Aortic Valve Choices

[user 15848]

This is an interesting presentation ; promotes the On-X valve, BUT touches all the points, it may be of interest

 

[Critter]

Guys which mechanical wall is out there in the matter and which one is better
Tissue valve resilia , how many years can one get? Any data ?

It is also a mechanical valve and it works too.
[/QUOTE

I’m prejudiced I have had the Onyx valve now for 120 days and I just jogged 2.5 miles yesterday and I am 63 y/o. Not an athletic guy . It’s working perfectly, don’t remember feeling this good in over 15 years. So I give it a thumbs up. Anticoagulant ion is simple with meter, perhaps in future maybe controlled with Apixaban , factor XA inhibitor. Coumadin is easy treatment, I eat what I want for the most part.

 

[Superman]

I’m prejudiced I have had the Onyx valve now for 120 days and I just jogged 2.5 miles yesterday and I am 63 y/o. Not an athletic guy . It’s working perfectly, don’t remember feeling this good in over 15 years. So I give it a thumbs up. Anticoagulant ion is simple with meter, perhaps in future maybe controlled with Apixaban , factor XA inhibitor. Coumadin is easy treatment, I eat what I want for the most part.

Exactly my point and good to hear from a satisfied customer. . St. Jude has kept me company for over 30 years, and it also works. I hope to get at least another 30 years out of it. ATS (I think?) is another brand that works. Bigger idea is that there really isn’t a bad valve to be had as they wouldn’t pass clinical trials.

Aside from a couple less frequently used procedures, brand isn’t nearly as important as tissue vs mechanical. That’s the decision that has the biggest impact on how to manage our conditions going forward.

 

[dick0236]

Aside from a couple less frequently used procedures, brand isn’t nearly as important as tissue vs mechanical. That’s the decision that has the biggest impact on how to manage our conditions going forward.

I agree. Ya'll spend way too much time worrying about the "trees" and miss the "forest". Your decision is whether you want to take a pill a day OR do this research all over again in a few years.

 

[pellicle]

Your decision is whether you want to take a pill a day OR do this research all over again in a few years.

... and worry about the onset of SVD and the increased monitoring when that happens and what you'll do about it when it does.

 

[pellicle]

BUT touches all the points, it may be of interest

I didn't watch it, but the vial of warfarin with a red circle seems to promote warfarin fear hysteria.
Sadly shaving nicks are promoted as causing this:

but the reality is its more like this:

I use my Coaguchek and keep in range by weekly testing, no matter where I go

https://www.valvereplacement.org/threads/freedom-to-roam-or-unusual-inr-testing-locations.877523/

 

[cldlhd]

Yeah, best car in the world was the Ford T-Bird , is it now ?, everything changes as humans understand the secrets of the world; so what was best 20 years ago, is not best now; The first this and the first that means nothing in practical terms in comparing mech valves, and as far as Tissue Valves, not a problem either; as long as you can plan and absorve how many times you will be back at hospital you be happy, that is basically the Question, to be or not to be, Repeat or not Repeat; and yes, $$$ Recurring Revenue for Tissue makers is also a fact, In my point of reference, does not need to be right, nor the one, nor the only true about this, jus the way "I" see it, after all we are NOT in Communist China and do not have to do what the new MAO says,

Who's the new MAO? The thunderbird was never "the best car in the world", not even close

 

[cldlhd]

thanks ... lets just hope covid restrictions end before my lifetime

They will, took off yesterday and took my son and his one buddy (his birthday) for a few rounds of lasertag and whatnot and barely a mask in site

 

[Michael O]

Anybody other than me wish that the Project Farm guy would rate valves?

 

[Keithl]

Anybody other than me wish that the Project Farm guy would rate valves?

Ha, that guy has rated stuff I would not even think of. Where does he find the time.

 

[almost_hectic]

As others have said On-X appears to have a lot of of marketing but little scientific studies to back up some of it's claims. If I am wrong please accept my apologies in advance. My knowledge of INR and warfarin is weak at best and I need to get up to speed ASAP..I know nothing about INR #'s or what they mean or how to stay in INR range or INR differences between valves. I just love the idea of less ticking as I already have tinnitus from hearing loss.

my On-X ticks quite clearly. I can hear it right now as I’m writing this. Not sure who told you it’s quieter. Maybe it is? I have nothing to compare it to. But I can definitely hear my ticking. It’s often hard to know if I’m hearing it from within my body or if the sound is outside my chest. I know others have heard it but don’t know if they hear the same thing I do.

