Endocarditis

[Val]

As far as valve selection, I am going to rely on my surgeon's experience and not try to second guess. His first choice is mechanical valve, If there is significant damage from endocarditis then he will use a homograft. He has ordered both for the surgery.

My blood culture showed an unusual bacteria for endocarditis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus. It is responding to antibiotics.

Thanks for all the information and well wishes. Surgery is tomorrow.

 

[Gail in Ca]

Good luck on your 3rd surgery!
In 2009, after 6 weeks of antibiotics 23 hrs a day, I had to have my 3rd surgery to replace aortic valve/graft from previous surgeries and mitral repair, because my rare bacteria caused lots of damage. My surgeon at Stanford also said he would use mechanical and would only consider a homograft if my tissue was too damaged. (He said I would only expect 10 years from a homograft). He ended up creating an aortic valve in graft for me and placed the valve up along the aorta to avoid my damaged tissue. It was a 2 surgeon job. I awoke feeling really good!
I hope this is what you experience as well!!

 

[pellicle]

Hi

As far as valve selection, I am going to rely on my surgeon's experience

That's what I have always done

It is responding to antibiotics.

Fantastic news

Surgery is tomorrow.

Here's wishing you a straight forward procedure and an uneventful recovery

Best Wishes

 

[ejc61]

I went to the ER with a fever of 101 F because I recently had an ablation was following discharge instructions. Because I was found to have slightly elevated troponin levels and WBC even though I no longer had a fever, they admitted me.

They started culturing my blood and giving me a series of tests including an echo. Only the echo was a little off. Showed slightly more regurgitation across my onx aortic valve than a year ago. Cardiology recommended a TEE (trans esophageal echo) if my blood culture came back positive.

By day 3 Troponin levels were in a steady decline, WBC was normal, so I was to be discharged the following day. That night blood culture came back positive so the next day I had the TEE which show infection of the OnX valve, root and synthetic aortic artery. The same day I met with a surgeon that I didn't know and surgery to replace the OnX is scheduled for Friday, that is 4 days in the future.

This happened yesterday. Suddenly my future is uncertain.

I had IE ten years ago. After about 6 weeks of on and off fever; weeks of on and off antibiotics, a blood culture finally came out positive. An 11mm vegetation was discovered by TEE. PICC line and IV antibiotics for 6 weeks, then a curveball as a particle of vegetation moved to my right leg 5 weeks later resulting in an emergency arterial thrombectomy and including a 3 compartment fasciotomy because the heparin was ineffective. I was able to avoid heart intervention, per se, and everything came out fine. Probably another 6 weeks of IV antibiotics. I'm praying for you Val.

 

[Habana58]

St Jude is ok, been in use for many years, OnX is just an improvement over St Jude since was created by a team of people that walked away from St Jude, is the only mech valve that opens 90 degrees and has panus protection, The only thing about Onx company is dont bother with the 1.5 - 2 + asa , just do as St Jude does 2 -3 for AVR; We all got what we got, some had a choice some did not, my friend has a Ball-In-Cage for 41 years and dont tell her anything else is better

 

[tommyboy14]

Hi Val,

i am sending you my best wishes. You got this and we will see you on the other side.

I am glad they caught this early and I will be hoping for an uneventful surgery for you.

Please do let us know once you nake it to the other side

All the best
Tommy