moderate aortic regurgitation.

[graingel]

good afternoon, (in the UK)
my husband has been today diagnosed with this aortic valve regurgitation.
He is 60 years old and has no symptoms.
Does anyone know anything about this.
Do I need to be worried.
Are you suffering with this also.

Thank you in anticipation

[graingel]

Hi again,

He is on warfarin for a d.v.t. which he had some time ago. They are going to take him off this and then do some more tests.
What tests I do not know yet. But the specialist is writing to his G.P. then more tests when the warfarin has completely cleared from his system.
Fingers crossed then that his clots do not return.
You have explained this situation very well.
Thank you

[ed34]

Pneumonia is a kind of umbrella term used for any type of chest infection. Yes, it could have been that. Many infections seem to enjoy attacking valves. With regards to exertion, his body will tell him if he is over doing it, making him slow down. He will probably feel a bit light headed or even short of breath, but he will recover very quickly. It could be that he has no symptoms yet on exertion, it depends on how bad the valve is leaking.
Have they given him a follow up appointment for a new echo scan?

[graingel]

Well thank you kindly with your reply.
So ... does it mean he does not have to exert himself. ( I didn't go with him to the G.P. and he is being very vague)
Would it have anything to do with the fact that he was in hospital with pneumonia a few months ago. That infection lasted for ages.
Thank you again.

[ed34]

They will have to do regular scans because you don't want it to turn into the severe mode. It can be cause by a few different things, a common one being an infection. If it does reach the severe stage, they will certainly want to operate and repair the valve. If it's beyond repair, your husband will be looking at having an artificial one. Symptoms will vary on the amount of exercise you do, and the type of exercise. As blood is pumped out of the main left heart chamber to give freshly oxygenated blood to all of the body, some is obviously leaking back into the heart making it less efficient.
Worried? well any heart condition is a worry but let me put this into perspective. The UK has very good survival statistics with heart surgery, and the expected survival rate for valve repair/replacement is around 97-98% which includes the patients risk factors. You can't expect anything better really. If it was 50-60% then I would be worried. I hope this puts your mind at ease. If you have any other concerns, please don't hesitate to ask. I have not had valve surgery, but I had open heart surgery for a triple bypass in 2007, aged 46.