Northernlights
Well-known member
I think your own valve is likely to last longer than a tissue valve, particularly if the gradient has scarcely moved in 14 years. Alberta looks to be a good hospital but I wonder if they have any specialists in valve repair / valve- sparing / ross. Surgeons make decisions based on the operations they like doing and often downplay these specialised operations because they aren't good at them! Since there is no great rush I would ask your questions, and also get a second opinion - even if it's only emailing a valve specialist in Montreal or Ottawa with your situation. Dr Macarthur seems to mainly be interested in aneurysms, though I'm sure he's a good surgeon.
Warfarin is manageable but your circumstances certainly make it extra complicated. Self-monitoring would be the only possibility and you would have to be meticulous. It's not so much bleeding with chainsaw injuries (though it wouldn't help, obviously!) as hitting your head which is particularly dangerous with warfarin.
BAVcyclist - you are fortunate to have a Ross expert. You have to be realistic and know it may fail and necessitate further surgery, but I feel personally it's an opportunity worth taking if you have a really good surgeon. In any case you know you are in good hands!
If you are interested in this, JulienDu, it would be worth contacting someone like Ismail el-Hamamsy at Montreal, who worked a lot on valve-sparing / repair / Ross under Sir Magdi Yacoub. I always think it's worth getting another opinion, if only to clarify your own feelings about what's most important to you. But once your own valve is out it's out, so I wouldn't be rushed into things, even if ultimately you do go for replacement!
Warfarin is manageable but your circumstances certainly make it extra complicated. Self-monitoring would be the only possibility and you would have to be meticulous. It's not so much bleeding with chainsaw injuries (though it wouldn't help, obviously!) as hitting your head which is particularly dangerous with warfarin.
BAVcyclist - you are fortunate to have a Ross expert. You have to be realistic and know it may fail and necessitate further surgery, but I feel personally it's an opportunity worth taking if you have a really good surgeon. In any case you know you are in good hands!
If you are interested in this, JulienDu, it would be worth contacting someone like Ismail el-Hamamsy at Montreal, who worked a lot on valve-sparing / repair / Ross under Sir Magdi Yacoub. I always think it's worth getting another opinion, if only to clarify your own feelings about what's most important to you. But once your own valve is out it's out, so I wouldn't be rushed into things, even if ultimately you do go for replacement!