Aortic valve lifetimes and follow ups

I had my aortic valve replaced by a tissue one in May 2012.

Initially I had six monthly echocardiograms and then annual ones. After the September

2018 one I questioned the locum cardiologist on the results of the echo and he

said that my pulmonary hypertension had increased over the past year from 32

mmHc to 49 mmHc. I had seen him for the

past three years and he had not mentioned it as a problem before. My GP had

also not been informed of it. The locum said that he would see me again in six

months but at that appointment in May he said he could not add anything to last

year’s discussion as I had not had another Echo and he would see me again after

it.

Not having had an appointment date after this Septembers

Echo I phoned to inquire. After the usual hospital run arounds I was eventually

surprisingly told that as valves are only expected to last for ten years that

they stop doing echocardiograms after seven years and that you are then handed

over to a nurse at the Echo Valve Clinic and that I will get an appointment

with her next year instead of an Echo. I

was also told that since 2013 they have not sent full reports of

Echocardiograms to GP’s just a note with any significant changes.

Have any other NHS patients been told this? I

have the details of for the Valve Clinic nurse who I will phone tomorrow as she

is only there for 2 ½ days a week and will see my GP about it when he returns

from holiday. I also see a nephrologist at the hypertension clinic at another

hospital who is dubious as to the cause of the pulmonary hypertension or if I

indeed have it.

I was told after one echo by the head person doing it that valves are now lasting twelve years plus and being 85 my heart will not get as much action as that of a younger person.

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