how long can you live with a leaky and infected aorta valve?

Answer 1

While that last answer is certainly correct, it may not be the easiest thing in the world to understand if you're not a medical professional, so let me summarize what the problems you're facing are.

What it sounds like you're describing is an aortic valve vegetation with destruction of the valve leaflets. The heart valves are thin, flexible flaps of tissue that allow flow of blood in only one direction. When a leaflet gets infected, it can lead to local destruction of the valve itself leading to backflow of blood past the valve. Another big risk factor if you have an infectious vegetation on the aortic valve is for part of that infected vegetation to break off and go elsewhere in your bloodstream. That can lead to strokes (blockage of blood flow to a portion of the brain), loss of blood flow to the intestine or other end organ, or loss of blood flow to the extremities. All of these are medical or surgical emergencies.

The backflow of blood can result in congestive heart failure due to fluid overload on the left ventricle with irreversible damage to the muscle. If the regurgitation is significant (in most cases of infectious endocarditis, it is) you will need a valve replacement surgery before congestive heart failure sets in. If you are already in congestive heart failure with irreversible heart damage, you will need a heart transplant. This is a decision that will need to be made by a cardiothoracic surgeon. Most inoperable patients will not live more than 6 months to a year. Symptoms can be controlled with diuretics and vasodilators to reduce cardiac work.

Answer 2

Leaky Aorta

Answer 3

Anytime a heart valve leaks, it can be a life altering event. For one thing, all the blood from the chamber may not be forced out into the circulation. This " stagnant blood" like in A-fib, can clot and eventually cause serious trouble.

A flow study will show how much leakage there is and if the doctor recommends a procedure to repair or correct this problem, you need to consider following that doctors diagnosis.

As always, it never hurts to get a second opinion when surgery is the fix for a problem.

Answer 4

I'm assuming that they did blood cultures on you already. Some valve infections are more difficult to treat and its not unusual for a person to be on antibiotics for months. They will probably have you come in every few months to have a Transesphogeal echo to see if the infection is improving. This can be very serious and you must follow your doctors advice. Best of luck!

Answer 5

Aortic regurgitation is incompetency of the aortic valve causing flow from the aorta into the left ventricle during diastole. Causes include idiopathic valvular degeneration, rheumatic fever, endocarditis, myxomatous degeneration, congenital bicuspid aortic valve, syphilitic aortitis, and connective tissue or rheumatologic disorders. Symptoms include exertional dyspnea, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, palpitations, and chest pain. Signs include widened pulse pressure and a holodiastolic murmur. Diagnosis is by physical examination and echocardiography. Treatment is aortic valve replacement and, in some cases, vasodilating drugs.(Merck)
Aortic insufficiency is curable with surgical repair. This can completely relieve symptoms unless severe heart failure is present or other complications develop. Without treatment, patients with angina or congestive heart failure do poorly.(MedlinePlus)
Please see the web pages for more details on Aortic insufficiency.

Answer 6

Long enough to get surgery I hope. I guess it would depend on how bad the infection is and how large the leak. I assume the person is under a doctors care.

Answer 7

When u take the proper ttt for the infected valve , use the prophylactic measures to avoid infections again , & If u take care of urself.............u will life long as God wants


Wish u a good life

Answer 8

Chances are you will have an aneurysm. I would see a doctor. If you have an aeortic valve replacement (with a stent) that is leaking this could cause serious problems. Get it operated on. I would say you wouldn't live very long.

Answer 9

depends on what type of antibiotic you are on and if it is working.. if you have this condition then you must be under a Dr's care.. don't worry just do as he instructs and as soon as the infection is under control he will be able to stop the leaking

Answer 10

You knoe Lori, I don't think there are any Heart Specialist on Yahoo Answers and I would not risk an answer from a "guesser" on my heart honey, go to a specialist.