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Atrial Valve repair/replacement info please
Background: 69 year old white female. 5'4", 290 lbs (obese). Born with a heart murmur due to an extra 'membrane' near aortic valve which kept it from working correctly. Not too bad until last couple of years. Have CHF, SOB, dyspnea on exertion. Not much pain if any. Arteries 'clear' per heart cath. Fairly severe aortic stenosis (opening is at .08) likely due to age/weight/calcium calcifications, but also the extra membrane issue. Diabetic. insulin dependent. Some liver issues (newly dx cirrhosis, haven't followed up yet). Nothing else major other than the typical osteoporosis/arthritis. Nondrinker. Nonsmoker.
Questions: Assuming I need aortic valve replacement (whether open heart, keyhole surgery, or TAVR unknown so far) how likely is it they are going to approve me for surgery? If they don't, how long might I have to live? Broad questions I know. Any input would be really appreciated.
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It depends on the surgeon. Some won't, some will. A lot depends on the way you present when they say they want to discuss your case with you on a first examination. If you are sharp mentally, keeping yourself relatively stable with the diabetes, not continuing to gain weight, are at least somewhat active, maybe volunteering locally, don't have severe mobility issues....I could see one out of three or four taking a chance on you. Maybe two out of four. But your obesity, diabetes, current heart condition, cirrhosis...they may feel that you won't profit from their skills for more than a year or three. I dunno...this is something between you and your surgeon. My own daughter was obese, not morbidly, and damaged her foot. She is otherwise quite healthy. Grooms dogs and breeds them, shows them, teaches dog handling. The surgeon bluntly told her he'd see her in a year when she had lost at least 60 pounds. She wanted the surgery, and she complied. Modified her 'comfort food' diet and reversed her Type II. Her surgery is mid-July.