aortic valve repair

[avshalom]

hi,
Does someone can give me details about aortic valve repair
i am 34, have bicuspid aortic valve with severe AR and unfortunately I can't take blood thinners because i have factor 8 deficiency.
AVSHALOM

 

[Randy & Robyn]

Hello Avshalom,

I am in a similar situation as you are. My surgeon thinks I have a partially bicuspid aortic valve that is causing severe regurgitation. Virtually asymptomatic at this point. But surgery has been recommended. I will be going to Mayo Clinic in a few weeks to hopefully get it repaired. Dr. Zehr gave me an 80% probability. He also quoted me a 2% failure rate per year based on Mayo's series of repairs. Backup plan will be a bovine pericardial valve which also would not need anti-coagulation but would probably only last 10-15 years in someone our age.

It is my understanding that very few hospitals have surgeons skilled enough to perform repairs on the aortic valve. Mayo and Cleveland Clinic are the top two. If you would like the phone number or email address of my surgeon, just ask. He would be happy to talk with you.

If you find repair is not an option there are many on this forum who have had the Ross procedure which also allows you to avoid anti-coagulation in most cases and has similar durability.

Good luck. I'm sure you'll be fine once this is all over.

Randy

 

[amerz73]

av repair

av repair

Hello! I was 32 when I had my valve repaired at the Cleveland Clinic. Living in NE Ohio does have some perks. I went in on a Tues. and was home on Sat. I did have a case of Pericarditis that put me back in 10 days later for 3 more days. My surgery lasted about 5 hours. I was a second round surgery so I got to the hospital at 10:30. I went upstairs by 11 for shaving and all of the goodbyes. By 12 it was lights out. All I remember was the Doctor asking why I was here and what they were going to do to me. I told him and woke up with an ICU nurse telling me where I was about 5 hours later. I had the tube taken out of my mouth about 2 hours later. Yes, I was awake to feel what it was like. Not very pleasant but morphine does wonders. I you smoke, QUIT NOWWW!!! People who smoke have a horrible time with the tube. The reason it is in is because your brain is still sleeping and forgets to breathe. My wife was sitting next to me in ICU and I was in and out of it. An alarm went out because I forgot to breathe and she freaked. The nurse just looked at me and told me to breathe, I did and all was fine.
I didn't really have a lot of pain. Morphine and Percoset were my pain meds. I did wake up with chapped lips and swollen hands and feet. It went away a few days later. I had an IV in my neck that had leads into my chest, IV in each arm, one arterial and one venous. Two chest tubes under my rt breast. Foley catherter, don't worry, it tickles for about 3 secsond when they pull it out. Once all the tubes are taken out you go to a step down unit. Once you go to the unit they monitor you every hour or so. The most important thing I can say is to DO YOUR LUNG EXERCISE!!!!!!!!! Use your incentive spirometer. I can't tell you how important it is. Just take your time and do what they tell you. Feel free to email me with any questions. I personally recomend the CCF. My surgeon, Dr. Svennson, was great. Check out the Cleveland clinics website. www.clevelandclinic.org
Hope all goes well.
Aaron Merz

hi,
Does someone can give me details about aortic valve repair
i am 34, have bicuspid aortic valve with severe AR and unfortunately I can't take blood thinners because i have factor 8 deficiency.
AVSHALOM

 

[amerz73]

I am feeling fine now. I have more energy and more alert. I had a 3-4+ leak when I saw my cardiologist in Jan. I had a cath in Feb and surgery on 4/05. I can't tell you the difference it has made. Repair is the way to go. Try to check the stats on the surgeons at the Mayo. Dr. Svennson was my surgeon and he specializes in Aortic Valve stuff. His team was excellent.

Hello Avshalom,

I am in a similar situation as you are. My surgeon thinks I have a partially bicuspid aortic valve that is causing severe regurgitation. Virtually asymptomatic at this point. But surgery has been recommended. I will be going to Mayo Clinic in a few weeks to hopefully get it repaired. Dr. Zehr gave me an 80% probability. He also quoted me a 2% failure rate per year based on Mayo's series of repairs. Backup plan will be a bovine pericardial valve which also would not need anti-coagulation but would probably only last 10-15 years in someone our age.

It is my understanding that very few hospitals have surgeons skilled enough to perform repairs on the aortic valve. Mayo and Cleveland Clinic are the top two. If you would like the phone number or email address of my surgeon, just ask. He would be happy to talk with you.

If you find repair is not an option there are many on this forum who have had the Ross procedure which also allows you to avoid anti-coagulation in most cases and has similar durability.

Good luck. I'm sure you'll be fine once this is all over.

Randy

 

[avshalom]

av repair

av repair

thank u both Aaron and Randy. you help a lot.
avshalom

 

[Phyllis]

Dear Avshalom,
Will you be having surgery in Israel and if so where? Have you had an appointment with a surgeon yet? Wishing you the best and hoping that you will be able to have a repair instead of a replacement.
Phyllis

 

[francie12]

Does anyone have any input on the longevity of AV repair as compared with replacement? Has it shown to last generally as long as the mechanical option, or the tissue? I realize that every situation is different and it's a complex question--just wondering if there is a general feeling about it. The one surgeon we have talked to said he would attempt a repair to "buy some time" for us, as my son is young and would be facing more surgery down the road.

Our good friends just got back from a month visiting family near Tel Aviv. Where are you from?

 

[Randy & Robyn]

Does anyone have any input on the longevity of AV repair as compared with replacement? Has it shown to last generally as long as the mechanical option, or the tissue? I realize that every situation is different and it's a complex question--just wondering if there is a general feeling about it.

From my consultations with two different surgeons who perform repairs, my understanding is that the surgeon will attempt the repair, then restart the heart and make an evaluation. If he thinks it will last at least as long as a tissue valve, he will close. If not, he will go with the backup plan which could be mechanical or tissue. The surgeons told me they are aiming for at least twenty years but, although unlikely, it may potentially last a lifetime.

After a repair it is paramount to maintain strict control of blood pressure to get the maximum longevity possible. The less wear and tear you put on the repaired valve the better.

Randy

 

[hensylee]

avshalom. Nice to see you again. We had another member who lives in Israel. He and his wife traveled to Canada (I believe it was Canada) where he had his surgery. Someone might recall his name and you can search his threads. It's been a couple of years ago.