Surgical aortic valve replacement by open heart surgery
Does my loved one have a health issue?
- Has your loved one been complaining of chest pain or breathlessness?
- Do they quickly tire from daily activities which were easy for them before, such as climbing stairs or gardening?
- They might have heart valve disease.
- Heart valve disease, including aortic stenosis is treatable if caught in time.1,2
- Caregivers play an important role in encouraging and supporting their loved one to get tested for heart valve disease.
- The most common type of heart valve diseases among the elderly is aortic stenosis.
Take your loved one to get a heart check-up.
I am worried about my loved one’s aortic stenosis.
- It is normal to be concerned about your loved one’s health.
- It may be reassuring to you and your loved one to know that aortic stenosis is treatable.2
- However, it can also worsen without timely treatment.2,3
- Talk to their doctor to understand how to manage their aortic stenosis.
What should I do to support, if treatment is not recommended immediately?
Symptoms: Support your loved one by helping them keep track of symptoms, and changes in symptoms. If you notice any of them change, talk to their doctor as soon as possible.
Echocardiogram: Ask their doctor how often monitoring testing is needed. Tests such as echocardiogram may need to be done to keep track of their valve health. Remember when testing is due, and follow up.
How can my loved one's severe aortic stenosis be treated?
Severe aortic stenosis can be treated by replacing their aortic valve.
There are two ways to do this:4
TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation), a minimally invasive procedure
Talk to your loved one’s doctor to learn more about the benefits and risks of severe aortic
stenosis treatments.
My loved one needs to undergo a valve replacement. How can I support them?
You can support them during this time by:
- Helping them prepare for the procedure, per their doctor’s advice
- Ensuring they have necessary personal items during their hospital stay
- Developing a recovery plan with their doctor
- Accompanying them to the hospital
- Seeking their doctor’s advice on their post-discharge diet, activity level, medications, and follow-up appointments
- Aiding them during their recovery period
- Reaching out to their core team if you have any concerns or questions
Talk to your loved one’s doctor about how you can support them
during their treatment journey.
Hear how Margaret and her family managed her aortic stenosis
Symptoms of aortic stenosis are often dismissed by patients as signs of old age.
As a caregiver, you play an important role in helping your loved one understand the importance of seeking treatment early.
Unless treated, only 1 in 2 people with severe aortic stenosis
will survive longer than 2 years.5
Do not delay getting your heart checked. Visit your doctor today.
Stay informed
Join our mailing list to stay informed about heart valve disease, aortic stenosis, and its treatment options including transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)
References
- Osnabrugge RLJ, et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2013;62:1002–1012.
- American Heart Association. Aortic Stenosis Overview. Available at: https://www.heart.org/en/health... Accessed 2 August 2023.
- Cleveland Clinic. Aortic Valve Stenosis. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health... Accessed 2 August 2023.
- British Heart Foundation. TAVI (Transcatheter aortic valve implantation). Available at:
https://www.bhf.org.uk/information...Accessed 2 August 2023. - Otto CM. Heart 2000;84:211–218.
Important safety information
Important safety information
Information on this site includes educational information regarding certain conditions and potential therapies or treatment options.
Other therapies or treatment options may be available and you should discuss any educational information you access online with your healthcare professional. Appropriate treatment for individuals is a matter for healthcare professionals to decide in consultation with each individual.