Elyse's Profile

I was diagnosed with aortic stenosis at age 28 on an insurance physical. I’ve been followed by my cardiologist since that point in time and am now an active 66 and asymptomatic. I retired and moved a year ago from CT to NC and visited a cardiologist here (Wilmington area) who told me my new pressure reading was 67mm Hg, that I had a valve opening of 0.4-0.5, that I was classified as “critical” and needed valve replacement surgery. I contacted Cleveland Clinic and, based on my echo and a cardiac CT scan, I’ve been offered the relatively new Ozaki procedure where a piece of my pericardium would be used to fashion a “custom made” valve that would be more resistant to calcification and would last 15-20 years like the mechanical valves with no anticoagulant therapy needed. Dr. Unai at Cleveland Clinic has done 50 of these procedure with the same <1% morbidity and mortality rate as the traditional bio prosthetic valve surgery. I will speak to the two physicians who will perform the surgery (Dr. Unai and Dr. Pettersson) but do not have to decide on a procedure until I arrive at the Cleveland Clinic for preliminary testing on 1/11/20121 and surgery is scheduled for 1/15/2021. I get to choose between the Ozaki procedure or the traditional aortic valve replacement using a bio prosthetic valve. After alternating episodes of anxiety and depression, I am finally at peace with the fact that this surgery is imminent. What makes it tough is that I am still very active and asymptomatic.