Aortic valve

[Raffmar1]

Hi,

I had an Aortic Valve replacement in 2019 at the age of 55 years old.

Can anyone tell me is it usual to have some kind of follow up ie an Echocardiogram to make sure all is well?

Thank you

[Yumz199725]

2019? And you still haven't had a check up? That's strange have you tried contacting the hospital to see why you haven't been offered an appointment? So sorry to hear you been waiting so long! Maybe contact PALS aswell I know I would if I had been waiting that long for a checkup. 5 years that's awful! X

[Weetabixie]

As Yumz199725 said or even ring gp to ask about having a follow up with cardiology. I have noticed quite a lot of people are not have follow up checks after operations and surgical procedures since 2020, prior to that it seemed the norm. Good luck and hope you get to have that follow up appointment 🤞

[Rosie1066]

I had an aortic valve replacement in 2009 and had regular check ups at my local hospital for a few years after, but then I seem to have fallen off the list for a few years. Started having AF again some years later and was sent for an annual check again. Was fine until COVID hit in 2020 and fell off the list again until last year when my AF started again. Now back in the loop again after being admitted via A&E for AF again but this time I was transferred to a London hospital. Did me some good as they immediately fitted me with an emergency Pacemaker, so, I am now back in the loop, this time at St. George’s Hospital, Tooting, who seem to be very on the ball and are now monitoring both my heart valve, pacemaker and ascending aortic aneurysm and I already have two appointments for 2024.

[Rhinos67]

That doesn't seem right. I had my valve replacement in April 22 and have had 2 Echocardiograms since and another appointment for one in 4 weeks time.Ring and check 😊

[Hidden]

Hi, Until recently it was my understanding that if you've had Valve Surgery, you would have an annual Echo and a Cardio appt. However, following a conversation with the Senior Nurse in the local Cardiology Dept who deals extensively with valve patients , it seems as though that isn't necessarily the case nowadays.

NHS Trusts may vary in approaches, but, apparently mine takes the view that on discharge from the surgical team, it would be five years before a further Echo was done, unless clinincal needs necessitated otherwise. Taking into account that a valve patient is considered "fixed" following surgery I can understand the approach. I've been doing this for a long time, and I've had countless appts where the appt would have been better spent on someone else, certainly in the early years after my first surgery in 1994.

As it happens I have annual, if not more appts/echo's, but, as was explained to me that's due to my clinical needs, in my case further regurgitation, a enlarging Iotragenic Shunt, HF amongst other issues.

Given that you're surgery was in 2019, I would suspect you will have an Echo in the coming months. Unless youre showing signs of issues, I wouldn't worry about it, so I'd take it as a positive that you've not been seen.

Best wishes

[Still_Breathing]

Yes your gp should do an annual.Also I get a phone call from the surgeons department annually. Next year they will also do a ct scan.

So I would start with your gp and also call the hospital.

[TAVIshock]

I can only say that, after a Tavi replacement, I have had check-up ECGs etc - but this perhaps was I had serious complications that you seem to have ben spared. Good luck

Tavishock

[Wellington19]

Ihad my aerotic valve replaced at St BARTS, check up once a year, at John RATCLIFFE hospital Oxford with echo and ecg once a year

[Coper10]

I had an AVR in 2021, along with replacement aortic root and ascending aorta. I have had an annual aortic CT scan to monitor so far. I don't know how long that will continue.