Heart transplant

[Pegasus]

One of my husband's sports suppliers had a heart transplant about 10 years ago. He is now having AVR for a bicupsid and calcified valve. I thought hearts would be checked before transplant..... Anyone heard of this before?

Anyways, this poor man is a higher risk patient because of all the meds he has to take as a transplant patient - he has a somewhat impaired kidney function. He will be having surgery at the Mayo Clinic (where he also had the transplant) so he is in good hands. He will be in our thoughts for sure!!
BTW, when my husband asked whom he should speak to (workwise) while he is recuperating the man answered: My boss thinks I will be doing work from the hospital I hope to God that was meant as a joke!! I think he already has enough on his plate.

 

[Ross]

It probably was fine 10 years ago. How old is this person? If he's younger, then it's totally possible to calcify quickly.

 

[Pegasus]

Ross, the man is in his 50s. I hope he will be O.K.!
astrid

 

[Bina]

I think our own body chemistry and general health play an important part in transplant longevity....... And then there is just being lucky.

My Mom had her kidney transplant for almost 20 years before it stopped working.....the doctors were very impressed with the 20 yrs because my Mom was never strong to start with. Her donated kidney was from a young man, maybe that was a bonus!!

 

[Ross]

Ross, the man is in his 50s. I hope he will be O.K.!
astrid

I think he will be. He's going to one of the best possible places to be, so they should keep it sorted out.

 

[Cooker]

BUT BAV is a defect that the recipient did not cause. And with the history of BAV's needing replaced ? I know all to well myself.

If you need a heart I think you take what will match up. Some people live life with BAV and no OHS. The calcification may have caused the need for replacement. But it does seem that he was delt a bum hand. Thank god for technology.

Tom

 

[Ross]

BUT BAV is a defect that the recipient did not cause. And with the history of BAV's needing replaced ? I know all to well myself.

Somehow Bicuspid missed my attention and calcified stuck out. Your right, but then so is Cooker.

 

[RCB]

Right on Cooker

Right on Cooker

If you need a heart I think you take what will match up. Some people live life with BAV and no OHS. The calcification may have caused the need for replacement. But it does seem that he was delt a bum hand. Thank god for technology.

Tom

When someone needs a heart, they will take the best available even if it is less than perfect. I have signed a donor card in the event of my death (something many here are hoping for) and told wife of my wishes. My doctors at CC told me even with the clunker I have, the transplant doctors would make use of it (even though many here don?t believe I have one). . The main criteria is ejection volume (can the heart pump enough blood to supply the body?) and cross-match. The biggest problem with my heart is blood type- only those with AB negative blood type can be a recipient. I hope this will change one day, so even more hearts will become available.

 

[Natanni]

My husband's father had a heart transplant 15 years ago, and now has severe regurgitation of the tricuspid valve due to multiple biopsies that have been done over the years. The Mayo feels that it got snagged and torn at one point with the forceps that are used in biopsies. He was told that this is not unusual in the tricuspid valve at this stage. They are not doing surgery to replace it at this point as he has been having significant issues with kidneys and heart. I am not sure how well they were able to screen for bicuspid valves back at that time, as I know my husband was coined bicuspid then thought to have a trileaflet valve, back and forth for years and finally confirmed at the Mayo with their new dimensional ? echo just prior to surgery. Perhaps they echo the transplanted heart directly just prior to implanting into the new recipiant? Not sure how that works.

 

[RCB]

Before

Before

My husband's father had a heart transplant 15 years ago, and now has severe regurgitation of the tricuspid valve due to multiple biopsies that have been done over the years. The Mayo feels that it got snagged and torn at one point with the forceps that are used in biopsies. He was told that this is not unusual in the tricuspid valve at this stage. They are not doing surgery to replace it at this point as he has been having significant issues with kidneys and heart. I am not sure how well they were able to screen for bicuspid valves back at that time, as I know my husband was coined bicuspid then thought to have a trileaflet valve, back and forth for years and finally confirmed at the Mayo with their new dimensional ? echo just prior to surgery. Perhaps they echo the transplanted heart directly just prior to implanting into the new recipiant? Not sure how that works.

They close they do a TEE- SOP.

 

[briansmom]

These are the kind of reasons that I chose not to get a heart transplant for my son. Around the 10-20 year mark after transplant people start to have problems. They are not even usually heart related, but are caused by all of the medicines that have to be taken. I am so grateful for the LVAD technology that gave my son a chance to live longer than the 15-25 years he would be expected to live with a transplant.

 

[Pegasus]

Update: We just got news that surgery went very well. Surgery was past Thursday (he was admitted Tuesday) and will be released tomorrow. My husband and I were quite worried about him being a heart transplant patient but thankfully all went smoothly. Amazing really! Now we are hoping for a speedy and uneventful recovery. I'll try to find out what valve he received.
astrid

 

[WayneGM]

Glad to hear he is over the mountain and on the road to recovery. My best wishes to him for a smooth, uneventful, recovery.

 

[RCB]

He is blessed

He is blessed

and double lucky!