On Monday afternoon 28 Sept Bobbie had an aortic valve dilation using a balloon catheter. It was “very successful” and did not require as much contrast medium as a replacement procedure would have done (hence less of a threat to her renal function). It will certainly improve her cardiac function and probably ease her way out of her chronic (with periods of acute exacerbation) congestive heart failure, and allow her to come off the ventilator. All of this — improved ventricular function and removal of positive pressure ventilation — in turn will further help her renal function.

To quote Geoff it is now a “waiting game”.

“The effect of the angioplasty [valvuloplasty] is not permanent, but could last up to 2 years.  If these things occur, we may not need to deal with the valve replacement or kidney dialysis imminently.”