Aortic Stenosis.

[Barsel]

A friend of mine who I always seem to be asking advice for, is having an operation in a few weeks time on her leg.
When she went for her pre-op, one of the things they did was an ECG.
They told her she has Aortic Stenosis and when she asked what that is, they said it's nothing to worry about.
As she knows I would want to know about this, she asked them to write it down and they told her to, 'don't go Googling it' which she wouldn't because she wouldn't know how to, but of course I've Googled it and it sounds a bit scary to me.
I've no intention of telling her what I've read about it, but I would like to hear from Sqad or anyone else who would agree that it's nothing to be worried about. Thanks.

[calmck]

Aortic stenosis can be from mild to severe. People can live with mild stenosis for many years without treatment. Your neighbour should be assessed by a consultant anaesthesiologist prior to surgery. Depending on his findings she might need cardiology clearance. I don't imagine the surgery would be given the go ahead if there were any health concerns raised by this diagnosis

[Barsel]

calmck she isn't my neighbour, she's my friend who I've known for nearly 60 years and this is why I'm concerned.
I'm pretty sure she saw an anaesthesiologist when she went for her pre-op as I remember her saying she was surprised as you usually see them on the day of your op, so perhaps it was him who told her this.
I know she isn't having a general anaesthetic, but he did say he would be putting a canula in in case things change, whatever that means.

[calmck]

The cannula means he will insert an intravenous drip into a vein so that if necessary he can give her medication and fluids and do blood tests during the procedure should it be necessary

[calmck]

It can also be used to give pain or relaxing medication should she need these during the procedure. All a common practice, in case of any unforeseen problem

[Peter Pedant]

All this is very third hand. Your friend is on a conveyor belt, she has been seen by an anaesthetist, he knows the problems.

This is very likely to be what we called aortic sclerosis, changes due to aging. The older you get the more likely it is. It is mild. we dont know as we havent seen the results.

You are not doing her a favour by asking her garbled questions to us: all expert cardiologist I assure you, and garbling the answers back. She has already been seen and they know the issues

[My mother has a lumpectomy at age you know 90 1/2, and they said oo - you have had rheumatic fever with heart valve damage. ( must be mitral damage as well as aortic) and she said
oh yeah - - I was in bed for a year in India 1917 and noone knew what was wrong with me....]

[Barsel]

PP
You are not doing her a favour by asking her garbled questions to us://
I wasn't planning on doing her a favour as I have no intention of telling her what I can find out, I said that in my first post.
All I'm hoping to do is to educate myself a little as I've never heard of this before.

[Barsel]

This is the first time that this has been mentioned to my friend although in the past I know she has been told she has a heart murmur, so are the two things related?

[Sqad]

Aortic stenosis cannot be diagnosed on an ECG.
One needs an ultrasound.
All or most elderly folk have a degree of aortic stenosis which is usually symptom free.

I rather agree with the post of PP that it is calcification (thickening) of the aortic valve rather than aortic stenosis.

From what you have described it is no big deal.

[Sqad]

Yes, the heart murmur is related.

[Barsel]

Thanks Sqad, he did describe it as a narrowing of the valve but as far as I know, she wasn't told if it was mild, but I suppose if it was severe, then perhaps something would be done about it.

[Peter Pedant]

// I rather agree with the post of PP//
lordy, dont bust a gut over this...

try googling anything - - - it seems on the internet to be divided into
1) aortic stenosis and anaesthesia for aortic valvue replacement
( not wanted here)
2) sever aortic stenosis and required surgery - how to do it without a death on the table
3) incidental finding of aortic stenosis ( mild ) - - - very little
I think you ignore it