AVR: Traditional vs. Minimally Invasive Surgery

[Luana]

Hi Luana,
How long ago did you have your surgery? How long were you in the hospital? What about your recovery time?

My surgery was in 2009. I was in the hospital 8 days, 6 days in ICU. I did have a few complications afterwards, too much fluid retention first few days, my right lung collapsed day after surgery, and I had afib a few days later. I doubt any of these were related to the surgical approach, just some things that can happen.

 

[Jkm7]

Thanks for your comments. My had 2 OHS a long time ago (he is now deceased) but I can remember long scars - I guess this type of surgery has come a long way. I don't know which type of surgery I will have because I am just entering phase 2 - selecting the surgeon and hospital. My primary says I should have a TEE first to determine the extent of the closure and I don't know if this is common. I had a TEE done 10 yrs. ago and that's when they diagnosed mild aortic stenosis. Did you ever have one?

Most of us have TEE's prior to our surgery. It provides better information than a regular ECHO. I was very nervous about having a TEE but discovered I wasted lots of energy worrying about it. It was painless, easy and no after effect for me, at all. I rested that afternoon at home and was back to all my usual activities including driving the next morning.

 

[epstns]

I did not have a TEE until after surgery. Before surgery I had the typical transthoracic echo and a heart cath. That was all that the surgeon asked for. The TEE after was to assess valve function and to provide a baseline for future case management.

 

[clawie1]

Thanks for your words of encourgement. The last time I had a TEE it was uncomfortable I think because I had an inexperienced cardiologist. In fact my primary is suggesting an angio and TEE. Glad to know you found the procedure easy.

 

[epstns]

I actually feared the angiogram more than the subsequent valve surgery. My fears proved to be totally unfounded. They gave me such a marvellous drug cocktail at the angio that I never felt anything, went under easily and came out of it smoothly and comfortably. I was semi-awake during the procedure and got to see some of what they were doing. All that high-tech stuff was pretty cool. The only bummer of the whole thing was having to lie still for a couple of hours afterward to allow the entry site to clot. I was up and around the next day (carefully, of course) and back to everything except jogging within a couple of days.

 

[big_L]

Back to the original question re- waiting vs. now. My local cardiologist's position is that your life before and after valve replacement will be different, maybe not drastically so, but different. It is major surgery with a maybe 1% chance of mortality. The KU cardiologist tells me to have it done "in a month", while I'm healthier. I'm going to Mayo next week to see what they say. Personally, I'd leaning toward waiting, but I can agree that "the waiting is the hardest part".