothing like open heart surgery good luck Tony.

[tonyg01 in reply to Celtic1956]

Thanks for the reply Tony.

My consultant didn't even mention that non surgical options exist, which is why I'm digging around.

Thanks for the wishes.