Also I think position/orientation of the valve itself and the persons body may have a role in whether it’s audible or not. Again, I’m not sure as I only have one body so nothing to compare to.

 

[Superman]

my On-X ticks quite clearly. I can hear it right now as I’m writing this. Not sure who told you it’s quieter. Maybe it is? I have nothing to compare it to. But I can definitely hear my ticking. It’s often hard to know if I’m hearing it from within my body or if the sound is outside my chest. I know others have heard it but don’t know if they hear the same thing I do.

Also I think position/orientation of the valve itself and the persons body may have a role in whether it’s audible or not. Again, I’m not sure as I only have one body so nothing to compare to.

Being a Man of Steel, I think my chest cavity just amplifies the sound of my St Jude.

 

[slipkid]

my On-X ticks quite clearly. I can hear it right now as I’m writing this. Not sure who told you it’s quieter. Maybe it is? I have nothing to compare it to. But I can definitely hear my ticking. It’s often hard to know if I’m hearing it from within my body or if the sound is outside my chest. I know others have heard it but don’t know if they hear the same thing I do.

Also I think position/orientation of the valve itself and the persons body may have a role in whether it’s audible or not. Again, I’m not sure as I only have one body so nothing to compare to.

Must be different for diff people. Maybe related to the size of the valve? Maybe with your chest cavity etc. Mine is inaudible. Can only hear it through a stethoscope or if I am lying on my stomach with chest touching the mattress, then I can hear it if an ear is on the mattress, it gets amplified somehow that way.

Or did you ask your surgeon ? Maybe his watch fell off during the operation!

 

[Chuck C]

my On-X ticks quite clearly. I can hear it right now as I’m writing this. Not sure who told you it’s quieter. Maybe it is? I have nothing to compare it to. But I can definitely hear my ticking. It’s often hard to know if I’m hearing it from within my body or if the sound is outside my chest. I know others have heard it but don’t know if they hear the same thing I do.

Also I think position/orientation of the valve itself and the persons body may have a role in whether it’s audible or not. Again, I’m not sure as I only have one body so nothing to compare to.

I can hear my St. Jude, but it is internal. I've asked others around me to listen for it and they can't hear anything. My wife can hear it when she puts her head on my chest and she likes it- finds it comforting.

I tune it out 99% of the time and really only notice it when it is quiet and I pay attention to it and listen for it.

Here is a cool thing that it allows you to do. Normally when we take our own pulse you have to find your pulse on your wrist, time and count. Now, no need to find the pulse. Just listen for the beat and count it for 15 seconds, then multiply by 4. It works! Just did it- HR=60.

But, it has really been not a problem at all for me, because I have acclimated to where I just don't hear it normally unless I pay attention.

 

[Brinntache]

My On-X definitely ticks. It changes in volume depending on my position and what I am doing. It doesn't interfere with sleep, and fades in and out during the day. People near me can hear it, and my wife know exactly how excited I am.
I went mechanical because no one could tell me how long the bio would last, or how I would feel as it was deteriorating. Decided warfarin was better than surgery again when I was 60-65 and again when I was 70-80.

 

[dick0236]

I went mechanical because no one could tell me how long the bio would last, or how I would feel as it was deteriorating. Decided warfarin was better than surgery again when I was 60-65 and again when I was 70-80.

The durability of the valve, especially in the younger person, should be a key factor in valve choice. While mechanical valves infrequently fail prematurely, it is unusual for a mechanical valve to not last a lifetime. From what I have seen over the years bio valves are ultimately replaced......with mechanical valves.

 

[pellicle]

From what I have seen over the years bio valves are ultimately replaced...

not with TAVR? (and then mech?)

 

[dick0236]

not with TAVR? (and then mech?)

I was thinking of the younger people who had bio valves as their first replacement. Personally, I have never met a younger person, like under 70, who had a TAVR.....as their first valve replacement.

 

[pellicle]

Personally, I have never met a younger person, like under 70, who had a TAVR.....as their first valve replacement.

that's quite interesting, given how much you read about them here and (IIRC) you also do volunteer hospital visits to new valvers right?

 

[dick0236]

that's quite interesting, given how much you read about them here and (IIRC) you also do volunteer hospital visits to new valvers right?

I no longer make hospital visits........Covid ended that type of visiting.......but I never saw a TAVR patient under 70 during the years that I visited patients.