decisions

[johnwayne sebastian]

hello,im 57, scheduled for valve replacement surgery in november(26). aorticto be replaced, mitral to be replaced or repaired. ive been off work since dec. 2000 with relapsing polychondritis, an auto-immune disease specific to cartilage. to control it, my drug regime includes prednesone, immmuran and losec. my blood pressure is 170 over 55 and i take norvasc, monocor, ramapriland fuerosemide to keep it there. these drugs have created a lot of problems, bleeding in my bladder and lower intestine so begins the problem deciding on valve type. artificial and rat poison dont seem to be an option because of the bleeding problem. the choices of tissue seem to be where im heading and any info by recipients as to pros and cons would be appreciated. thanks john wayne sebastian

 

[Bill Hall]

Johnwayne - Welcome to the site. I don't have any information about your medication except I noted the bleeding. Tissue valves are very common and seem to be right for your situation. I have a homograft in my Aortic position and a Mitral repair. Everything went well for me and I consider myself completely recovered (age 51). There is a possibility of re-surgery is real, but I've heard good longevity numbers through this site.

 

[tobagotwo]

Tissue Valve Links

Tissue Valve Links

John,

Glad to have you posting. There are many here who will help with questions or by sharing experiences with medications or conditions. I had an aortic replacement, but it seems like I have had a picnic compared to you. I can't comment about your medications very much, and my hat's off to you for being able to deal with them.

Please don't take this post as impersonal because it is mostly links. I put them in to get a lot of information in a small space. The links are all either to this site or to the company sites of valve manufacturers.

A homograft (a human valve, also called an allograft) is an excellent valve choice for an aortic replacement. I'm not sure what the protocol is if they're not sure whether they will replace the mitral, too, though. That may put it out of the running for you.

Of the animal tissue valves (xenografts or heterografts), there are two companies that are standouts at this point in time. Here is a link to a post about their products:
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82279#post82279post82279

Here are some links to the Medtronics Mosaic (porcine): http://www.medtronic.com/cardsurger...saic_index.html
and its anticalcification processes:
http://www.medtronic.com/cardsurger...c_aoadurab.html
http://www.medtronic.com/cardsurger...ic_physfix.html

And here is the Carpentier Edwards Perimount Magna (bovine pericardial):
http://www.edwards.com/MedicalProfe...E7-704BAF356F25
and its anticalcification process:
http://www.edwards.com/MedicalProfe...d5-5fc0e229cbed


St. Jude also has a line of heterograft valves, which they have recently added an anticalcification treatment to, and are marketing very hard. They are in clinical trials with it, if I remember from a recent post from someone who was approached about it, but do not have approval in the US for use. St. Jude's prior xenografts did not have the life expectancy of those from Edwards Lifesciences or Medtronics, so I am biased toward the other two companies for their previous track records, upon which their improvements have been added.

St. Jude is a resource for allograft (homograft) valves, however: http://www.sjm.com/devices/device.aspx?name=Allograft+Cardiovascular+Tissue&location=us&type=21

Probably the best known source of allografts is Cryolife, who revolutionized the process of preserving homografts:
http://www.cryolife.com/products/cardiac_mainnew.htm
http://www.sjm.com/devices/device.aspx?name=Allograft+Cardiovascular+Tissue&location=us&type=21

These are sources you can get a feel for the valves from. Of the two top xenograft choices, the Carpentier-Edwards Perimount Magna and the Medtronics Mosaic, the CEPM probably has the edge for longevity, but both are excellent valves.

If you have more questions and I reply, I'll try not to drown you in links again.

Best wishes,

 

[hensylee]

members are comin, John

members are comin, John

Mornin, John. Welcome to VR. This being the weekend, we don't get as much participation, but they will all be back in by Sunday night and will try to help.

Your situation sounds so complicated and I am ignorant about so many things - but there are members who might know exactly what you are talking about and they will be along soon. Even if they don't know exactly what you are talking about, they will help in some way. That's what VR is all about.

We are glad to have you amongst us.