Background: When Owen was born, one of his nurses picked up a slight heart murmur. The pedetrician from Mountain Area Pediatrics checked him out and ordered a visit from the pediatric cardiologist, an EKG and an ultrasound of his heart. Dr. McGovern, his cardiologist, told us after all the tests that he had a small hole in his heart, leakage on the low pressure side, and an aortic bicuspid valve. He said the small hole and leakage would probably go away, but that we would have to monitor the bicuspid valve and scheduled an appointment for two months. They said everything looked ok, that his pressure, rate, etc. were fine.
We went to Dr. McGovern, the pediatric cardiologist today. They weighed him (12 lbs, 4 oz.), took blood pressure, listened, did an EKG. Dr. McGovern said that the murmur is so slight now that he wouldn't find it unless he was looking. He said he looked great, was very healthy, and Dr. McGovern wasn't worried about him.
Now for the rest of the story. He has the bicuspid valve, and always will.
http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/bicuspid-aortic-valve-symptoms.php
http://www.med.yale.edu/intmed/cardio/chd/e_as/index.html
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=991
Dr. McGovern said it was a condition we would monitor over the years. We will go back next year, do an ultrasound, and see where we stand. If there is little to no leakage, we will come back in 2-3 years at a time. Dr. McGovern said that these conditions don't ever surprise you, and he said that Owen's condition is such that it shouldn't cause much of a problem. He probably won't ever need surgery, even into his 70's and 80's.
I asked about athletics, and Dr. McGovern said that he (Dr. McGovern) would be fine with things like basketball or track, but not football or wrestling. He said those types of isometric activities, like weighlifting, would spike your blood pressure and put high stress on the valve. While it might not be a problem, it also might cause a higher rate of leakage.
To be honest, I am a little concerned. I know that we have a long way to go, and that he can do pretty much anything he will want to be able to do, but I still hate to hear he already has limits. I wonder if the "no weightlifting" restriction applies to hauling firewood, or moving furniture, or pretty much any kind of physical labor.
We will just take it a day at a time, and wait and see how things turn out. What we do know is that he is strong and big for his age, and that God is in control.
Bryan
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6 comments:
We will be praying for sweet Owen's heart. We miss you guys...
-Carrie & Jon
Thanks! I liked fishy face boy.
We aren't really worried, just coming to grips with what this means, and what it doesn't mean.
Bryan
We too know that God is in control of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. We are always praying for all of you, but will especially pray for this concern. Mama and Daddy.
Hey there Bryan,
So you know, I was born with a bicuspid aortic valve. Had no problems for the first 33 years of life and then surgery was required.
That said, I'm doing pretty good now at 36 years of age - I'm surfing again and scuba diving again.
Your concern is beyond understandable. If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know.
Cheers,
Adam
Author Of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery.
Thanks for the information, Adam. We really aren't too worried about Owen's lifestyle - we just have to teach him to take care of himself, and hopefully he won't need any surgery.
I am a 46 year old with a bicuspid aortic valve. The valve was diagnosed some years ago, when I took my first echo as part of a follow-up to a routine physical.
According to my last echo, the valve is free of leakage or stenosis. I played baseball when I was younger, and to date my doctor has placed no limits on my physical activity.
Still, when I first looked on the web after the condition was found, I freaked. The web is full of sad stories--where a condition was not discovered until valve function was severely compromised--and even some noted cardiologists who will tell you that all bicuspid aortic valves must be replaced.
I have since come to the view that much of this online content is inaccurate or just biased by our tendency to focus on bad outcomes.
Over the last few years, I have spoken to several cardiologists and gerontologists who say that they have seen seventy- and even eighty-year old patients with perfectly clean, well-functioning bicuspid valves. Moreover, the technology to treat valves is progressing and early monitoring is a key factor in almost all situations.
You are a good parent to be careful. May God bless your child with a long, healthy and happy life.
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