Mitral Valve Repair

[Ernieparani]

Hi all.
I am new here but found this website and thought I'd share my experiences about my dad.

He is a 67 y/o male with cardiomyopathy and has an EF of 20-25%.
He had surgery on August 31, 2011.
He felt better immediately, and we started cardiac rehab.
Just 2 weeks later, he began feeling symptoms of SOB and fatigue. The same symptoms before surgery.
Fast forward to December 2011. Few days before Christmas, we brought him to the ER because he was feeling dizzy, nauseous, SOB, and very diaphoretic. He had an NSTEMI, and an echo revealed that the valve is still leaking very badly.

Fast forward to today.
After a bunch of running around with appointments and referrals, my sister and I have found a second surgeon. We are going to see him this Monday. The thought of my dad going to surgery for a second time is scary. I asked him if he wanted to do it a second time, and he told me "I have no choice."
We are all staying positive and we know God has a great plan for all of us!

Please feel free to share your thoughts, and experiences with me, my sister, and my dad.
We welcome you all!

 

[catwoman]

Tell your dad good luck. I am sure he will do just fine. It's not fun going through a 2nd surgery, I'm sure, and it is pretty unusual to require a re-op so soon after a repair.
But you do what you have to do, and it sounds as though your dad realizes it. He will have the strength to get through this, thanks to his faith and your family. You sound as though you have a medical background, or at least an understanding of what's going on, which is helpful.

My husband will be 66 in March and had MV repair in May 2007. His MV was damaged when his car was hit head-on in December 2005 during an ice storm. The airbag went off, causing deceralation trauma -- his body was still going forward when that bag stopped him. It broke his sternum, which was detected at the time, but they didn't know that at least one (I can't remember if it was 1 or 2) chordae were damaged. Six months after his sternum healed he began having problems -- fatigue mostly. He was monitored for awhile, then he had consults with 2 surgeons, mine and Dr. William Ryan in Dallas. He opted for Dr. Ryan, who did a thoracotomy (port access/keyhole incision between the ribs under the right breast). During the surgery, Dr. Ryan was able to determine that the injury was consistent with deceleration trauma.
John has had no problems with the MV since. The valve is doing just fine, and I have to hunt to see the scar. (Dr. Ryan is a great "seamstress"!)
He did have a backup plan, a Plan B, in case the surgeon could not repair the chordae: a mechanical valve, like mine. But that plan wasn't needed.

Some repairs seem to hold, others do not. I would expect it depends on the nature of the problem requiring the surgery.

Please keep us posted on your dad's surgery, and give him a big hug for me.

 

[Jkm7]

I feel so bad to read this and wish your Dad the best.
That was my biggest nightmare.... to have a failed repair.
My surgeon and cardio both thought it unlikely my valve could be repaired (a top surgeon at Mass General Hospital) but surgeon wanted to attempt. I agreed but we discussed my choice for tissue valve should he not be able to make a good repair. He tried for a significant amount of time but was not satisfied and ultimately replaced the valve. When I woke and learned about the replacement, it was a relief for me. I had a bad feeling about a repair.

It is not unheard for repairs to fail and to fail as early as your dad's. It isn't common but it most assuredly has happened to others.

My replacement was my second OHS in four years and was very much easier on me than my first was. The moment I woke from surgery, I knew right away the 'truck' had not hit me nearly as hard as the first time.
I wish the same for your Dad that he have a successful surgery and bump free recovery.

 

[Boston Tiger]

Wow, that really stinks for your dad. I know that I didn't feel really releaved until my one year appointment, when my cardiologist confirmed said that my repair was holding up perfectly and that I was cleared to do just about anything.

It sounds like your dad has as good of an attititude as possible heading into his second surgery, and we all wish him the best.

 

[Ernieparani]

Tell your dad good luck. I am sure he will do just fine. It's not fun going through a 2nd surgery, I'm sure, and it is pretty unusual to require a re-op so soon after a repair.
But you do what you have to do, and it sounds as though your dad realizes it. He will have the strength to get through this, thanks to his faith and your family. You sound as though you have a medical background, or at least an understanding of what's going on, which is helpful.

My husband will be 66 in March and had MV repair in May 2007. His MV was damaged when his car was hit head-on in December 2005 during an ice storm. The airbag went off, causing deceralation trauma -- his body was still going forward when that bag stopped him. It broke his sternum, which was detected at the time, but they didn't know that at least one (I can't remember if it was 1 or 2) chordae were damaged. Six months after his sternum healed he began having problems -- fatigue mostly. He was monitored for awhile, then he had consults with 2 surgeons, mine and Dr. William Ryan in Dallas. He opted for Dr. Ryan, who did a thoracotomy (port access/keyhole incision between the ribs under the right breast). During the surgery, Dr. Ryan was able to determine that the injury was consistent with deceleration trauma.
John has had no problems with the MV since. The valve is doing just fine, and I have to hunt to see the scar. (Dr. Ryan is a great "seamstress"!)
He did have a backup plan, a Plan B, in case the surgeon could not repair the chordae: a mechanical valve, like mine. But that plan wasn't needed.

Some repairs seem to hold, others do not. I would expect it depends on the nature of the problem requiring the surgery.

Please keep us posted on your dad's surgery, and give him a big hug for me.

Yes you're right, we do what we have to do. Looking back at everything, this seems like the right step/right direction to take as of this moment. And I am actually a Registered Nurse that works on a Heart Failure unit.
I am glad you and your husband are doing well, and thank you for sharing your story with me!
Our plan is to see this surgeon, Dr. Accola this monday. There is also another surgeon, Dr. Sand, and we'd like to get a 2nd opinion from him. It seems like this group is one of the best in Orlando. I have asked my professor and she told me about this group. Dr. Accola has done mitral valve repairs on some of my patients that I have encountered. My sister works at a different hospital, and she has heard great things about Dr. Sand. Ironically and coincidentally, they are both in the same group, Cardiovascular Surgeons, P.A.

Will let you and everybody else know what we come up with this Monday, regarding his appointment!

 

[Ernieparani]

I feel so bad to read this and wish your Dad the best.
That was my biggest nightmare.... to have a failed repair.
My surgeon and cardio both thought it unlikely my valve could be repaired (a top surgeon at Mass General Hospital) but surgeon wanted to attempt. I agreed but we discussed on my choice for tissue valve should he not be able to make a good repair. He tried for a significant amount of time but was not satisfied and ultimately replaced the valve. When I woke and learned about the replacement, it was a relief for me. I had a bad feeling about a repair.

It is not unheard for for repairs to fail and to fail as early as your dad's. It isn't common but it most assuredly has happened to others.

My replacement was my second OHS in four years and was very much easier on me than my first was. The moment I woke from surgery, I knew right away the 'truck' had not hit me nearly as hard as the first time.
I wish the same for your Dad that he have a successful surgery and bump free recovery.

Thank you for the best wishes and regards to my dad!
This is such an unfortunate thing to happen to him, we thought this was one and done after his first surgery.
But I know God has a reason for everything, and we will continue to push forward.

 

[Ernieparani]

Wow, that really stinks for your dad. I know that I didn't feel really releaved until my one year appointment, when my cardiologist confirmed said that my repair was holding up perfectly and that I was cleared to do just about anything.

It sounds like your dad has as good of an attititude as possible heading into his second surgery, and we all wish him the best.

Thanks so much. My dad will be happy to see everyone cheering for him haha. I wonder how he is preparing himself for this and what he is thinking about, being the quiet man that he is. But I'm sure he is thinking about the positives like a better quality of life, and not having to feel the symptoms anymore. Thanks again.