Endurance athlete hopes new heart valve technology will keep him active

An avid triathlete and marathon runner, Gil Solomon was concerned when an echocardiogram test done in 2014 showed that he had a congenital defect in his heart called bicuspid aortic valve disease. His aortic valve only had two cusps, or leaflets, that opened and closed to regulate blood flow instead of the normal three. The defect causes the valve to narrow, which strains the heart and reduces or blocks blood flow from the heart to the body. The same defect may also weaken the walls of the aorta, the main artery from the heart, which can lead to a tear.Many people, like Solomon, are unaware they have the condition until it is discovered later in adulthood. After diagnosis, these people typically take medications and may be advised to get their valve surgically replaced.“I had met with a handful of surgeons around the country and most recommended immediate surgery because I had a risk of a ruptured aneurysm,” said Solomon, 66, who lives in West Hills about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. “But I felt confident in the national guidelines for managin g my aneurysm and valve disease, which showed surgery could wait, andDr. Jamil Aboulhosn, my UCLA cardiologist, supported my decision. ”Aortic valve replacement surgery is a decades-old procedure during which patients receive an artificial valve to replace natural valves that are diseased or have congenital defects. The options include mechanical valves, which last a long time and are typically used in younger pat...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news