Bicuspid Aortic Valve Replacement and Ascending Aortic Aneurysm

[Right20deg]

Bicuspid Aortic Valve replacement in the UK 2012 with a private operation provided by company medical plan, 6 months grounding and then back in harness to retirement with nil further issues. A brilliant and supportive regulator.
Ten years later for an NHS valve check, carbon fibre (and warfarin) the scan is good, but an ascending aorta aneurysm is shown outside limits. Requires immediate major surgery. Where did that come from !
At the time of the valve replacement in 2012, the association and risk between bicuspid pathology and subsequent thoracic aneurysm was not as well published as is now the case. Leaving the care and monitoring of the AME and CAA and retiring in good health gave me the confidence that I had little to worry about. Clearly not the case. To those in a similar position, it is worth following it up. The medical records that the regulators maintain are not necessarily shared with your GP. That is how I got missed by the system.

[Right20deg]

Update on the above. CT Scan shows aortic root has dissected and immediate surgery is required. Rupture is likely if delayed. (67 years old ) . Some frustration and regret from the NHS up in Scotland that there was nothing about Bicuspid pathology in the handover notes from NHS England when moving up three years ago. Could all have been monitored and managed much sooner. Notes took three months to arrive in the UK system. A number of pilots are licenced OML with various prosthetics and a good few are bicuspid. We just need to ensure that, in retirement the GP ensures annual monitoring is continued. Oh, and choose your parents wisely. rgds right20deg

[redsnail]

That's worth sharing. A few colleagues have had similar surgery. Will let them know.
Have you had the surgery yet?

[terrain safe]

I had a dilated Aortic Root 5 years ago. Discovered an issue at the annual medical. Had a metal and carbon fibre valve and got my ATCO medical back in about 18 months. All good except for Warfarin but at least I don't need another operation until I'm 75!.

[Right20deg]

That's worth sharing. A few colleagues have had similar surgery. Will let them know.
Have you had the surgery yet?

Upcoming first week Jan. Tis the main blood "inlet manifold" , so a lengthy procedure. EDN is a specialist centre for Aortic surgery, so I am very lucky indeed.

Terrain safe: well done you. Scary stuff it is, but you get quality life back. I wish you both ....live long and prosper !
Gracias a la vida

[terrain safe]

Good luck Right20deg! It's not nice but does get better. Take time out to build up slowly! A month after my op I filled a skip up with lots of furniture that I bashed up with a hammer! It really was a very full skip by the end and I was absolutely shot! But happy that I had done it with no help despite my wife glancing out of the window at me in the snow and ice. Slept for days after!!

[longer ron]

Hope your upcoming Aorta surgery goes well R20.
On a selfish note - I hope you haven't shuffled me too far down the waiting list :) - my Aorta problem is a little further south than yours but I am located a little further north - not sure if the team may cover 2 hospitals ?
We seem to have a pretty good youngish vascular team at 9Wells.
Hope you having a guid christmas anyway :)

Best Wishes LR

[Right20deg]

Terrain safe: Tossing stuff into a skip sounds the perfect therapy for me. Trouble is, my wife would intervene with instructions and possible threats to my recovery. The addition of a hammer would only increase the pleasure......no no pleese...not my Richard Clayderman albums. Yes...out they go.

LR : Thank you for your kind wishes. Eeek, I too hope that I have not messed up the list. It looks like it is down to Edinburgh pronto. My cardiologist was fair horrified at the scan.
9wells really is a centre of excellence. We are so lucky. Have a good Christmas too.
brgs r20

[Horatio Leafblower]

Hey all
I had aortic graft at 30 and aortic valve replacement at 47.
In between I had a TIA (triggered by failing valve) that grounded me for 18 months.

Back in harness now.

if you have a BAV, take asprin. Take care of your health

[Right20deg]

Hey all
I had aortic graft at 30 and aortic valve replacement at 47.
In between I had a TIA (triggered by failing valve) that grounded me for 18 months.

Back in harness now.

if you have a BAV, take asprin. Take care of your health

Wise words Horatio.. Trouble is, some of this stuff is seriously inherited and have just had my aortic valve and ascending root replaced with a warning to tell other family blood line to get screened.
An unpleasant operation which will take me 6 months to recover it just makes me glad that retirement was available.