Minimally Invasive Post Op

[shellyb]

His incision is at the top of his sternum and is about 3 1/2 inches long. His recovery was fairly easy especially considering he had OHS. His surgeon specializes in minimally invasive procedures.

shellyb

 

[thenewmarket]

My husband had an aneurysm repair and a bicuspid aortic valve repair in September at Cleveland Clinic. His incision was a 4 1/2 inch vertical cut. His recovery from the incision was extremely easy. The only problem he encountered was a bone fragment at the base of his incision. The cardiologist thought we would have to have this surgically corrected. However, my husband is a dentist and he kept telling everyone that this was equivalent to an extraction where bone fragment might surface. He kept telling everyone to be patient that it would "work its way out". Guess what? He was correct.....the bone fragment worked its way out and he is totally fine.

He is three months post surgery and life is truly back to normal. There are days he even "forgets" he had surgery. We are so blessed!

 

[marie]

thanks everyone

thanks everyone

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread.

Kandice: For starting it and helping me realize I didn't even know for sure what that meant.

Al: For suggesting that could mean more than one thing. I was thinking it was one of the two not both.

Shelly: for your husband's experience

Everyone that had any input. I truly appreciate this. What a supportive site.
Earline

 

[marie]

My husband had an aneurysm repair and a bicuspid aortic valve repair in September at Cleveland Clinic. His incision was a 4 1/2 inch vertical cut. His recovery from the incision was extremely easy. The only problem he encountered was a bone fragment at the base of his incision. The cardiologist thought we would have to have this surgically corrected. However, my husband is a dentist and he kept telling everyone that this was equivalent to an extraction where bone fragment might surface. He kept telling everyone to be patient that it would "work its way out". Guess what? He was correct.....the bone fragment worked its way out and he is totally fine.

He is three months post surgery and life is truly back to normal. There are days he even "forgets" he had surgery. We are so blessed!

Thank you for posting. So is his cut under the breast? Everything seems to have gone so well. I hope I'm as lucky. What type of valve did he have? Oh my he had a repair. I need to read more throughly
Earline

 

[thenewmarket]

Earline,

His incision starts at the top of his sternum, is vertical, and ends at 4 1/2 inches! It really isn't bad at all considering the surgery!

Best wishes to you...........

 

[ruth]

Agree. I think it is baffling the number of "cut" options open to the surgeons. Mine originally wanted to do something she called the 'rhode island' cut or some such goofy term. Basically what she meant was to start lower than normal and have a very short cut. She said this would be better on a lady since you could still wear a somewhat lowcut dress with a strand of pearls covering up the beginning of the incision!

I'd love to know all the options out there.

Take care all.

Peace,
Ruth

 

[Adrienne]

Maybe that's what I have since the scar starts about 2 inches from the top of the sternum.

 

[DebbyA]

Here's a link to a thread I started thrashing around with the same confusing terminology:
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23246
It includes this link to a Cleveland Clinic page with diagrams

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/heartcenter/pub/guide/disease/mini_invasivehs.htm

I see the surgeon Wednesday to discuss this and will try to post result.

 

[KatieD]

Ah, finally, a picture! I believe mine was the right mini thoracotomy.

 

[Adrienne]

That is a very informative site.

 

[marie]

That is a very informative site.

I am so amazed at the knowledge people have and are so willing to share it. I really do appreciate it.