Children

[momta3]

Hi I was wondering if any of you know what kind of blood thinner they put children on. My son , Brandon age 9, is due for a cardact cath on 3/1 and maybe balloon (angeoplasty) but we won't know until they get in there because as of now they said it seems like there is too much backflow going back into the heart from the aortic vaulve. If they can't do the ballon they said we need to have open heart vaulve replacement by the summer and that means blood thinner. Unless I go w/ a vaulve that doesn't need it but from what I understand if we go that way Brandon will need more surgeries for more replacements.
My ?/'s is this .. can a 9 year old boy live a normal life and be on blood thinner>? and what kind would they put him on.. From any of your experiances.. I heard Childrens asprin.. have any of you heard that?
Any information would be helpful
Barb

 

[BillCobit]

pediatric anticoagulation

pediatric anticoagulation

Hi Barb -

Sorry to hear about Brandon's difficulties. Kids often use warfarin (Coumadin) like adults, but sometimes a combination of aspirin and dipyridamole is used. Either way, the same balancing act exists - assuring prevention of thromboembolism (clot complication) vs. minimising the risk of a bleeding accident.

You might want to check out the following articles about anticoagulation and pediatric Ross procedure. Note links to references at the bottoms of the anticoagulation articles where you can get more info.

Best wishes.

http://ats.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/47/4/589

http://ats.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/64/1/30

http://www.chestjournal.org/cgi/content/full/119/1_suppl/220S

http://www.hsforum.com/stories/storyReader$1476

 

[momta3]

Thank you sooo very much for that information!! I look endlessly online for information and I can never find it..

I have to look up some of the information I found because some of it I still don't understand fully but I gor the just of it..

Thank You very very much

 

[Heather Fisher]

Hi Barb

What a difficult position you are in. Most of us have a difficult time with valve selection as adults but to have to make that choice for a child is very difficult.

If I were you, I would look into the Ross procedure. It is a surgical procedure designed especially for children. He wouldn't need an anticoagulant with this and the aortic valve will grow with him. Granted, he may need more surgery down the road to replace the pulmonary valve but this is supposedly a much more simple procedure than aortic valve replacement. If they put in a mechanical valve now, he will need anticoagulation and he will still require repeated surgery to replace that valve as he grows. At his age you are looking at repeat surgeries irregardless of what valve is chosen. I would be highly tempted to go with tissue and avoid coumadin altogether for a young active boy.

Good luck! Feel free to email me if you have any more questions or need more info!

Heather

 

[medtronic of borg]

Ross Procedure

Ross Procedure

My heart always drops to my feet when I find a post invoving a child!!!! But for once I agree this would be (Ross procedure) something to bring up with the Drs. But please don't panic. For what it is worth...by the time I was his age I had already undergone two open heart surgery's and four angios. And that was in those not so illustreious days of medicine.

Med

 

[BillCobit]

Good Ross Procedure overview

Good Ross Procedure overview

Barb -

This is a pretty good overview description of the Ross Procedure - thought you might find this useful.

http://www.heartcenteronline.com/myheartdr/common/artprn_rev.cfm?filename=&ARTID=413

 

[momta3]

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and opinions. I have heard of Ross before but really didn't know much about it. the wed site was extremely helpful.
I will be bringing this up to Brandons cardo doc. I like the fact that no blood thinner is needed and that it is mostly for children. I am going to talk it over w/ him and see what his thoughts are.
Once again thank you all so much and I will keep you all updated

 

[pegne]

barb

barb

I can comment on the Ross Procedure. I had one in 1995. I have heard that they work better in children and I am sure that there are many success stories out there. I unfortunately am not one of them. In the Ross they replace the aortic valve with the pulmonary valve and put a host pulmonary valve in. For many people, including me, the result could lead to both valves going bad. Then, as in my case, both valves need to be replaced. Whatever you decide to do I wish you much luck.

 

[Becca]

Hello,
I am new to this group. I'm sorry that you and your son has to go through this. My 16 month old son also has aortic valve problems which will need to be dealt with someday soon. The doctors have decided that the ross procedure will be the best choice for him. However, I can give you some insight as to what its like to have a child on blood thinners. My son has had his mitral valve replaced with a mechanical valve just this last december. He is on coumadin and asprin to manage his coagulation. He is required at this time to have regular INR testing...it's been about twice a week. Alot of things seem to change his INR. not long ago, he needed antibiotics, and his INR went up to 9.2. When this happens, he gets admitted into hospital. Anything with vitamin K, like green vegetables, will change the INR. Jesse's INR needs to stay between 2.5 and 3.5 in order to prevent clotting. There is so much more information that I could give you about this topic, so if you have any questions, feel free to email me.
Thanks for listening
Becca

 

[Ross]

Becca welcome

You might want to check out our resident members Coumadin/Warfarin site at www.warfarinfo.com It's run by Al Lodwick who is a certified anticoagulation expert. He also helps people out in the Coumadin Forum. Just thought you might like to know that if you didn't already.
Welcome again!