Misc. Questions.......

[chuckdc37]

I have a few questions re: stuff I've noticed. Anyone have answers to the following:
Why do some people have 2-3 chest tubes and some only one?

Does the tissue in the heart actually grow around the valve or are the sutures the only connection over time?

What is the difference between a model 2800 and 3000 Edwards Paramount valve?

What kind of saw is used to cut the sternum?

I have one of those thin wires still in my chest because the surgeon could not get it out. He said it should be no problem but I might set off airport security alarms. Any info on this weird deal?

What determines the donor site for bypass blood vessels? My single bypass came from my left calf. I've read where one fellow had his taken from his chest area.

Does Mederma scar cream really work?

Any info on the dosages of pain meds that different hospitals give to patients for OHS? I had very little pain and wonder if my nurses simply gave me plenty of morphine or oxycodin or what? I did notice that some nurses were more willing to give pain meds than others.

Well, enough for now. Thx in advance for any input!

 

[Eva]

I have a few questions re: stuff I've noticed. Anyone have answers to the following:
Why do some people have 2-3 chest tubes and some only one? MAYBE they had more drainage...not sure. I had two tubes
..................

What kind of saw is used to cut the sternum?I do not want to know...my mind might keep the image and it will haunt me at nights

I have one of those thin wires still in my chest because the surgeon could not get it out. He said it should be no problem but I might set off airport security alarms. Any info on this weird deal? I do not think so...If so, the alarm will be off all day as this surgery has become a kind of routine
...........
Does Mederma scar cream really work? Unfortunately, it did not work for me...I bought the biggest tube...nothing. There is "E-SIL" that I found on the shel...this helped to flatten the keloid part and lightened the incicsion

Any info on the dosages of pain meds that different hospitals give to patients for OHS? I had very little pain and wonder if my nurses simply gave me plenty of morphine or oxycodin or what? I did notice that some nurses were more willing to give pain meds than others.No...dosage should not exceed a certain amount. Maybe you are one of those who did not need much. I wanted more as morphine was not working...they would not give me any until a certain time passed!

Well, enough for now. Thx in advance for any input!

I answers some of your questions above to my best knowledge. I am sure you will get answers to all from other members.

 

[Ross]

Of all the questions I can answer 2 of them.
The tissue grows around the suture ring.

Here is the Sternum saw: http://medfixortho.com/Power/Pictures/stryker2107_sternumsaw.JPG

 

[chuckdc37]

Holy Cow! I don't know what I thought it would like but that thing is a serious power saw!

 

[Bina]

Doesn't that saw operate with a large spinning, serated blade?

I had one large drain tube....and I'm a little person.

My hospital was generous with the bad drugs......morphine, oxycodone.....I had to fight to receive regular Tylenol.

Most scars heal well, mine took a long time, but it's nice. I didn't mess with it.

 

[hall]

The saw is not as bad as I thought it would be. Don't ask me what I thought, but I was not surprised. Chuck, I am thinking I only had one chest tube. The rest, I can not help you with.

 

[Bina]

Somehow, I had visions of the saw being more like this:
thankfully, that was not the case.

 

[Freddie]

Of all the questions I can answer 2 of them.
The tissue grows around the suture ring.

Here is the Sternum saw: http://medfixortho.com/Power/Pictures/stryker2107_sternumsaw.JPG

My surgeon told us that the saw that is used is like a Dremel on steroids - guess he was right .

 

[Bina]

Here is another, from indiamart.
Very nice.

 

[ChouDoufu]

http://www.sts.org/doc/8894

2. Model 2700 is the Carpentier-Edwards PERIMONT Pericardial Aortic Bioprosthesis.

3. Model 2800 is the Carpentier-Edwards PERIMONT Pericardial Aortic RSR
(Reduced Sewing Ring) Bioprosthesis.

4. Model 3000 is the Carpentier-Edwards PERIMONT MAGNA Pericardial Aortic
Bioprosthesis.

 

[Lynlw]

I have a few questions re: stuff I've noticed. Anyone have answers to the following:
Why do some people have 2-3 chest tubes and some only one?
Alot also depends on the surgeon, Justin's last 2 OHS he only had 1 chest tube in the center and also the surgery (for Justin's chest infection surgery he had 3 tubes

Does the tissue in the heart actually grow around the valve or are the sutures the only connection over time?

