Leakage from a Mechanical Valve

[Phyllis Jean]

My Aortic Valve was replaced in Oct of 2004 due to severe leakage. This was my 2'nd Valve replacement in 6 years. My first one was a porcine tissue valve. My second one is an ATS mechanical valve. My question is: What is the likelihood that this mechanical valve will start leaking and I will have to have it replaced also? It scares me to think of another open heart surgery. Has anyone had their mechanical valve replaced due to leakage? If so, what caused it and what can one do to prevent it, if anything. I would appreciate anything you can tell me. Thanks.

 

[geebee]

PJ,

I have not had leakage but I know it can happen with a mechanical, it is just not common. What happens is the sewing ring starts to "break away" from the valve tissue. It usually does not happen, if at all, until the valve has been implanted for many, many years (we're talking 20 or more).

I understand the more problems you have the more you worry about more (make sense?). Been there, done that. Coming from someone who has had 1 more surgery than you, I cannot sit here and tell you it is impossible (although my problems were not leakage ones). However, you will drive yourself crazy worrying about something about which you can do nothing. If it happens, it happens and there is not a preventative action to avoid it.

Please try and relax and enjoy the new found life you have again. And know, that even if you should ever need another surgery, so many of us have done it over and over. I think it actually gets easier because you know what to expect.

Take care.

 

[Phyllis Jean]

Gina, Thanks for the explanation.

Gina, Thanks for the explanation.

Gina, I appreciate your response. You are right. I worry too much about things. I am glad to know that if it happens, It could be years away. I still have not recuperated from my surgery of October of 2004. My incision is still very red and sore and it is difficult to lay on my side. So, I keep thinking to myself "I just can't go through another operation". I will try to be more optimistic as I am glad to be alive. Thanks a lot for the encouragement. Phyllis

 

[geebee]

Hey, no problem, that's what we are all here for, right?

It is so very common to have those up and down days. They will continue (getting less frequent) for possibly the rest of your life. I still have bad days (having one today as the sky has been gray for over a week and I am suffering from sun deprevation). I even still occasionally have the "why me syndrome (especially when I find a great low cut dress that just doesn't work with a "chest zipper"

However, when that happens I try to focus on the "why not me" and look at the people so much worse off than me. I can still work (albeit it part-time), I can still walk, I can still think and I am alive.

Please don't think I am telling you to "buck up" and get over it. I just want you to know you are not alone.

 

[tobagotwo]

It's almost unheard of, in terms of the mechanical valve itself leaking. Potentially, it could leak around the seams, if you have a myxomatous tissue problem which kept it from keeping fully attached. However, I don't recall you describing an issue of that type at all.

There is really no preventative measure for it that I could dream up. Your original situation was very unusual, to say the least, and is extraordinarily unlikely to repeat itself with your new valve.

Best wishes,

 

[Les]

Bob's post about the tissue problem describes my situation to a "T". My first mechanical pulled loose after 856 days. The second one will have 10 years on it this December. However, it is leaking at the suture ring. As he stated, there are no preventive measures and it is not all that common for this problem to exist. You'll be just fine. The best to you!

 

[Yaps]

oboy

oboy

now Im going to worry, my valve was myxomatous, severly.....well so far so good....

 

[Phyllis Jean]

Myxomatous Tissue Problem

Myxomatous Tissue Problem

I have never heard the term "Myxomatous". Without my having to do a lot of research, could someone explain to me what it means in layman's terms? Hopefully I don't have a tissue problem. If I do, nobody mentioned it to me. Thanks so much for helping me understand this. Phyllis

 

[Yaps]

here you go Phyllis

here you go Phyllis

http://www.rjmatthewsmd.com/Definitions/pop/115fig.htm

 

[tobagotwo]

Myxomatous tissue is sometimes associated with bicuspid aortic valves. Here's something from an earlier post I made:

The remaining question is whether you have BAV (bicuspid aortic valve) pathology, which is evident in as many as 33% of bicuspid valve owners. Its importance in individual cases is determined by the surgeon during the procedure, as it requires direct observation. This is because even when it is present, it develops at different rates in different people, and may not have any real effect on treatment or surgery throughout the patient's life.

BAV pathology involves tissue changes that sometimes allow the aorta and the aortic root to continue to enlarge, sometimes to dissection proportions, and can sometimes cause myxomatous tissue changes to the original valve and to the tissue that the new valve would be sewn into. The myxomatous tissue (tissue that becomes expanded with fibers or even gel-like) does not hold as well when being sewn into during reops. So, if the tissue at the site is fibrous or otherwise myxomatous on inspection, the surgeon may decide that a mechanical will avoid reusing the sewing site longer and is preferable for that reason.

There is another posting with links to bicuspid aortic valve syndrome sites in this thread:
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?

It is important not to jump to concerns that may not be a part of your own situation. A couple of simple questions to your cardiologist might well allay these concerns for you.

Yaps, don't you go getting all concerned now. You're doing fine. Just lay off those 250-lb barbell weight sets you've been doing at Jack LaLane's...

Best wishes,

 

[Les]

It is important not to jump to concerns that may not be a part of your own situation.

That's exactly right...My tissue was destroyed by Bacterial Endocarditis, thus, a unique situation.