Mechanical or Valve Sparing for kids

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They should be able to climb stairs when they get home, they will just want to minimize the trips up and down. Many people suggest using a recliner, I didnt but if I ahve to do it again, I will go out an buy one.

a spirometer is a tube like device which you blow into and it measures your air capacity, it is used to get patients to begin using full lung capacity again to avoid fluid build up, pneumonia.
 
Kids surgery

Kids surgery

Good Morning Everyone, I will aks Dr. Deeb about the deep freeze. I also saw a site you can buy a machine to check your levels when you are on blood thinners. Did anyone ever purchase one? Are they very expensive? Seems like that would be easier to check at home. I think I will email Tirone David myself. I will ask him appox the life of valve sparing. I figure I may as well ask him some questions since he is the expert in this field.I never thought there was so much to consider. I just want to be well educated before surgery. I hope everyone has a nice day. It is cold here in Michigan.I guess puts you in the Christmas Spirit.
Cindy
 
Many of us home test. If you read the link that I put in a previous post, you'll learn a little about it. The sponsor of this site, QAS, will do all the leg work in aquiring a machine and getting insurance approval. If mechanical valves are being considered, make sure your doctor is onboard with home testing - that's half the battle.
 
Kids home testing

Kids home testing

Thanks. I will ask my docotor about the home testing. I will also chck out my insurance coverage. How often do you still need to be tested in a lab?
Cindy
 
A lot of us that home test, test once a week. It just allows us to keep a better handle on our INR. Once a person is stabilized on Coumadin, lab tests can go to 1 time a month. It just all depends on how easily the person's INR stays in-range.

Most insurance companies consider the home testing machine DME (Durable Medical Equipment). If they cover glucose testing machines for diabetics and insulin pumps, they should also cover INR testing machines.

Currently there are only 2 machines available in the US -

the INRatio http://www.hemosense.com/patient/inratio.shtml

and the ProTime http://www.itcmed.com/protime.shtml

(I had a ProTime for over 3 years, and now I have the INRatio. I, hands down, recommend the INRatio. It is small and very easy to use.)

I posted the links for the machines so you will know what it is you are calling your insurance company about. It's not unusual for the insurance person to have no idea what it is you are talking about.
 
Kids surgery

Kids surgery

Thanks I saved the testing monitor website on my computer.
You are right Rachel. If taking blood thinners saves your life then they are good. We are leaning toward the Mechanical. But no definite decisions yet. We have a family member who works at the Cardiac Unit at Beaumont Hospital. She is going to ask some of her surgeons their opinions on both. We have time to decide. Just want to get our ducks in order. Gather as much as info as possible.Everyone has been a great deal of help and support.
Thanks,
Cindy
 
I was wonderring if your kids were male or female? also I didn't know if you were aware but most of the pediatric heart surgeons are really good about giving second (or 3rd..) ops, if you ask them. When I was getting opinions for Justins last surgery I just contacted a couple of the bigger CHD centers and they told me what records to have sent to them, if that would interest you, Lyn
ps since justin is about your kids age and his last surgery was a little over a year ago if they have any question, i can give you an email addy
 
Kids surgery

Kids surgery

Hi, My kids are male. I had two opinions. I have also talked to doctors at the Cleveland Clinic and I emailed Dr. Hal Dietz at John Hopkins in Maryland. Did your son get mechanical or Valve sparing? What was his size when he got the surgery? Where is his anurysm located? Does he have a connective tissue disorder?
Thanks,
Cindy
 
He has different CHDs, transposition of the great vessels, pulmonary stenosis/atresia, vsd,and a few smaller things. his OHS were when he was 10 days, 18 months, 10 years and 17 years, he didn't get a new pulm valve until he was 17 (since you don't necessarily need a pulm valve so we waited til he was close to fullgrown so he wouldn't outgrow it and needed surgery anyway)and got a tissue (bovine)
It's good your kids ae also guys, that takes worrying about making choices based on having kids away. Lyn
 
Kids surgry

Kids surgry

Yes it's good they are boys no stress on theAorta during pregnancy. They have a 50 percent chance to give to their offspring. My kids had a 50 percent chance of getting from their Father too.
 
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