Indonesian patient gets new lease of life at National Heart Centre Singapore
Aortic valve replacement saves man from heart failure
Oey Ju Hoa, from Surabaya, Indonesia, feels like a new man after a heart surgery to replace his aortic valve. “Before the operation, I was under a lot of stress. I was constantly breathless and often have chest pain. After the operation, I feel like I had gone through a rebirth.”
Mr. Oey had an aortic valve replacement done at the National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) in July 2009. The surgery is a complex procedure to replace a diseased aortic valve in the heart muscle with a mechanical or biological heart valve. In Mr. Oey’s case, a mechanical valve was used. He said, “I want to thank everyone at the National Heart Centre Singapore. I am very impressed with Dr. Chua Yeow Leng, who performed the surgery. He has given me a new life and new direction!”
Mr. Oey was suffering from aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the aortic valve, which causes blood flow to be constricted. The aortic valve is the valve between the left ventricle – one of the heart's four chambers – and the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body that brings oxygenated blood to all parts of the body. The valve works one way, that is, it prevents blood pumped out from the heart from leaking back in.
Mr. Oey, a civil engineer in his 50’s, had discovered his condition in 2006. His cardiologist in Surabaya told him to go on medication to control the condition. But eventually, his doctor told him, he would have to go for a heart surgery.
He decided to seek medical help from overseas and began to research on the Internet for heart surgeons in Asia. That’s when he came across the NHCS website and found Dr. Chua, who is a senior consultant at NHCS. “After reading his profile, I was convinced that Dr. Chua is the best choice for me,” said Mr. Oey.
He felt even surer after meeting Dr. Chua in November 2008 in Surabaya. Mr. Oey recalled, “When I found out that I had this heart condition, I was lost, like a little boy. I didn’t know what to do. But after I met Dr. Chua, I felt assured that this is the man who can help me.”
Mr. Oey was discharged four days after his heart surgery and is so pleased with the results that he plans to tell friends and relatives about his experience. “I would advise anyone who has a similar condition to come to the National Heart Centre Singapore.”
What is aortic stenosis?
Aortic stenosis is the narrowing of the aortic valve. A few things may cause the aortic valve to narrow. For example, the valve may be abnormal at birth. Instead of the normal three leaflets or cusps, an abnormal aortic valve has two cusps (also known as bicuspid), which may not open and close properly. The progressive wear and tear of a bicuspid valve can cause the aortic valve to narrow. Wear and tear with age of a normal aortic valve can also cause narrowing of the valve. Scarring of the valve due to a rheumatic fever during childhood or early adulthood is another cause of aortic stenosis.
As the aortic valve narrows, the flow of blood to the arteries is impeded and the heart has to work harder to pump against the increasing resistance. If untreated, aortic stenosis can lead to heart failure. Symptoms of aortic stenosis include chest pain, breathlessness upon exertion, fatigue, dizziness and heart murmur
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What is aortic valve replacement?
Aortic valve replacement is an open-heart surgery to treat aortic stenosis or leakage of the aortic valve. It involves replacing a diseased aortic valve with a mechanical or biological one. Biological valves made from animals typically last 10 to 15 years before they need to be replaced. They have the advantage of not needing life-long blood thinning medication to prevent blood clots from forming on the valve surfaces. Mechanical valves, on the other hand, are extremely durable and can last up to 40 years. However, a patient fitted with a mechanical valve will need to take anti-coagulation (blood thinning) medicine for the rest of his or her life. |
For more information about aortic valve replacement and other heart treatments, visit www.nhcs.com.sg