AVR on Nov 21, 2022

[Dunwanted]

interesting ... I immediately wondered if you'd seen any (pictures of) calcified valves as well as what you imagined.

Pardon me asking, its just that I'm curious

Nope I haven't, I tried not to watch any videos because I was scared of seeing them but I said wtf I'll just see it when lucker sent the video.

My surgery is on 5 am or 10 am Monday still need the dentist clearance before surgery.

 

[Lucker]

Good luck mate, you'll be fine as a patient from my video, and his condition probably was much more severe than yours.

 

[pellicle]

, I tried not to watch any videos because I was scared of seeing them but I said wtf I'll just see it when lucker sent the video.

sounds reasonable ... I've personally looked at calcified valves in jars and seen many pictures. Knowing what calcium looks like I knew it'd be hard, perhaps brittle and bone like.
Calcification is pretty similar to ossification.

I'm not intending to single you out here, but its just one more data point in why I view that "informed choice" is pretty much a misnomer for the majority of people. I guess that when people say "just listen to your Dr" that's the angle they're coming from.

If only it were the case that second opinions were identical to the original.

Myself I still have my sternum bone 9 years later because I didn't like the second opinion.

 

[Dunwanted]

sounds reasonable ... I've personally looked at calcified valves in jars and seen many pictures. Knowing what calcium looks like I knew it'd be hard, perhaps brittle and bone like.
Calcification is pretty similar to ossification.

I'm not intending to single you out here, but its just one more data point in why I view that "informed choice" is pretty much a misnomer for the majority of people. I guess that when people say "just listen to your Dr" that's the angle they're coming from.

If only it were the case that second opinions were identical to the original.

Myself I still have my sternum bone 9 years later because I didn't like the second opinion.

I get what you're saying completely, if I had not done my own research I would've easily get convinced that Ross procedure or ozaki were the two best options.
I don't mind reading about things, I just don't like at looking at operations and a lot blood lol.

How long after the operations were you guys able to have a beer? (Mechanical valve of course) just curious.

 

[pellicle]

How long after the operations were you guys able to have a beer? (Mechanical valve of course) just curious.

in my case I waited for about 3 months, but then there was a period after about 6 months where I could only have one or two beers without triggering uncomfortable tachycardia.

Then by about 2 years I was back to being able to drink as I felt like (which was typically 2 or 3 {standard} drinks most days).

Now (and I suspect covid) I can't even have a drink without it going nuts and indeed I'm taking metoprolol (25mg twice a day) since May to prevent it going nuts all by itself.

meh ... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[pellicle]

I don't mind reading about things, I just don't like at looking at operations and a lot blood lol.

as a sort of PS to answer the above
https://www.valvereplacement.org/th...g-to-second-surgery.888348/page-3#post-913978

 

[Superman]

How long after the operations were you guys able to have a beer? (Mechanical valve of course) just curious.

I waited a few years, but then again, I was in high school and in a very conservative family.

 

[Unicusp]

"How long after the operations were you guys able to have a beer? (Mechanical valve of course) just curious."

I'm an On-X owner and over 21 (by a bit). About 2 weeks after surgery. But it was some good red wine to celebrate.

 

[Dunwanted]

Thanks for your message, I hope I can have some after two weeks like unicusp.

I am also getting my something on my ascending aorta now because it's on the border line to dilation (aneurysm) didn't really understand when the surgeon said it as he said he will put something to fix it no problem and easy.

 

[dick0236]

How long after the operations were you guys able to have a beer? (Mechanical valve of course) just curious.

I was actually prescribed one beer every nite while I was in the hospital post AVR........but that was a long time ago when good diuretics were not available.....beer works wonders as a diuretic.

 

[Chuck C]

Best of luck with your procedure!

You are going to a top notch facility and will be in very good hands.

I would recommend walking in recovery, as much as they will allow you to. It is good to get the blood flowing and the exercise will help speed your recovery.

You will be given an incentive spirometer with instruction to use it several times per day. Some of the times they may guide you, and other times you will likely be expected to use it on your own. This is used to help open your lungs back up, as they are collapsed during surgery. It is really important to use this device often to get those lungs opened back up. I would strongly recommend following their guidelines to use the spirometer at least as often as they tell you to. Apparently, many don't follow their guidelines to use these often, according to the nurses.

Here is to a speedy recovery and please keep us posted!

 

[erricojj]

The valve is shown at this frame...
Here

My Russian is a little rusty, so tried Google translate on the description...got this...

"In patients with aortic valve stenosis and aneurysm of the ascending aorta, it would seem that there is no alternative to classical valve prosthesis. But classical prosthetics with a mechanical prosthesis is a lifelong intake of specific drugs, in which the blood becomes 2-3 times more liquid than in healthy people. This means: you can not give birth and become pregnant, you can not play sports, the risk of bleeding with bruises, dental procedures, etc. is very high.

