Have you seen what valve looks like on x-ary?

[sylgeren]

NANCY

I forgot to ask you, When I had my chest x-ray you could see the valve so clear. I asked the Surgeon why if it was tissue you could see it. He gave no explantion. Do you know why. Could even see the stiching. The tissue they used was Cow. Thanks Syl

 

[Zazzy]

Hi Syl,
Hmmm... weird huh? I have a annulplasty ring and it shows on xrays. Never notice any stitching though. One thing... if you ever have a bone scan... be sure to tell them that you have had heart surgery... the wires can really confuse them! When I had mine done they shot I had been shot!!! hee hee

Take care,
Zazzy

 

[sylgeren]

Post -Op X-rays

Post -Op X-rays

Hi Zazzy. Funny Huh!! Thought it would be funny to go the Airport and let them put me through the metal detector. That would be funny. Sure is nice to be laughing about things at this stage of my life (I mean the heart surgery and all) Syl

 

[Zazzy]

Syl,
In this day and age you had best tell them before you go through the security gate.... or you might find yourself strip-searched... YIKES!!!!!

Zazz

 

[Nancy]

Hi Syl-

Re: xrays, I'm not sure why it would show up, but if Marty sees this post, he'll know, radiology is his specialty.

 

[Ron K]

X-rays

X-rays

Hi Syl,

I had a post-op x-ray about 2 weeks ago and when I picked them up to take to my surgeon, I was surprised to see the valve showing up so clearly. The wires that are horlding the sternum together were also visable.

When I talked to the surgeon about it, he said the bovine valve has a wire sewing ring in it that is used when they put the valve in place. He also said the chest wires were stainless steel and would not set off metal detectors or prevent MRIs.

I don't know if other valves are constructed in the same way, so everyone may not be able to see their's on x-rays.

Ron K

 

[Marty]

Valves and Xray

Valves and Xray

Thanks for the plug Nancy but Sylvia's post has me stumped. Tissue valves and repairs don't show up on Xray. Annuloplasty rings do. though and that may be what showed up. St.Jude mechanicals only show up if you catch them "on end" with the leaflets closed. So, Sylvia , find out the precise specs on your valve, whether or not they used an annuloplasty ring; and let me know and I'll research it.

 

[Lisa in Katy]

I had an upper GI and I could see it clearly working. I could also see the x-shaped wires down my sternum. It was really kind of cool! Mine is a St. Jude's mitral.

 

[Jean]

Seeing your valve

Seeing your valve

I have a homograft. I also have yearly chest xrays as part of my cancer check ups...never seen my valve. I can see it working when I have the echo and can see two tiny stitch points. Of course can see the sternum wires.