Big surgery coming up

I didn't comment earlier because I "only" had a valve and one CABG done in 2013, but happy to say that, broadly, all went fine. I wasn't expecting the CABG but they decided to do it as there were signs that artery was going to need bypassing in the future, so decided "whilst we're in, let's do it". I am not knowledgeable enough to comment about whether risks of all-in-one surgery increases risks, but it does seem logical to me. The alternative is further surgery sessions, which come with their own repeated risks of course.

The caveat is that I had a complication that can happen to anyone having valve surgery on it's own even: I ended up needing a pacemaker as well. Apparently this affects less than 3% of people, and is why they put in a temporary external pacemaker anyway: just in case it does happen. Inserting the pacemaker was done a week later, and is very minor by comparison. Overall, post surgery I was in hospital 18 days. That was all 10 years ago now, and I am on my second pacemaker.

3mm said:

Jase - I don't know about your hospital. When I had my surgery at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, USA, they sent some text msgs to my brother's cell phone during the surgery.

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Thanks 3mm I will see if this is possible as I know some hospitals may have different rules regarding this but I will ask so my wife can be kept updated if its possible.

LondonAndy said:

I didn't comment earlier because I "only" had a valve and one CABG done in 2013, but happy to say that, broadly, all went fine. I wasn't expecting the CABG but they decided to do it as there were signs that artery was going to need bypassing in the future, so decided "whilst we're in, let's do it". I am not knowledgeable enough to comment about whether risks of all-in-one surgery increases risks, but it does seem logical to me. The alternative is further surgery sessions, which come with their own repeated risks of course.

The caveat is that I had a complication that can happen to anyone having valve surgery on it's own even: I ended up needing a pacemaker as well. Apparently this affects less than 3% of people, and is why they put in a temporary external pacemaker anyway: just in case it does happen. Inserting the pacemaker was done a week later, and is very minor by comparison. Overall, post surgery I was in hospital 18 days. That was all 10 years ago now, and I am on my second pacemaker.

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Thanks Andy, I will just put my faith in my surgeon who is to perform this lengthy operation, in the hope that I pop out the otherside. My Cardiologist say's I should just focus on the recovery part and try not to over think the surgery as this is out of my control.

Thanks

Jase_101 said:

. My Cardiologist say's I should just focus on the recovery part and try not to over think the surgery as this is out of my control.

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Exactly, put your effort into your part, not someone else's part.

Enjoy the ride, its a privilege.

Best Wishes

Jase_101 said:

My Cardiologist say's I should just focus on the recovery part and try not to over think the surgery as this is out of my control.

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This is really good advice. The truth is, valve surgery is easy.............for the patient anyway. They give you something that will make you feel very relaxed and comfy and then the next thing you know, you wake up with a new valve. It could not be any easier from the patient side. Best to focus on the recovery when it's your turn to do your part, but for now just relax and let the incredibly skilled team do their thing.

Jase_101​

Fixing the valve and aorta at the same time is really common. Adding CABG is less common, but still plenty. Best of luck to you.

Little over 48 Hours to go and my head is starting to go!

Surgery scheduled for early on 16th May looking like an 8am start I hope my surgeon gets a good night's sleep on 15th and is not our partying, hehe!

I am sure most feel on edge when it gets this close, I guess if you're not worried then you're not human.

Anyway I look at at it a CABG x 3, plus an aortic repair/replacement and an AVR is biggy for any well trained surgeon and I cant really see past Thursday's surgery, even though I keep trying to tell myself, stay positive.

I plan to post an update as soon as I know all the pre-surgical tests are ok which is 24 hours before and if I am lucky enough to get through this in one piece and update once I start recovery.

Thank you all so much for all your sage words of advice.

Thanks
Jase

Greetings Jase
Just catching up on your posts.

Team Valve Replacement is always on call. Your updates will be most welcome when you're ready to post.

Sending good thoughts and calm winds your way for the days ahead.

Seaton said:

Team Valve Replacement is always on call.

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like a Tag Team

as the earth rolls around the sun and the time in zones means we are in or out.

Jase_101 said:

I am scheduled for a rather large amount of procedures during my OHS in the beginning of March 2024 and my surgeon has said its better to try and get it all done in one op, I guess his thinking is "one and done"

I read a lot on the Forums about people who have had valves replaced and aortic aneurysms repaired at the same time but has anyone had a multi CABG done as well during the same surgery. I have been advised by my surgeon that the plan is to fix the following:

1. Aortic aneurysm as my ascending aorta now measures 5.1cm (Dacron Graft)
2. Aortic Valve Replacement - with a mechanical valve
3. Triple Bypass (CABG) to fix LAD, Diagonal artery and proximal PDA
4. Concomitant cardioablation
5. occlusion of left atrial appendage with an Atriclip

Its a surgical to do shopping list and I appreciate that any of the top 3 listed are complex enough on their own but all 3 in the "same sitting" is concerning as more complexity = more risk!

