I visit my second Aortic Surgeon tomorrow (hlep please)

[Chuck_S]

I would like to find out a bit more about this Ross Procedure that has been mentioned here. Does anyone have some information (website) that would explain this to me?

I do not understand, doesn't this sort of complicate things? Sure seems like I might be able to use my existing Pulmonary valve.

I am really leaning towards the Freestyle valve, not the mechanical. If this tissue valve would last 15-20, I think the non change in lifestyle might be worth a potential second operation (who knows maybe I would need a second mechanical). I was on the Freestyle website, and I see no mention of 15-20 years. This Surgeon tomorrow is pro tissue valve, it will be nice to here some more positive talk about the tissue.

I really want to thank everyone for there swift and positive responses to my original post yesterday. I am no longer terrified.

Thought appreciated,
Chuck S

 

[CCRN]

the elusive tissue valve

the elusive tissue valve

I would like to find out a bit more about this Ross Procedure that has been mentioned here. Does anyone have some information (website) that would explain this to me?

I do not understand, doesn't this sort of complicate things? Sure seems like I might be able to use my existing Pulmonary valve.

I am really leaning towards the Freestyle valve, not the mechanical. If this tissue valve would last 15-20, I think the non change in lifestyle might be worth a potential second operation (who knows maybe I would need a second mechanical). I was on the Freestyle website, and I see no mention of 15-20 years. This Surgeon tomorrow is pro tissue valve, it will be nice to here some more positive talk about the tissue.

I really want to thank everyone for there swift and positive responses to my original post yesterday. I am no longer terrified.

Thought appreciated,
Chuck S

Hi

I'm a health care professional and was kicking and screaming against a mechanical valve. No one who has a choice really wants to be on coumadin. However, when it was discovered I had a rather large ascending aortic aneurysm along with the stenosis, I said absolutely nothing when my surgeon informed me I needed the Bentall procedure and would have a mechanical valve conduit because he wanted to do whatever he could to keep from having to go back into my chest ever again.

Since then I have found the coumadin thing nothing more than an annoyance.
I don't think about it much except to take my dose every night and get my INR checked. No big deal, really. I don't know know why I was so against it.
(Well, I do but it really doesn't matter any more.) Having a mechanical valve does not mean I'm never going to have another open chest procedure but the running statistics of patients with valve/aortic replacement at my age prove that it really was the best choice for me. I'm looking forward to getting my own machine I can use at home to check my own INR. Then the process may not even be an annoyance any more.

The bottom line is to let your surgeon know your wishes and why. Find a surgeon you trust. I argued with mine over this......before the aneurysm was discovered. He is very pro tissue valve but I ended up having a much bigger procedure. Don't be afraid of getting a mechanical valve just because of coumadin. There are much worse things in life and the drug has made a better life for millions. Hope this helps and my best wishes for your medical journey.

 

[hunniheart]

Hi. I chose the tissue valve. I did not have a long time to research it, as I was scheduled for immediate surgery 2 days after I found out I had aortic stenosis. But my cardiac surgeon, my cardiologist, and the cardiac nurse all said that they would not want to be on Coumadin, and that they would all choose the tissue valve. I am hoping that in 15-20 years, the medical technology will have advanced so that the procedure will be even easier and better than it is now. And since neither valve is a guarantee of never needing another OHS, I went with the tissue valve, and it is really nice not to be on any medication (other than a baby aspirin).

 

[FauxClaud]

Hey Chuck..

My son is needing AVR..and I am also looking into the Ross...which means tons of research. Feel free to jump on my bandwagon. And if you find anything else out..please share!!

There is alot of the info that I have found here:
http://groups.msn.com/GarinsHeart/_whatsnew.msnw

http://www.columbia.edu/~bkk5/PSTalk12-04RossProcedure.swf
has real pictures of the whole thing

http://ps4ross.com/index.shtml
has a very handy slide show of an illustrated Ross prodcedure and then the same verbage with real pictures....

I'm still looking and finding more stuff..and deciding..uggg!
With surgery supposedly a month away..I know what you're feeling!!

Good luck!

 

[Chuck_S]

Had a good visit with my potential surgeon yeasterday.

Had a good visit with my potential surgeon yeasterday.

In brief, this Surgeon (Dr. Herrington - St. John Hospital in Detroit) has had very good results with the Freestyle valve and that is what he would do if he were in my position. He also uses 15-20 years as a expected valve life. It seems odd why a machine cannot test the durability of a valve pretty in (like) 1 year. I did have the opportunity to hold the different types of valves in my hand (I will always be an engineer at "heart").

This is some scary stuff, and there appears to be no clear valve winner.

As far as typical recovery he seems hopeful that I will be out of the Hospital in 4 days. I will be really verifying insurance issues this comming week in an attempt to avoid any surprises after surgery (did anyone experience these?).

I look to be scheduling surgery shortly after July 4th.

Thanks everyone,
Chuck S.

 

[mmarshall]

chuck...read some of my posts....i went through the exact same thing you are going through last month. after seeing 3 different surgeons...i went with the one that i was most comfortable with. the plan was to go in to do the ross procedure and do a stentless tissue valve as a backup if the ross could not be done. well...i waited to long to have surgery and the stentless tissue valve was the best thing for me right now. the reason why you can not find anything that states the medtronics stentless tissue valve lasting 15 to 20 years is because it have only been used for the last 12. but the results have been great for the last 12 years for all age groups so logically doctors are feeling that this valve will last 15 to 20 years....if not longer. let me know if need any specific info or help...i researched the hell out this and it will be 4 weeks post operation this tuesday....feel great and am so glad that i had this done. i had no symptoms and am in great shape....that helps the recovery process.

 

[Chuck_S]

mmarshall - I have read all your posts, they are very helpful

mmarshall - I have read all your posts, they are very helpful

Based on your experiences "hyrnia surgery was 8x worse", this should not be so terribly bad. Believe me I was thinking this was the end.

I had the Ross procedure explained to me, and I have also read up on the web. I am surprised that so many of you are so willing to have this be your first choice. I became skirmish just looking at all the cutting required with the RP.

http://ps4ross.com/index.shtml

The Freestyle appears to be my choice, hope it works for me as well as it is working for you.

 

[tobagotwo]

Here's something Burair put in References: http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10811