Is it ok to not have surgery if you have leaky heart valves?!
Question: If you don't have the surgery what are your risks?
My brother is 32 years old.He has an enlarged heart ,leaky valves,and high blood pressure.He has told us the cardiologist said he was young and would be alright if he had nothing done that they'll worry about it when he gets older.
Does that make any sense????????
Please enlighten me on this subject any and all answers would be greatly appreciated.
Also he has had a mild heart attack.
Answers: If you don't have the surgery what are your risks?
My brother is 32 years old.He has an enlarged heart ,leaky valves,and high blood pressure.He has told us the cardiologist said he was young and would be alright if he had nothing done that they'll worry about it when he gets older.
Does that make any sense????????
Please enlighten me on this subject any and all answers would be greatly appreciated.
Also he has had a mild heart attack.
It makes perfect sense.
The heart is a complicated organ and no one fix is right for everyone. For instance, I'm 36 years old and have no pulmonary valve. It was defective at birth (along with other heart defects) and has been removed. I've done well, but now need a pulmonary valve. I also have an enlarged heart becasue of the inability of the valve to close and empty the chamber. Many children born with my birth defect today dont' face the issues I've had because the diagnosis and repair are more complete and happens earlier in life. In my case the cardiologist has said "Let's not repair this part of the defect and wait until she gets older -- by which time technology will have improved also." Granted it sounds like my case is more severe than your brother's, but it makes absolute sense that they don't want to put him through the trauma of open heart surgery unless they have to, as long as his quality of life is good.
I think he needs a second opinion asap!
My grandfather had 2 "leaky" valves and had several heart attacks during his life. He died in 1998 at the age of 87.
My grandmother has 1 "leaky" valve and is on medication. She will be 86 this year.
It depends on the magnitude of the leak. If it is severe enough that it is weakening and damaging the pumping part of the heart most doctors would recommend surgery. Until then they can try with medications to decrease the leak and minize the added work load on the heart attempting to delay indefinitely the day when surgery may be required. Since these prosthetic valves wear out and need to be replaced eventually, their insertion should be delayed in young people as long as possible.