Anaesthetic with Aortic Stenosis

[WeaverShaz]

Hi. I was diagnosed with moderate/severe AS last year. I now need a half-knee replacement revised into a full knee but the consensus appears to be not with AS, even though knees are usually done under spinal anaesthetic. Does anyone have experience of this or can advise? It could be years before I get a new heart valve and want to make the most of my time now with travelling, but am being held back by severe knee pain - Catch 22.

[Chappychap]

This is the kind of dilemma that so many heart patients find themselves in, past a certain age our health troubles rarely arrive individually and it's the combination of issues that causes the real complexity. I met people on the cardio rehab course who, following a heart attack or a bypass operation, were desperate to improve their health and lose weight, but felt limited by hip or knee problems.

What about diverting some of your holiday funds into a private heart valve? In any event it might be worth investigating the cost, private treatment costs less than I'd assumed, maybe it's the same for you.

Good luck!

[WeaverShaz in reply to Chappychap]

Hmm - not sure I have that much in holiday funds, but as you say, maybe worth investigating. Thanks.

[marigoldb]

Hi, you mention the consensus seems to be not to have anaesthetic because of your AS. Is this from your orthopaedic surgeon?

I had severe AS, but also severe spinal stenosis. I was under St George’s Hospital, London for my back. Had extensive tests etc by senior anaesthetist there, they then had a multidisciplinary meeting, and decided they would do the back first, spelled out the risks to me. Back and leg pain too awful not to go for it. Also they said if I had heart first I would not be able to have back surgery for months.

Anyway, Laminectomy 2/3 Nov 2018 St George’s Hospital

Open heart surgery for new Aortic Valve, and single coronary artery bypass. July 30th 2019 Harefield Hospital. I think I have been so well looked after.

Hope my experience described gives you hope? A new knee first.

[WeaverShaz in reply to marigoldb]

Thanks. That is hopeful. It was my GP and Physio who said no to knee surgery but I had a 14 year checkup on the half-knee and the consultant there thought it should be OK to go ahead, providing it was at a major hospital with an ITU just in case. In fact I had emergency surgery last year under GA for a septic gallbladder and was OK. I see the cardiologist in early March so need to be armed with the right questions.