In the clinic of faculty surgery, an operation called "Russian conduit" has been developed. It involves cutting out the valve leaflets from the patient's own pericardium and implanting them in the aortic prosthesis until the heart stops, which reduces the time of artificial circulation by half.

Next, this "new aortic root" is reimplanted into the position of the aortic root. The operation is done according to the scheme: came with a problem - left without a problem and no medication! Patients return to their usual way of life.

Always your Roman Komarov."

 

[Dunwanted]

The valve is shown at this frame...
Here

My Russian is a little rusty, so tried Google translate on the description...got this...

"In patients with aortic valve stenosis and aneurysm of the ascending aorta, it would seem that there is no alternative to classical valve prosthesis. But classical prosthetics with a mechanical prosthesis is a lifelong intake of specific drugs, in which the blood becomes 2-3 times more liquid than in healthy people. This means: you can not give birth and become pregnant, you can not play sports, the risk of bleeding with bruises, dental procedures, etc. is very high.

In the clinic of faculty surgery, an operation called "Russian conduit" has been developed. It involves cutting out the valve leaflets from the patient's own pericardium and implanting them in the aortic prosthesis until the heart stops, which reduces the time of artificial circulation by half.

Next, this "new aortic root" is reimplanted into the position of the aortic root. The operation is done according to the scheme: came with a problem - left without a problem and no medication! Patients return to their usual way of life.

Always your Roman Komarov."

That sounds a lot like the Dr. Ozaki procedure.

 

[Chuck C]

My Russian is a little rusty, so tried Google translate on the description...got this...

Thanks for the translation. It is always interesting to read about inovating procedures.

This means: you can not give birth and become pregnant, you can not play sports,

Interesting to see that the lack of understanding of warfarin and the spreading of warfarin misinformation happens in Russia also. Since going on warfarin I've played raquetball, biked, ran, swam and done martial arts. But, what the hell do I know, I'm just a random internet guy on warfarin and this dude is a doctor. And as we've been lectured, always listen to someone wearing a white coat over random people on the internet.

classical prosthetics with a mechanical prosthesis is a lifelong intake of specific drugs, in which the blood becomes 2-3 times more liquid than in healthy people.

2-3 times more liquid? While there are certain disadvantages to being 2-3 more liquid than other people, he is clearly ignoring some of the interesting advantages:

 

[Lucker]

They combined Ozaki with Bentall/David, sewing the cusps made of pericardium into a dacron conduit. Why not just do a bio-Bentall escapes me, my version is because patient's annulus is dilated to 30mm, which is bigger then the biological valves available.
Somewhat cowboy surgery, but the patient is a surgeon himself, so he must've agreed.

 

[erricojj]

Thanks for the translation. It is always interesting to read about inovating procedures.



Interesting to see that the lack of understanding of warfarin and the spreading of warfarin misinformation happens in Russia also. Since going on warfarin I've played raquetball, biked, ran, swam and done martial arts. But, what the hell do I know, I'm just a random internet guy on warfarin and this dude is a doctor. And as we've been lectured, always listen to someone wearing a white coat over random people on the internet.



2-3 times more liquid? While there are certain disadvantages to being 2-3 more liquid than other people, he is clearly ignoring some of the interesting advantages:

Misinformation in Russia???....nahhhh.

 

[pellicle]

Misinformation in Russia???....nahhhh.

dunno if you dabble much, but this guy is pretty on the money IMO

 

[Timmay]

Good luck and God Bless for tomorrow. Before you know it you’ll be on the other side. And before you know it you’ll be walking a mile. Then 2. You got this mate!

 

[erricojj]

Hello Everyone,

hope you´re having a great day.

I have my surgery date set for November 21, 2022 in cleveland Ohio, meaning i will doing international travel for my surgery, to be honest i havent been nervous about the operation but i feel that when the day comes i will be panicking which i think is completely normal.

I wanted to get some advice from people who have done any type of travelling for their surgery (specifically travel via airplane), to see after how much time it took them to travel back via airplane as i do not want to spend my entire recovery time in the cold weather, i preffer my usual warm caribbean weather

I havent spoken with my surgeon yet, which means i haven´t had the valve selection talk with my surgeon (because everything has been in such a rush) but from what i´ve heard everything points that i will get a mechanical and most likely be hometesting my INR as soon as possible, Has anyone had any type of minimally invase surgery (mini thoracotomy or mini sternothomy) if so, how long was the healing time is it shorter than the regular Sternotomy surgery?


Also wanted to thank everyone in this forum, this forum is filled with useful information and has helped my a lot!

Good luck and speedy recovery !

 

[70sdiver]

Want to stop and wish you good luck and uneventful recovery !