Ask a Texas Heart Institute Doctor
Informed patients make better patients.
Question:
What are the options for treating leaking heart valves? submitted by Charlotte from Brownwood, Texas, 9/17/08 I had lung cancer 13 years ago and had aortic valve replacement 3 years ago due to radiation induced cardiac disease. Now I have been told that the other three valves are leaking. What are my options?
Answer:
by Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, Mehdi Razavi, MD
A mild degree of leaking of heart valves can be a normal phenomenon. So the first question is the severity of the leaking. The second question is whether you have symptoms such as shortness of breath or swelling. The third question is how progressive is the leaking? For example, has there been a noticeable change in the last few months or year? These are only some of the questions you must discuss with your cardiologist. The options for management (once your cardiologist has decided that the leaking is severe enough) include medications or surgical repair. Antiobiotic prophylaxis should be considered prior to certain procedures.
See also on this site:
View complete list of "Ask a Heart Doctor" Questions and Answers
| Heart Information Center services are made possible in part by a generous gift from the Hamill Foundation. |
Updated September 2008
