Misconceptions about aortic stenosis can be deadly. About 4% of older Americans have been diagnosed with aortic stenosis, and in a recent Alliance survey, relatively few general practice physicians reported feeling confident when diagnosing and recommending treatment for the disease. Most general practitioners and geriatricians choose to refer their patients to a cardiologist instead of diagnosing or treating patients themselves.
A person faces a grim prognosis if aortic stenosis is left untreated. Eight in ten physicians who participated in the survey acknowledged that the preferred treatment of aortic stenosis is aortic valve replacement (AVR) surgery, but few Americans are actually receiving the surgery. There could be many barriers to health, including physician misconceptions on contraindications, and patient hesitations because of surgical risks. It is important for physicians to learn more about the disease and treatment options to better educate their patients. Compared to the morbidity rate without surgery, the surgical risks for AVR surgery are relatively small. Frailty without the presence of other chronic diseases is rarely a contraindication to surgery.
If you would like more information on aortic stenosis treatment, you should watch these new videos for primary care physicians. Dr. Jamie M. Brown, Director of Cardiac Transplantation and Assist Devices at the University of Maryland Heart Center, discusses the risk factors, symptoms, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of aortic stenosis.
Aaron Boone is a great athlete of baseball and might be a future Hall of Famer. That’s why it’s so sad to hear a news that he will be going under open-heart surgery. He is the Houston Astro first or third basemen will be undergoing a surgical procedure on his aortic valve to correct a problem he's had for several years and it was just recently when the doctor recommend to have such open-heart surgery to secure his safety. Among his many accomplishments was a game winning home run in Game 7 of the ALCS to put the Yankees into the World Series, and he was selected for the AL All Star team. Let us hope it is a successful procedure and a speedy recovery for Aaron Boone. Gee, I just hope he will survive this heart surgery in order for him to continue give pride to his Houston people.
I have been diagnosed as to having AS and recommended to undergo surgery. I am 71 quite fit, exercise regularly and have none of the symtoms associated with AS. As there is a slight risk with surgery then does the risk get less with someone quite fit with no symtoms what so ever. I cannot find any editorial content that gives and indication of someone fit with no symtoms having less risk when undergoing surgery that someone less fit and has systoms. Can anyone answer this question, as I have to make the decision to undergo surgery shortly, as my consultant advises that I stand the risk of dropping dead suddenly if I do not have surgery.