AVR and dementia

[JudithD23]

Hi,

I just spoke with a friend who spoke with her friend whose father had an AVR in his 70s or 80s and she believes that was the beginning of her father's dementia. What do you think, just a coincidence? I know we don't have an option here, but are there precautions to take?

Thanks, Judith

 

[Magic8Ball]

echo above.

Time on the pump can be a factor for general brain related issues.

Age at time of surgery can affect the quality of recovery.

It COULD have contributed but i doubt it would have been the only cause.

As said, it could have been the trigger that made the symptoms much more noticeable.

Regards.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Heart Patients are sometimes referred to as "pumpheads" due to cognitive effects from being on the heart-lung machine.

After some studies, recommendations include (1) using the Best Filters to capture any particles / bubbles coming from the machine and (2) using a slightly longer "warming" protocol to allow the Brain to come back to normal temperature at a slower pace and to prevent gas bubbles from forming in the blood.

(Note: Some Surgeons liked to speed up the warming process to get the body's organs functioning faster. This has been shown to be counterproductive).

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Karlynn]

I know a woman in her 80's who had her mitral valve replaced a few years ago and she's still sharp as a tack. My guess is that it would be something he'd be struggling with anyway, possibly the OHS "helped" things along.

 

[catwoman]

I agree with Karlynn. The dementia was probably waiting in the wings. I wondered about my pumpheadedness after my surgery, but my fears were unfounded.

My mother-in-law died from Alzheimer's disease at age 64, and, nope, she had never had cardiac issues. That came when she was in her mid- to late 50s (scary, huh?). Family members didn't pick up on signs until she couldn't balance the checkbook any more. When you're very close to someone, you fail to pick up on little clues that someone else would who doesn't see that person frequently.

 

[francie12]

My dad's dementia began after hip-replacement surgery done in his seventies. We always attributed it to the anethesia, the pain-killers following the operation and the general trauma to the body. The geriatric specialist told us that surgery does affect older people in this way sometimes. He didn't have the heart-lung machine or DHCA--just a very big surgery for his older, more frail body. Given the choice in hindsight, I think he would have chosen to forgo the surgery.

 

[Marguerite53]

I think Rachel's answers are very complete.

My father will be 88 on Saturday. He has dementia/Alzheimer's/who the hell knows what. He has had cognitive impairment for at least a decade, had triple by-pass in 1997. Are they related? I used to think so. As I have watched this disease progress in him, had countless professional assessments, read and read and read....... I now think it is not related to the surgery, but rather related to his having needed the surgery (coronary artery disease and abundance of mini-strokes), and his own tendency for this type of disease.

As "they" continue to be able to keep our bodies alive longer, but still have not the capability to assure us that our mind will stay intact....these answers are unknowable.

Do you want to live? Of course you do. Can you find the best facility, the most up-to-date surgeon? Of course you can. So just do that......gather up the best possible situation for yourself and dive into the AVR. Bless every day you gain. Chances are, you'll have the life you were headed for anyway.

A great question. I hope we will have lots of responses to this. Heaven knows, mine isn't necessarily a very good answer....just my answer.

Marguerite

 

[francie12]

Rachele's answer makes excellent sense. I know my dad had multiple mini-strokes in his later years. Perhaps some of these occurred in connection with the hip surgery and caused what seemed like a fairly sudden dementia following. I should have said before that it was an elective surgery, and that was why he had second thoughts afterward. This is a very informative thread...

 

[JudithD23]

Good points and well taken, especially in regard to what are the options; if you need an AVR then you need one. Heart surgery is not really optional.