heart valve disease

[Laxido21]

I recently had an abnormal blood test result. I need an urgent Echo re my tricuspid valve leak. My GP has told me not to go on my planned flight to Spain. I’m really worried, can you knowledgeable people help me out, What do I expect to put this right. I also have leaky mitral/aorts valves, along with AF.

[Rob223344]

I’m sorry hear about your problem. You don’t state whether you are symptomatic, or what blood test was found to be abnormal. Was it a raised BNP level? Your implied urgency for the Echocardiogram, though, suggests that your symptoms have alerted your doctor, at least, to significance of your cardiac condition. I presume your doctor’s recommendation not to fly is based on knowing that severity of your clinical symptoms. The general rule of thumb is that, if you cannot walk at normal pace for more than 50 meters without getting breathless, you shouldn’t fly, or if you are likely to need treatment while abroad. You also don’t state your age, nor whether the recommendation not to fly came from a cardiologist, to whom you have already been referred. You don’t specify whether you are taking an anticoagulant, but in view of your AF, and your mitral valve disease, I assume you are, especially if you are over 65 years of age, and have another factor which increases your risk of thromboembolism. I should imagine, also, that you are taking warfarin, rather than the newer agents, if your AF has been attributed to your mitral valve disease.