AVR leading to need for pacemaker?

[tigerlily]

When I met with my surgeon, he mentioned that 5% of patients with Aortic Valve Stenosis end up with a pacemaker because of calcium deposits around the valve that have to be removed. I think he said calcium can be on the heart itself. I may have the details all wrong. All I clearly remember is his mentioning that 5% of AVR patients with stenosis end up with a pacemaker. It was the sort of thing that I didn't give a second thought to at the time but now it bothers me. Has anyone ever heard of this?

 

[OldManEmu]

I was told by the surgeon that about 5% of patients that have an AVR will require a pace maker. My understanding is that it has nothing to do with the type of Aortic valve problem you have (regurgitation or stenosis). It is due to the Aortic valve being located close to the area of the heart where the electrical signal is generated to control the heart beat; the surgery can damage it or damage the pathways that it uses to send the signal across the heart.

 

[Sharlo]

pacemaker

pacemaker

When I did the stress test, they found I had bundle branch block and they said I most likely would need a pacemaker after the valve is replaced. Because of the calcuim build, chances are greater for the need of a pacemaker.

 

[Allen Klein]

Pacemaker After AVR

Pacemaker After AVR

Hi Tiger Lily,

Let me tell you I had ARV Feb 15, 2006 just 3 weeks ago Weds in New York
Columbia Presbeterian Hospital when George Pataki was there..
My Surgeon never mentioned the possibility of a pacemaker and as a result,
I was left with an exernal pacemaker in ICU for 5 days post surgury in the
hope that the damage done to the AV Node & Electrical Signal would return.

It never did, in fact I had a crisis in the CICU on the morning of the fifth day.
There was an incident which forced the placement of the pacemaker. The external device turned off in ICU by itself and I was in severe cardiac distress. My heart rate was set at 70BPM by the external pacemaker and
dropped to 30 BPM when the battery died. I was sleeping when this happened
but I woke up in the midst of a dozen or more nurses frantic to change a battery and find out what happened? Well they never quiet figured it out but the next day I had the pacemeaker installed and was soon after sent to step
down, soon after to be discharged. My only complaint here is the surgeon never discussed all the possibilities!
So, I asked the follow up Cardiac Surgeon and he said that durning the course of the surgury, they must scrape off any Calcium Build Up on the Aeola and the AV Node is real close so in some instances the electrical conduction system in compromised. In my case, I have a Level 3 Heart Block (No Signal At All)
The pacemaker has completely taken over the work done by the AV Node
so I guess you can say that I'm somewhat of a bionic man with both a new
tissue valve and a pacemaker.
I hope you won't fall into my category but my cardiologist says that I can
live a completely normal life so theres no use in complaining about it.
This condition is not so common so I suppost I can understand his not mentioning the issue but thats my story. Best of luck and wrtie back to let me know how you do?

Regards

Allen Klein

 

[Lotti]

Bionic Woman

Bionic Woman

Hi Tigerlily

Well I am 5 weeks post op......sort of. Had to open me up again the day after too. My aortic valve was so heavilty calcified that they had to cut away an awful lot of the heart muscle before they found good tissue to sew to.
Most of the time this should not cause a problem as the sinus pathway is usually further away, but in a few people the path does not run exactly where the surgeon would expect it to. The surgeon can not see the pathway...it all looks exactly the same in there. I was one of these few and suffered complete heart block. I had an external pacemaker for a week (what a pain to have to carry a big box around with me and have electrode terminals taped to my stomach) while they prayed that my sinus rhythm would return. It didn't and I had a pacemaker fitted a few days later.
I agree with Allen....If you end up down this route watch out for the battery....... mine was noticed just before it ran out....phew.
As far as actually having a pacemaker goes..... I find it really reassuring, knowing that if my heart misses, I've got a back up...much better than the alternative. Don't be frightened of it.
Lotti

 

[Nancy]

Joe has a pacemaker, but didn't get it for many years after his AVR. His heartrate was dropping and causing him to faint.

Even if the surgeon had told you about the possibilities, there really aren't many options. If you need a pacemaker, you need one. Of course, like anything else, it's always good to know that it COULD happen.

It's never caused one moment of grief for Joe, and it's there when he needs it.

 

[sue943]

I had complete heart block two weeks after my double valve replacement, it was due to digoxin toxicity. My INR was 8.9 so a pacemaker wasn't an immediate option. Anyway, it resolved itself after several days in hospital so it wasn't necessary.