Has anyone had a lengthy and extensive surgery similar to what I am about to undertake as it would be good to hear how it was. I am 58 and I have been advised no exercise due to the AAA, but have been dieting hard and lost 3.5Kg already and aiming to lose another 8-10kg before the surgery date. Whilst like most people who face OHS, I hope for the best but still worry about the sheer scale of what lies ahead.

Thanks
Jase

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Hi Jase,
I don't have the long long list that awaits you. BY now you will have had your surgery - I do hope that went well!
Keith

Dear All

Been a while since I last posted on here and I wanted to thank you for your kind messages and support in the lead up to my surgery, which did not go as planned.

I had the following done on 16th May 2024 (Aortic Valve Replacement (had a mechanic valve) a replacement of the Ascending Aorta, a Triple Bypass with Ablation and an Atrial clip, which was a bit of a shopping list and took 7 hours as apparently even though I had one of the fastest cardiac surgeons at the hospital I went to in Oxford, UK.

Operation went well and I was in the cardiac ICU when approx 7 days later I had a tamponade which meant I arrested and had to have emergency life saving surgery performed in my bed on the ICU as there was no time to get me to the operating theatre. My wife unfortunately had to be sat down and told that they had performed this life saving procedure and that I was critical and my chances were 50/50.

Luckily each day that passed my chances and stability improved to the point some 3-4 days later they decide to take me out of the induced coma and wake me up, to make sure I still had use of my limbs and that I had not suffered any brain damage. In total I spent 21 days on the cardiac ICU and was finally moved after this point to the Cardio Thoracic Ward. The extended stay on the ICU left me very weak and some 11Kg (24 pounds) lighter as I had lost a lot of muscle tissue after being incapacitated for so long.

I was finally released from hospital 6 weeks after my surgery and was very lucky to have made in through virtually unscathed which amazed all the ICU Team and my cardiac surgeon. Its almost 6 months since I had the surgery and whilst the second emergency surgery was unplanned I feel very lucky indeed to have made in through, and to be back walking 2 miles a day and weight training again.

Thanks again everyone who sent me good luck prior to my surgery.

Take care

Jason

Wow! First off I’m sorry you and your wife had to go through that. Secondly, really happy to hear, albeit slowly, you are on the mend. Remember to heal the mind along with the body. Best of luck to you Jason.

It is wonderful that you are advancing along the road to recovery! Awesome news!

Jase_101 said:

weight training again

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Please be careful. The goal is small consistent gains to improve our health and allow us to effectively perform our daily tasks.

Jase_101 said:

each day that passed my chances and stability improved to the point some 3-4 days later they decide to take me out of the induced coma and wake me up

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When you are comfortable talking about this, I'd like to hear more about what happened. I read that tamponade is fluid accumulation around the heart. Were there warning signs before your cardiac arrest? Why did they keep you in induced coma for so long? What procedure did they perform after your cardiac arrest?

I am glad you are doing well! Thank you for your update.

Wow! That was one rough ride!

Glad you made it through in one piece and are doing well now. Thanks for the update.

Thanks everyone for your kind replies to my last post.

@3mm - Regarding the tamponade there were warning signs (although these were not picked up on as I thought it was due to a little fluid in one of my lungs) as I had a major problem trying to breathe and it felt like I had an elephant sitting on my chest, I was given oxygen and and a nebuliser to try and ease my breathing. On the day it happened I had been feeling pretty bad and knew something was not quite right, but did not know what, after that its a blank as I went into cardiac arrest.

My surgeon and the ICU team later told me its very rare, but when a tamponade occurs immediate surgery is required. I was told that trying to shock the heart back into rhythm is utterly pointless and wont restore the heart function as the fluid is restricting the heart from beating. They drained blood and fluid from around my heart and luckily it was a success. They said I was in the best place for this to have happened and the speedy action by the cardiac surgeon and ICU team at the time most definitely saved my life.

Looking back now its a distant memory of what I went through and the challenges in my recovery due to this complication, but I count myself fortunate that someone up there must be looking out for me as I my mobility and dexterity is fine, my cognitive function is intact and I am back to getting on with life.

Cardiac surgery is a unique experience for each patient and whilst mine was not all plain sailing its remarkable that I had such a large amount of surgery done in one operation and had a serious complication and I am still around to tell the tale.

Thanks again to everybody who helped provided support and ease my anxiety prior to my surgery.

Best wishes
Jason