SCUBA Post-Ross Procedure (AVR)

[Adam 12-21-05]

Hey everybody,

I'm curious to know if anyone knows about whether or not SCUBA diving after AVR is permitted. I'm one year post-op and feeling pretty good.

However, I'd hate to be down 60 feet and realize that SCUBA wasn't such a good idea.

Does anyone here have any thoughts about this?

Cheers,

Adam
A Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery

 

[Magic8Ball]

Not sure, both my brother, mate, and brother in law dive so i'll ask them if they know anything.

Its probably one of those things that you will probably have to decide how much you want to do and just go with your decision....the cardiologist will probably say its not a good idea and you will find lots of people who are doing it so it will come down to who you trust and how much you miss it.

On the surface of things i can't see it being that bad as you don't hold your breath (unless something goes wrong )or lift heavy things.

I would imagine there would be a possibility that the air mixture may affect the blood and therefore someones INR level but you have had a Ross so you don't have that to worry about.

Good luck with finding an answer you want to hear.

 

[tobagotwo]

A lot of truth to that. I went snorkelling in Cozumel less than a year before my surgery. I like going down 30' or more to get photos of lobsters and crabs under ledges, eels, and octopi. The cardiologists predicted sudden death, but I was snorkelling every day for hours, at least twice a day. It was great. And that is holding your breath.

I agree with Magic8Ball. Cardiologists will tell you that you shouldn't do anything but walk a treadmill and eat celery the rest of your life, while popping Lipitor tabs. But what seems to be emerging from indivdual experiences is that many AVRs can be fine and live a perfectly normal life after they're fully healed. Hopefully, you'll find some folks post valve surgery who do dive, and you can get some good feedback with which to make your decision.

I can tell you that I'm not done snorkelling by a long shot.

Best wishes,

 

[bvdr]

I'm having a hard time inserting a link here but there is a site called:

Scubadoc.com

that has a lot of good information on it. My oldest son is a diving instructor and would require a doctor's clearance in most cases. I hope you can do it again since it is such a wonderful experience.

Go to the diving fitness area and scroll down to heart problems and then to valvular heart disease. It has some very specific information and the rationale behind it.

 

[Lynlw]

Hi Adam, I followed your link to the book you wrote since your surgery, congradulations it looks like it was alot of work, I was reading the q& A and saw one of the things in the book was if you could scuba dive w/ a mechanical valve, so it got me wonderring what the docs told you about that and if any docs mentioned tissue valves and scuba? Lyn

 

[geebee]

I first learned to scuba dive after my second OHS. However, I have a mechanical MV so it could be different.

The only thing I have been told is that going too deep (below 50 feet) could cause pressure bruising due to coumadin. Since I am more of a shallow diver (above 25 feet) it has never been an issue.

 

[Tom F.]

Hey there was some guy that returned to pro football in the NFL after a Ross, so I cannot see why recreational diving with a swim buddy would be a problem once you have healed fully.

 

[tobagotwo]

The ScubuDoc link was interesting, but all of the information I saw was based on people who had active valve disease. I didn't see any portion for those who have had their valves replaced. Did I miss it?

http://www.scuba-doc.com/cngvlvhd.htm

Thank you,

Bob H

 

[Phyllis]

Found this in a search- don't know if it is valid or relevant, but you can take a look at it:http://www.cardiologytoday.com/200009/frameset.asp?article=finalbeat.asp

 

[bvdr]

The ScubuDoc link was interesting, but all of the information I saw was based on people who had active valve disease. I didn't see any portion for those who have had their valves replaced. Did I miss it?

http://www.scuba-doc.com/cngvlvhd.htm

Thank you,

Bob H

No, I don't think you did but it seems like a logical place to get specific advice in the ASK box. Bob, I don't think you miss much of anything! You're by far the best researcher I know. I've had some double vision lately and I'm afraid I'm missing quite a bit myself.

 

[DJE4MSU]

Scuab Diving After Valve Replacement

Scuab Diving After Valve Replacement

I had been an avid recreational diver for twenty years prior to AVR at the age of 57. My cardiologist felt that a return to diving would depend on my level of recovery. I thought it important toresume jogging and other regular exercise
as soon as possible. My surgery was in April of 2006, and by June I returned to cold-water diving in the Great Lakes. I have included a link to my earlier post on this topic. Hopefully, I will continue with diving until age becomes the restricting factor. It can be done. You must make an honest assessment of your physical stamina, have no other heart problems, dive only after fully consulting with your cardiologist.


http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16610&highlight=scuba+diving

You may also consult with doctors at Divers Alert Network (DAN). DAN is a diving medicine research organization associated with Duke University.