Is aortic regurgitation "curable" with surgery?

Question

My son was diagnosed at birth with aortic regurgitation and I found a website that states that it is curable with surgery, however our cardiologist has never stated it like that, he states that when he has a valve replacement it will be "temp" fix until the fake valve wears out and needs replaced again. Which to me is not a cure. What is your thought?

Answer 1

surgery is the only way to fix it!

Answer 2

It depends on the reasons for his aortic regurgitation. If it is simply a valve malformation, replacement of the valve may be a "cure." However, replacement valves are usually cadaveric (from dead bodies) or pig hearts, and they seem to have a finite lifetime, so yes, it is likely that a child may need surgery again in the future for the same reason. My understanding is the usual lifetime of replacement valves measures into decades.

However, If there is a different malformation that caused the valve to be damaged, obviously replacing the valve will only be a stopgap solution.

In any case, many physicians are reluctant to perform such a procedure on children, since there is a high likelihood (or certainty) it will mean multiple heart surgeries. In addition, many cases of congenital cardiovascula malformations are incidental, and never cause any particular problems ever, so it will be important to discuss with your doctor what the prognosis of his condition is, even before discussing options for treatment.

As always, discuss these and any questions with your doctor. Good luck!

Answer 3

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.
Aortic insufficiency can be treated either medically or surgically, depending on the acuteness of presentation, the symptoms and signs associated with the disease process, and the degree of left ventricular dysfunction.
Surgical treatment is typically warranted prior to the ejection fraction falling below 55% or the left ventricular end-systolic dimension increasing to more than 55mm, regardless of symptoms. If either of these thresholds is passed, the prognosis worsens.
Please see the web pages for more details on Aortic regurgitation.

Answer 4

I agree that it not a cure ,only a treatment , this topic will help you out in understanding the subject:

Treatment

Treatment of aortic valve regurgitation depends on the degree of the regurgitation, your signs and symptoms, and whether the regurgitation is affecting your heart function.

If you have aortic valve regurgitation, your doctor will evaluate your heart with regular echocardiograms to determine whether damage to your heart is accelerating.

Observation
Some people, especially those with mild regurgitation, need no specific treatment. However, even if you don't have signs and symptoms with aortic valve regurgitation, schedule regular evaluations with your doctor. Observation isn't the same as ignoring the condition. Actively observing the stability or the progression of the condition is important so that you can receive the right treatment at the right time.

Medications
No medication can eliminate aortic valve regurgitation. However, your doctor may prescribe certain medications to reduce the degree of aortic valve regurgitation, control blood pressure and try to prevent fluid buildup. If you have aortic valve regurgitation, your doctor may recommend that you take antibiotics before certain dental or medical procedures to prevent the heart infection endocarditis.

Surgery
Once signs and symptoms of aortic valve regurgitation develop, you'll usually need surgery. However, if aortic valve regurgitation is weakening your heart, you may need surgery even if you feel well. While the heart is generally adept at counteracting deficiencies caused by a leaky aortic valve, the problem is that if the valve isn't fixed or replaced in time, the strength of your heart may decline so much that it's permanently weakened. You can avoid that by having surgery at the appropriate time.

The overall function of your heart and the amount of regurgitation help to determine when surgery is necessary. Surgical procedures include:

* Valve repair. Aortic valve repair is surgery to preserve the valve and to improve its function. Occasionally, surgeons can modify the original valve (valvuloplasty) to eliminate backward blood flow. You don't need long-term anticoagulation therapy after a valvuloplasty.
* Valve replacement. In many cases, the aortic valve has to be replaced to correct aortic valve regurgitation. In valve replacement surgery, the leaky aortic valve is replaced by an artificial (prosthetic) valve. The two types of artificial valves are mechanical and tissue. Mechanical valves are made from metal and are durable, but they carry the risk of blood clots forming on or near the valve. If you have a mechanical valve, you need to use anticoagulant medication for life to prevent blood clots from forming on the valve. Tissue valves generally come from a pig, cow or human-cadaver donor heart. These kinds of valves wear out over time, and you may need another operation to replace the valve. However, an advantage of the tissue valve is that you don't have to use long-term anticoagulation medication. Another type of tissue valve replacement, called an autograft is sometimes possible. An autograft valve replacement uses your own pulmonary valve — another heart valve — to replace your damaged aortic valve.

Aortic valve surgery usually involves open-heart surgery performed with general anesthesia. Your heart is exposed and connected to a heart-lung machine that assumes your breathing and blood circulation during the procedure. Your surgeon then repairs or replaces your leaky aortic valve.

Aortic valve regurgitation can be eliminated with surgery, and you can usually resume normal activities within a few months. The prognosis following surgery is generally good.

Answer 5

Your cardiologist is right. The surgery is highly intense, your little boy will be put on a heart/lung bypass machine for open-heart surgery. The complications are trememdous. Surgery is only used in life-or-death situations these days.

The symptoms can be controlled with medications, depending on the severity. Some people have no symptoms. In infancy, it might be a condition he will outgrow.

At this point in time, artificial heart valves last about ten years, then they will need to be replaced. Go with the cardiologist on this one. Surgery is only a cure if you have only ten years left to live anyway. Clearly, this isn't the care with your precious son.

Answer 6

That's horrible. But I believe it is. My father is a PA (physician's Assistant) (which is basically the one that does everything a physician does at reduced pay.) And my grandfather is having heart problems so I got to listen to everything and I believe it's possible.