themalteser
Well-known member
Hello all,
It’s been such a long time since I last posted anything in this forum. I guess, I tried not to think about my condition that much and so I didn’t visit valvereplacement for a while.
I was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve and an aortic root dilation of 46mm back in 2009, each year I was monitored for growth and leakage. Today, I visited a surgeon who said that my aorta, although it’s around 47mm, may benefit from the Pears procedure. He would like to operate by end of this year or beginning of next year.
I like to think that I am in control of the decision to operate, but it seems that I don’t really have much other choices. The only other choice is to wait until my aorta is 50mm and operate then, maybe it buy me some more time, but not sure how beneficial this is.
The surgeon mentioned that the procedure is done off pump. It was surprising to hear that my surgeon will drop the blood pressure to around 60 (the top number) and slightly cool the body! I don’t think I like what he is saying, but perhaps this is protocol for off-pump heart procedures. He was also mentioning a whole lot of possible negative outcomes such as, infections, inflammations, heart rhythm disorders and of course death. Again, I don’t like hearing all this stuff!
The surgeon is Dutch and I will be having my surgery in Amsterdam. He was thought by a British surgeon and he performed around 7 PEARS procedures so far. (Total PEARS worldwide is round 240). Again, I do have concerns about the experience, but he seems to be an excellent surgeon with a fantastic track record on other procedures. The inventor himself has also praised him and his skills as a surgeon, so I do feel reassured at the moment.
I don’t know how I feel. Part of me, I feel okay, but not sure whether I am in denial, somewhat I don’t really believe it. Part of me feels afraid as almost thinking, this is it! The news has not yet sunk in properly. I am also worried of course, will I be okay? Will i be in a lot of pain? Will my wife and children cope? And so on....
I just wanted to give you update all. Just like an old friend who hasn’t seen each other for a while, I do, of course, feel a bit ashamed of myself that I didn’t keep in touch. I do hope that I will be allowed to share my journey with you from now until after surgery.
Thank you.
It’s been such a long time since I last posted anything in this forum. I guess, I tried not to think about my condition that much and so I didn’t visit valvereplacement for a while.
I was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve and an aortic root dilation of 46mm back in 2009, each year I was monitored for growth and leakage. Today, I visited a surgeon who said that my aorta, although it’s around 47mm, may benefit from the Pears procedure. He would like to operate by end of this year or beginning of next year.
I like to think that I am in control of the decision to operate, but it seems that I don’t really have much other choices. The only other choice is to wait until my aorta is 50mm and operate then, maybe it buy me some more time, but not sure how beneficial this is.
The surgeon mentioned that the procedure is done off pump. It was surprising to hear that my surgeon will drop the blood pressure to around 60 (the top number) and slightly cool the body! I don’t think I like what he is saying, but perhaps this is protocol for off-pump heart procedures. He was also mentioning a whole lot of possible negative outcomes such as, infections, inflammations, heart rhythm disorders and of course death. Again, I don’t like hearing all this stuff!
The surgeon is Dutch and I will be having my surgery in Amsterdam. He was thought by a British surgeon and he performed around 7 PEARS procedures so far. (Total PEARS worldwide is round 240). Again, I do have concerns about the experience, but he seems to be an excellent surgeon with a fantastic track record on other procedures. The inventor himself has also praised him and his skills as a surgeon, so I do feel reassured at the moment.
I don’t know how I feel. Part of me, I feel okay, but not sure whether I am in denial, somewhat I don’t really believe it. Part of me feels afraid as almost thinking, this is it! The news has not yet sunk in properly. I am also worried of course, will I be okay? Will i be in a lot of pain? Will my wife and children cope? And so on....
I just wanted to give you update all. Just like an old friend who hasn’t seen each other for a while, I do, of course, feel a bit ashamed of myself that I didn’t keep in touch. I do hope that I will be allowed to share my journey with you from now until after surgery.
Thank you.