L
Lauren's_Dad
Hello:
I just returned from my visit with Dr. Balkhy, my surgeon for my upcoming 8/26 aortic valve replacement surgery. As many members have wisely suggested, I compiled a list of questions to bring to this meeting. In case anyone is looking for a list of this type as a starting point, here are the questions I brought to the meeting (also attached as a .pdf file, many of these questions came from similar threads on this topic):
Questions about the surgery itself:
1. How high risk is this surgery?
2. What are the specific risks?
3. How long will my heart last if I don?t do the surgery soon?
4. Will you be available for complications after the operation? For how many days? If you?re not around, who is the backup?
5. How long does the surgery usually take?
6. Will someone update my family during surgery? How often and how detailed? Will there be WiFi access available to update non-attending friends and family?
7. How long will I be in the hospital if all goes well?
8. What kind of follow-up is expected in the days/weeks after the procedure?
9. What type of long-term follow-up does one need in the years after surgery (i.e. Doctor visits, echos, EKGs, etc.)?
10. What are my options regarding blood (DDAVP and recombitant factor)? How is this being managed during the surgery? What precautions are being taken to ensure no risk of bleeding? Of blood clots forming?
11. Describe the role of the anesthesiologist. Who will it be, and what are his credentials? Does he understand the effect of bleeding disorders on anesthesia?
12. Describe your vision of the surgery ? in addition to the valve replacement, is the aorta being repaired or removed? How much?
13. How long will I be on the heart-lung machine?
14. Will I be getting a body shave before the surgery? To what extent? Why exactly do you do this? (Note: The answer is yes, I am receiving a full body shave from chin to toe, and they do this for sanitary reasons - don't want hair to fall into the surgical area. Not sure why I find this interesting, but I do...
Questions about the surgeon & rate of success:
1. How many valve replacements have you done?
2. What has been your success rate? Your long-term success rates?
3. Have you had much/how much experience with bleeding disorders?
4. What is your mortality rate?
5. What is the risk of stroke? Paralysis?
6. Do I have the opportunity for a minimally invasive procedure? Robotics?
Other Questions Regarding Pre-Op and Post-Op Care
1. Can my family stay with me or be allowed in when they wants?
2. What is 'Plan B' if the surgery cannot be performed as planned for some reason?
3. What would have to happen for you to revert to 'Plan B'?
4. What effect will my bleeding disorder have on my ability to medicate?
5. What type of materials are you going to use (valve type)?
6. What will be used if the aorta needs replacement?
7. What will be used to hold the sternum together?
Other Questions Regarding Insurance
1. How do I ensure that all medical costs will be paid? Does this surgery require pre-approval? If so, when will this be done? By whom?
-------------------------------------------------------------
As for my visit, I had hoped that my dilated ascending aorta would not be replaced, but it's likely that my hope will not come true - looks like some of the aorta will need to be replaced with a Dacron graft. Also learned that I will need to be at the hospital at 5am the morning of the surgery, and the surgery will take 3.5 to 5 hours (depending on the amount of work needed on the aorta).
All in all, good information to have, but a bit overwhelming right now. Need to take a day to digest everything - may have a few questions for the group. I think a few hours of mindless TV would be a good idea - luckily Olympic synchronized diving is currently on...
Have a good night everyone,
Jason
I just returned from my visit with Dr. Balkhy, my surgeon for my upcoming 8/26 aortic valve replacement surgery. As many members have wisely suggested, I compiled a list of questions to bring to this meeting. In case anyone is looking for a list of this type as a starting point, here are the questions I brought to the meeting (also attached as a .pdf file, many of these questions came from similar threads on this topic):
Questions about the surgery itself:
1. How high risk is this surgery?
2. What are the specific risks?
3. How long will my heart last if I don?t do the surgery soon?
4. Will you be available for complications after the operation? For how many days? If you?re not around, who is the backup?
5. How long does the surgery usually take?
6. Will someone update my family during surgery? How often and how detailed? Will there be WiFi access available to update non-attending friends and family?
7. How long will I be in the hospital if all goes well?
8. What kind of follow-up is expected in the days/weeks after the procedure?
9. What type of long-term follow-up does one need in the years after surgery (i.e. Doctor visits, echos, EKGs, etc.)?
10. What are my options regarding blood (DDAVP and recombitant factor)? How is this being managed during the surgery? What precautions are being taken to ensure no risk of bleeding? Of blood clots forming?
11. Describe the role of the anesthesiologist. Who will it be, and what are his credentials? Does he understand the effect of bleeding disorders on anesthesia?
12. Describe your vision of the surgery ? in addition to the valve replacement, is the aorta being repaired or removed? How much?
13. How long will I be on the heart-lung machine?
14. Will I be getting a body shave before the surgery? To what extent? Why exactly do you do this? (Note: The answer is yes, I am receiving a full body shave from chin to toe, and they do this for sanitary reasons - don't want hair to fall into the surgical area. Not sure why I find this interesting, but I do...
Questions about the surgeon & rate of success:
1. How many valve replacements have you done?
2. What has been your success rate? Your long-term success rates?
3. Have you had much/how much experience with bleeding disorders?
4. What is your mortality rate?
5. What is the risk of stroke? Paralysis?
6. Do I have the opportunity for a minimally invasive procedure? Robotics?
Other Questions Regarding Pre-Op and Post-Op Care
1. Can my family stay with me or be allowed in when they wants?
2. What is 'Plan B' if the surgery cannot be performed as planned for some reason?
3. What would have to happen for you to revert to 'Plan B'?
4. What effect will my bleeding disorder have on my ability to medicate?
5. What type of materials are you going to use (valve type)?
6. What will be used if the aorta needs replacement?
7. What will be used to hold the sternum together?
Other Questions Regarding Insurance
1. How do I ensure that all medical costs will be paid? Does this surgery require pre-approval? If so, when will this be done? By whom?
-------------------------------------------------------------
As for my visit, I had hoped that my dilated ascending aorta would not be replaced, but it's likely that my hope will not come true - looks like some of the aorta will need to be replaced with a Dacron graft. Also learned that I will need to be at the hospital at 5am the morning of the surgery, and the surgery will take 3.5 to 5 hours (depending on the amount of work needed on the aorta).
All in all, good information to have, but a bit overwhelming right now. Need to take a day to digest everything - may have a few questions for the group. I think a few hours of mindless TV would be a good idea - luckily Olympic synchronized diving is currently on...
Have a good night everyone,
Jason