Anyone had 3 valve replacement surgeries?

I'm qualified to post on this thread now. I'm a month out from my 3rd valve replacement. Tissue AVR in 2000, mech AVR in 2005 and tissue tricuspid 2024. Tissue aortic valve at 22yo was a bad recommendation, but apparently it was important to a lot of people that I be able to have babies (nobody actually asked me), but that's a tale for another day... Second surgery landed me with heart block and a pacemaker, which led to the pacing wire damaging my tricuspid valve, which led to my recent surgery.

Recovery #3 has been slower and harder. I lost a lot of blood during the surgery and had a lot of fluid after due to all the blood products I was given. This meant it took longer for my lungs to dry out and reinflate properly. I spent 6 nights in ICU and several nights on CPAP or high-flow oxygen. I'm also anemic (low hemoglobin, iron reserves ok), which my GP is monitoring, so my energy levels are still not great.

My mechanical aortic valve is still bopping away with no trouble after 19 years.

Canton said:

I was 53 (55 today) when I had my aortic value replaced with an Edward's tissue KONECT RESILIA aortic valve and I have no regrets. As I understand that if I take care of myself this valve should last at least 20 years and it was designed to simplify the TAVR process including the TAVR to TAVR process. So, at 53 and I get the minimum life span of the value before a TAVR I would be 73. Then at 73 I get my first TAVR and that last 10 years I would be 83. Then the 2nd TAVR would take me 93... I'm good with that.

I had several months to make a decision if I wanted a mechanical or biological valve... I did a lot of research and I myself chose the Edward's Resilia valve and my surgeon agreed and told me I made a good decision.

Reasons I decided against a mechanical valve:

1. Lifelong taking of blood thinners and constant blood testing.
2. Concerns about what foods you have to restrict from eating.
3. And the biggest reason... the noise. There is no noise from a biological valve

Article:
Nearly 1 in 4 people with a mechanical heart valve says the noise it makes disrupts their sleep, a new study finds.
https://www.medicaldesignandoutsourcing.com/mechanical-heart-valves-loud-insomnia/

Click to expand...

I very much doubt they last 20 years, especially if you’re young. I had an AVR with about the same valve as yours at 45, I’m 56 now and kind of need a new one… I take care of myself and I'm in a very good shape. I’m mostly vegetarian, work out every day, hike, walk on treadmill… I’m not sure what more could I do…

eftdan said:

I very much doubt they last 20 years, especially if you’re young.

Click to expand...

There is no data to suggest that they should last 20 years for a young patient and certainly one should not expect a minimum of 20 years, as Canton was apparently told. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformed guidance often given to young patients about what to expect from a tissue valve. At the same time that Canon's doctor was telling him to expect at least 20 years from his tissue valve, I had two surgical consults from well respected surgeons telling me to expect about 10 years from the same tissue valve that he received. I'm glad that those giving me guidance had knowledge of the data.

eftdan said:

same valve as yours at 45, I’m 56 now and kind of need a new one…

Click to expand...

That's 11 years and very normal for someone getting a tissue valve at the age that you did. It also aligns with the guidance that I was given of what I should expect if I chose tissue at age 53.

The choice is not an easy one, with pros and cons for each option. It is important that realistic expectations are given, so that one's choice can be an informed one. Overly optimistic guidance, with no supporting evidence, usually leads to disappointment down the road. It is no small matter to put young patients on a path that is likely to lead to 3 or 4 sugeries in their future. Putting them on this path based on misinformed guidance that this should be their last OHS is unconscionable. Yet, we see exactly that happen often.

We have many members here who have been back for OHS #2 much sooner than had been promised. As you can imagine, it can be devastating news. Some have found themselves facing high risk 3rd and 4th procedures based on misguidance given to them at a young age. Yet, I've never seen any accountability for this bad guidance.

Canton said:

Article:
Nearly 1 in 4 people with a mechanical heart valve says the noise it makes disrupts their sleep, a new study finds.
https://www.medicaldesignandoutsourcing.com/mechanical-heart-valves-loud-insomnia/

Click to expand...

Saw this comment quoted and will admit that I didn't read all the posts that were made in the 2+ years since it was originally stated, but was there ever a poll of this group? I've only heard less than 10 people of the hundreds that I've known with mechanical valves mention that the noise bothers them at all, and none said it was enough to disrupt sleep.

I occasionally hear mine when on my left side, reclining in a bathtub, or facing a window, mirror, or glass top desk, but never is it bothersome.