Enlarged heart sugery?

[flying_babyb]

Anyone ever had sugery for a enlarged heart? My boyfreind is having sugery for this soon and worried about him. Im worried hes gonna die.

 

[laurie31]

There are lots of things that can cause an enlarged heart, so I can't begin to guess what type of surgery he is having, but I can tell you that if his doctor feared he wouldn't survive the surgery, it's not likely they would want to do it.

Lots of people from newborns to the very elderly have successful heart surgeries every day. Hopefully your DBF will be fine. Do you know anything more about the procedure? Maybe you should talk it over with him

 

[flying_babyb]

we have a bit of a long distance relationship and hes at work so I gatta wait till midnight to ask him more. I already know im taking time off of work to be with him.

 

[flying_babyb]

I talked to him about it last night. Hes scared himself. He told me that the doc told him its either have the surgery or die. Apparently theres a pretty good risk of paraylisis. Hes more worried im gonna dump him than he is about the fact he could die.

 

[laurie31]

I don't blame him for being scared - anyone would be, even if they are very confident of a good outcome.

I will pray that everything goes well, and good for you for standing by him.

 

[Alaska DogCat]

I have nothing to add, other than to say that ten years ago when I had a seizure, I was very afraid my girlfriend at the time (now wife) would dump me. Her support through some very scary medical times helped me immensely.

 

[Disneylover79]

Not sure what kind of surgery he is having, but you have to be strong for him... I know you are scared and you have every right to be because going to the hospital let alone having surgery on your heart is scary... Please keep us updated on his condition... for you and for you DBF

 

[HelenePA]

Well the surgery isn't for an enlarged heart there is something that is making his heart enlarged they are going to fix do you know what that is? My DD had open heart surgery at 6months old. They can do amazing things these days. There are always risks but if you dont fix the problem then things are just going to get worse and worse. Its better he takes care of it now and not later when he's REALLY sick. I'll keep him in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Aardvarks]

Enlarged heart or 'cardiomegaly' is more usually associated with an enlarged or dilated left ventricle. In rare cases the right venticle can be enlarged but this is linked to lung disease.

Enlargement can be as a result of the heart putting on extra muscle to cope with an increased load or volume of blood to be pumped.This tends to suggest that one or more of heart valves is not working as it should. The other explanation can be a connecting hole between the heart chambers that allows blood to flow backwards and cause a volume overload.

Without further knowledge from your loved one, my best guess would be that he is either getting a hole patched over, or having a faulty valve repaired or replaced. Both Mitral valve malfunction and aortic stenosis can cause cardiac enlargement.

Both heart holes and dodgey valves can be heard as 'heart murmours' through a stethoscope.

My best thoughts are with you both

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My 17yodd had a complete heart repair at 4 months for Tetrology of Fallot (TOF) in which there was a ventrical hole and a pulmonary stenosis.
Her complete repair was the "new way" done by one of the surgeons that began it. My dd was sooo lucky.

As a result she does have an enlarged heart and a aterial hole because her heart has to work harder than the normal heart.

So he is probably getting an issue fixed that cause the enlargement.

I wouldn't worry too much. Heart surgery is such an advanced thing these days. It is truly amazing.
Best wishes to you.