Mitral Valve Repair Scheduled

[JAJ99]

My mitral valve repair surgery is scheduled for October 22nd at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. I've known about my mitral prolapse and regurgitation for about 13 years. I've been fortunate to have Dr. M. Sarano at Mayo monitoring my condition for several years. It is now to the point where it needs to be repaired. Dr. Hartzell Schaff will be performing the surgery and he's confident of a repair.

The pre-surgery anxiety comes and goes but I've known that surgery would be in future so I've dealt with it for some time. My only unknown is whether to have a sternectomy or right thoracotomy. It makes no difference surgically to Dr. Schaff. I'm leaning heavily towards the right thoracotomy. My guess that in the long run that would give me the fewest problems since no bones would be cut.

This website has been a wonderful source of encouragement and information. Thanks to all of you who take the time to post! Jean
_________________________________________________________________

JAJ99, age 45
Mitral Valve Repair scheduled October 22, 2007 due to severe regurgitation
Dr. Hartzell Schaff, Mayo Clinic, Rochester

 

[Mary]

Jean,
I'll put your name on our VR surgery calendar for Oct. 22. I don't know much about the right thoracotomy, but I believe I've read where some members felt it was more painful.
You could do a search and see what some of the threads hold in terms of information. If you have trouble finding the information you desire with search, then you might try the archive feature. It's at the bottom of the page and you can check the post-surgery forum and scroll down through promising titles.

 

[Curtsmum]

Best of luck with your surgery and good luck with your decition, hope you have a really speedy recovery

 

[Bina]

Jean, Welcome!
It is a good idea to do some searching and reading in the surgery forums here.
The mitral valvers will be along shortly to give you some opinions and share experiences.

 

[Adrienne]

The pre-surgery anxiety comes and goes but I've known that surgery would be in future so I've dealt with it for some time. My only unknown is whether to have a sternectomy or right thoracotomy. It makes no difference surgically to Dr. Schaff. I'm leaning heavily towards the right thoracotomy. My guess that in the long run that would give me the fewest problems since no bones would be cut.
Jean
_________________________________________________________________

I would go for the right thoracotomy with the condition that if he finds for some reason he cannot do a repair that way once he is in there, that he will then do the sternotomy. Anything is worth having a well done repair performed.

 

[Cooker]

Wishing you the best for surgery and recovery. Godspeed......Tom

 

[WayneGM]

Best wishes for a successful surgery, and a smooth, uneventful, recovery.

 

[Kathleen]

Jean
I live right down the road from you in Shakopee. I wanted to wish you the very best on your repair. I have been with Abbott for 28 years and have had all my surgeries there. I do hear wonderful reports about the Mayo. If I can be of any assistance to you or answer any questions please holler. I would be more than happy to talk to you or meet for coffee.
Kathleen

 

[njean]

Best of luck to you Jean. I pray that your surgery is a complete success & for a speedy recovery! God Bless!

njp

 

[catwoman]

I had a sternotomy and my husband had a thoracotomy. I think his was probably less painful than my sternotomy was. He never had the back pain that I had or others have with a sternotomy. He did have swelling -- I joked that he had had "enhancement" surgery.

One thing: He had an incision at the left groin, which I didn't have with my sternotomy. Seems like tubing was inserted via the incision. He had some lymphedema with this, still has it occasionally and may for a long time. But, other than this and an arrhythmia (not uncommon with any OHS) John's recovery was much quicker than mine. He was also allowed to go back to driving sooner than I was.

I would choose thoracotomy in a heartbeat, as long as the surgeon is very experienced with side incisions.

 

[halleyg]

I have had both the thoracotomy and sternotomy, and in my experience, the sternotomy was much less painful and my recovery has been a lot easier than with the thoracotomy. That is only my experience, I have seen many posts on here where others have had very little pain with the right side incision. I did have the groin incision with the thoracotomy that I didin't have with the next one. Of course, now I have the more noticeable scar, but it depends on your personal preference. I may have just been in the minority.

Good luck to you!

 

[JAJ99]

Thank you

Thank you

Thanks to all for posting. I'm still leaning towards the thoracotomy but I have some time to think about it. I'm leaving on a mini vacation with some women friends tomorrow. My husband insisted that I go. It will be fun to get away for some R&R and lots of laughs before my surgery.

_________________________________________________________________
JAJ99
severe mitral regurgitation
mitral repair surgery scheduled Oct. 22, 2007
Mayo Clinic Rochester, Dr. Schaff

 

[doberman]

Valve Repair

Valve Repair

Best wishes, I had the same procedure 3 years ago at your age, I feel great and I am super grateful to my terrific doctors. I wish you a smooth and quick recovery.
Best
Johnny

 

[shellyb]

It would seem that it would be preferable to have as little incision as possible (especailly if the outcome is the same) but if I were you I'd do some research and ask lots of questions of the surgeon.

Best of luck making a decision and with the surgery and enjoy the minivaction with friends.

shellyb