What is the difference between a model 2800 and 3000 Edwards Paramount valve?

What kind of saw is used to cut the sternum? power saw

I have one of those thin wires still in my chest because the surgeon could not get it out. He said it should be no problem but I might set off airport security alarms. Any info on this weird deal?

What wires are you referring to? I'm thinking maybe the pacer wirse because sometimes if they are really stuck in the heart they just clip them and shouldn't be a problem.

What determines the donor site for bypass blood vessels? My single bypass came from my left calf. I've read where one fellow had his taken from his chest area.

Does Mederma scar cream really work? Didn't for us

Any info on the dosages of pain meds that different hospitals give to patients for OHS? I had very little pain and wonder if my nurses simply gave me plenty of morphine or oxycodin or what? I did notice that some nurses were more willing to give pain meds than others.

has alot to do with what the surgeons and anestheias write. also as you noticed the nurse.

Well, enough for now. Thx in advance for any input

 

[geebee]

Of all the questions I can answer 2 of them.
The tissue grows around the suture ring.

Here is the Sternum saw: http://medfixortho.com/Power/Pictures/stryker2107_sternumsaw.JPG

And I just HAD to look. It's painful just looking at the picture.

 

[Lynlw]

What is the difference between a model 2800 and 3000 Edwards Paramount valve?
I'm not sure but isn't the 300 the Magna, and newer?

 

[Adrienne]

I have one of those thin wires still in my chest because the surgeon could not get it out. He said it should be no problem but I might set off airport security alarms. Any info on this weird deal?

Are you talking about the leads that go to the external pacemaker which we all seem to have right after the surgery? If so, they couldn't get one of mine out either, and it does NOT set off security alarms.

 

[Ross]

Doesn't that saw operate with a large spinning, serated blade?

Morticians use the spinning blade models for autopsies.

Surgeons use what I have shown which is pretty much a sawzall with a blade guide.

 

[zipper2]

Of all the questions I can answer 2 of them.
The tissue grows around the suture ring.

Here is the Sternum saw: http://medfixortho.com/Power/Pictures/stryker2107_sternumsaw.JPG

Omygosh.........OUCH!!! Thank goodness for anesthetic's
Feeling weak now and know why our sternum takes so long to heal.

I had tons of scar tissue on my mech.aortic valve but they snipped
cut away,left her where she was,find out more on follow-up next week.
I had one drainage tube but felt like a big knotted uneven rope when they
took it out.

zipper2 (DEB)

 

[Laura R]

Hi Chuck!
RE: I have a few questions re: stuff I've noticed. Anyone have answers to the following:
Why do some people have 2-3 chest tubes and some only one?
I don't know why, but I had two.

Does the tissue in the heart actually grow around the valve or are the sutures the only connection over time?

What is the difference between a model 2800 and 3000 Edwards Paramount valve?

What kind of saw is used to cut the sternum?

When I 'saw' Ross's link, I didn't even look, don't really want to know!

I have one of those thin wires still in my chest because the surgeon could not get it out. He said it should be no problem but I might set off airport security alarms. Any info on this weird deal?

What determines the donor site for bypass blood vessels? My single bypass came from my left calf. I've read where one fellow had his taken from his chest area.

Does Mederma scar cream really work?

Didn't work for me, and I didn't like the smell at all.

Any info on the dosages of pain meds that different hospitals give to patients for OHS? I had very little pain and wonder if my nurses simply gave me plenty of morphine or oxycodin or what? I did notice that some nurses were more willing to give pain meds than others.

They really pushed the heavy duty painkillers, which I did not take, but somehow, when my husband picked up the prescriptions they had given him for me, we got stuck with a bottle of something I'd never want to take.

Well, enough for now. Thx in advance for any input!

Hope that helps a bit.

Laura