AVR + extra stuff?

[Der Biermeister]

Just curious, but did most of you have bypasses done at the same time they went in to do a valve replacement?

A year ago, my cardiologist suggested that this was kind of a normal thing to do, even though at that time my stents were still wide-open. Now, a recent heart-cath showed some amount of narrowing on either side of the two stents and I definitely will be having some bypasses (min of triple).

 

[Marguerite53]

My understanding is that that is one of the main reasons they do a heart cath before your replacement.....to see if you need anything else done in that regard. It was the first thing my cardio said to me after the cath....you're all clean......she didn't update me about my measurements or anything (tho the surgeon did later).

Let them get it done while they're in there!! Right?

Marguerite

 

[Ross]

Heart surgery is serious business. The last thing you want to do is do it again, so they take care of everything they possibly can the first time around.

 

[tobagotwo]

You will find a mixed bag on the CABGs (Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts). It's actually very common for bicuspid aortic valve owners to have cleaner arteries than "regular" aortic valve owners. Somehow goes with the genetic turf for many of them.

I had a "normal," three-cusped valve, with heavy calcification, but my arteries were all clear, thank goodness.

The major hassle, as I understand it, is the aggravation from the sites they take the grafts from. That's usually the saphenous arteries, from the legs, if there's more than one. If there's one, they like to use part of the mammary artery.

The mammary artery has unusual resistance to arteriosclerosis, even when moved to the CABG site. It has been remarked in a number of studies. They haven't determined exactly why, yet, but I suspect it has to do with its function and location. The breasts basically turn blood into milk. That area would be a highway for fats and calcium. Seems logical that artery would always be plugged up, if it weren't endowed with some natural immunity.

Maybe if they figure out how that works, they can stop other vein grafts from closing up over time as well.

Best wishes,