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What Does Difficulty Breathing After TAVR Procedure Indicate?
Question: My dad is 91 years old and a week ago he had the TAVR procedure. the last two days he has difficulty breathing and when he starts to eat he is full and can't finish eating. My concern is fluid around the heart or in the lungs. He has an appointment today with his surgeon, how can we tell if it is fluid?
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I carefully passed through your question and would explain that first of all it is necessary to evaluate the integrity and functionality of the new aortic valve implant.
For this purpose, the test of choice is the cardiac ultrasound, which would enable clear investigation of almost all of the cardiac structures, including valves, cardiac muscle, pericardium and large blood vessels entering and originating from the heart.
In this regard, any possible pericardial fluid or blood collection inside the pericardial space may be ruled out.
Also, by means of echo it may be possible to investigate fluid accumulation inside the lungs (by confirming evidence of the comet sign) or in the pleural space.
In addition, a chest X ray study could confirm any possible fluid accumulation in the pericardial or pleural space or lung tissue.
Also, I would recommend performing some blood lab tests:
- complete blood count for anemia
- liver function tests
- blood fasting glucose
- renal function tests
- PCR and ESR (for possible inflammation).
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I carefully passed through your question and would explain that first of all it is necessary to evaluate the integrity and functionality of the new aortic valve implant.
For this purpose, the test of choice is the cardiac ultrasound, which would enable clear investigation of almost all of the cardiac structures, including valves, cardiac muscle, pericardium and large blood vessels entering and originating from the heart.
In this regard, any possible pericardial fluid or blood collection inside the pericardial space may be ruled out.
Also, by means of echo it may be possible to investigate fluid accumulation inside the lungs (by confirming evidence of the comet sign) or in the pleural space.
In addition, a chest X ray study could confirm any possible fluid accumulation in the pericardial or pleural space or lung tissue.
Also, I would recommend performing some blood lab tests:
- complete blood count for anemia
- liver function tests
- blood fasting glucose
- renal function tests
- PCR and ESR (for possible inflammation).
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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