Curiosity has got the better of me. A dangerous thing.
I see that, in the USA, those who have had AVR seem to undergo an echo annually. Can anyone shed light on what we do here?
And, coincidentally, I'm off for an echo in the morning but that was booked as part of my post op care by my local hospital. Slight nerves, understandably, as my whole journey through the NHS cardiac system was triggered by an echo exactly 3 months ago. Who'd have thought I'd be where I am now as a result? At least I am here to write this.
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Survivor1952
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Hi, You should have an annual Echo as a matter of course. I sometimes have more than one, with my most being five over a 12 month period. Bear in mind, I've been doing this a long time, but, we think my next will be the 40th Echo.
Well, judging by some of the other replies, I might not be the norm and I'm making an assumption that you have an annual review.
For clarity, my first replacement was a tissue valve and I currently have two mech valves, both which have mild regurgitation. I also have a Iatrogenic Shunt which is monitored. Throw in Heart Failure in recent years and I can see why I have them annually.
Ahh wish you all the best with your echo, understand why your nervous. Maybe ask your cardiologist about how long you have to wait to have an echo after having your surgery I would of thought every 6 months surely, but that's probably wishful thinking 😅. X
I loose track of the different scans. I needed three types immediately before the op to replace my aortic valve. After op its annual. Very vague during the covid lockdowns etc, but this years was unbelievably efficient. And I got the results in minutes. Totally different system. Don’t see the cardiologist unless my scans show a problem. If the NHS take note of this new system then we are all in for many pleasant surprises.
Hi Survivor 1952, I read your story with interest as I had AVR surgery the day after you. Like you I was unaware that I had a problem until, after what I would describe as minor chest discomfort, I was referred to rapid chest pain clinic where an echocardiogram revealed very narrow aortic valve. My plans for the year, the child care I provide to support my daughter, who is a teacher, all disappeared for 2023! Anyway I have made a good recovery since June and I had a follow up echocardiogram last week. I too was anxious but relieved to learn my new valve is working well. The woman who did the echo was an Aussie, very pleasant and I told her that the surgeon had said that my own valve had a diameter smaller than the hole in a polo mint. Turns out they don’t have Polos in Australia so she had no idea what I was going on about! My understanding is that going forward I’ll have annual checks.
Hi, I had a mechanical aortic valve 4 years ago and other than a check fairly soon after the op I haven't had another echo.My care was handed back to my GP 8 months after my op. I believe it's different for tissue valves.
Good morning, I had a tissue valve fitted in November 2018 - had an echo in March 2019 because I was very short of breath and apart from my annual GP nurse practice for BP, bloods etc I have never had another check. I live in Northern Ireland so it may be different elsewhere.
I had a mechanical aortic valve fitted in March 2021. I had a cardiac CT 3 months later to check all was stable and now have this CT scan along with an updated blood test on an annual basis for surveillance.
I had a tissue valve December 2021 - no echocardiogram since and discharged back to my GP . And it’s been just a medication review since then . My neighbour had her valve 14 years ago and no echo s since either .
Unless there’s a problem my belief is you’re fixed ! Nice New spare part and running smoothly ! No annual service required ! Enjoy your new vitality !!
Ch x
I had an AVR in July 2020. I was left to believe I would have annual echos or scans. I had an echo in 2021 and since then no contact from the cardio team until this week when I had a letter from the valve team at LGI in Leeds. They intend to only provide scans every 5 years from the operation date so they will contact me in 2025 for my next one. It clearly not only varies from country to country but between different parts of the UK and even at different dates within the same hospital. Good luck getting a consistent answer to your question.
I had an echoCG shortly after my surgery (in Oct 2022) to check all was OK prior to hospital discharge - I have a biological replacement valve. Then my Cardiologist arranged a repeat EchoCG in March 2023, which I'd understood was fairly standard to ascertain "baseline" measurements once the surgery & body had properly bedded in. I am due a further annual EchoCG in about April 2024. Then, if all is still OK, my Cardiologist indicated that I would only need a further scan in 5 yrs time.
Clearly, biological valves are at greater risk of starting to deteriorate more quickly than mechanical valves, so one would expect more frequent EchoCG monitoring of the former, in particular between 5 to 10years post-surgery, or as soon as some early signs of deterioration are detected. Here's a useful ref doc link which I found this morning, which also includes a fuller study doc to download: echo.biomedcentral.com/arti...
Thanks everyone, Echo this morning went well, valve has bedded in nicely and heart function is significantly improved apparently. I was even shown the valve working away, quite fascinating.
Mine's a tissue valve by the way, bovine, so reckoned to be good for 20 years, here's hoping ...
Best advice I can give you is to forget about hospitals, don't worry about how long the valve will last and just get on with your life. Dont look back.
Tissue is a good choice, for what it's worth, I had my bog standard Aortic Tissue Valve (pigs) fitted in 1994 and it was over 18 years later before they decided it needed replacing. Best decision I ever made.
I've had two AVRs in the last 18 years. Both open heart and both in USA. I get echos done annually after about six years. My first bovine lasted ten years. My second is eight years old. I've been told my next AVR, should I need one, will be TAVR. I'm 74 years old.
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