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[Gail]

Bina,
I am not sure what a port is.

Gail

 

[WayneGM]

I do not know what the procedure is called but they made 3 small cuts under my right breast, and about a 6" cut across the top of my right breast. I had a tube in my neck, a drainage tube in one of the cuts under my breast and they put a tube in my groin to my heart. I had the surgery on mon. and went home on sat. I was also put on the heart-lung machine. All the test showed maybe more than one valve needed something done to it. When they put me to sleep they put a camera down my throat and looked at my heart. Than they knew I only needed the one valve replaced. I don't know if this helps answer any questions you have.

Gail

I'm no expert, but it sounds to me like you did have some form of open heart surgery, especially given you were put on the heart and lung machine. Did the surgeon tell you that you didn't? As I understand it, even minimally invasive procedures are considered OHS. The fact that there was only one valve replaced isn't the criteria for having OHS as many of us only had one valve replaced or repaired with OHS. I'm confused.

Anyway, as nice as it would be to clear up the confusion about this, the main thing is you're on this side of the mountain and on the road to recovery. Best wishes for a smooth and uneventful one.

 

[Adrienne]

I have to admit that I have always been a bit confused as to whether the term "open heart surgery" refers to the fact that they cut into the heart or whether it refers to your chest being wide open. Will someone please clarify this.

In any case, I'm glad everything went well.

 

[Ross]

Open heart is just as it implies, the heart is full exposed and most often placed on the chest.

Sounds like she had some sort of port access Mitral replacement.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Sounds like a Thorocotomy to me which is a type of surgery through the RIBS.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Ross]

I would like to know if any of you take Celebrex.

Have a great day!
Gail

You can take it, but your Coumadin will have to be adjusted for it.

CELECOXIB (in Celebrex) may interact with WARFARIN SODIUM (in Coumadin)

Although the cause of this potential interaction is not clearly understood, celecoxib may increase the anticoagulant effect of warfarin. Warfarin is generally used to prevent your blood from "coagulating" or forming blood clots. When celecoxib and warfarin are used at the same time, your blood may be much less likely to clot and this may increase the risk of excessive bleeding. If these drugs are taken together, your doctor may want to monitor you closely when therapy with celecoxib is started or stopped, or when the dose of celecoxib is changed. Blood tests can be used to make sure that you are getting the right amount of warfarin. If you are experiencing problems, it may be necessary to adjust the dose of warfarin. Discuss this potential interaction with your healthcare provider at your next appointment, or sooner if you think you are having problems.

This interaction is well-documented and is considered major in severity.

 

[WayneGM]

According to Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia......

Open heart surgery is any surgery where the chest is opened and surgery is performed on the heart. The term "open" refers to the chest, not the heart itself. The heart may or may not be opened, depending on the type of surgery.

Open heart surgery includes surgery on the heart muscle, valves, arteries, or other structures.

A heart-lung machine (also called cardiopulmonary bypass) is usually during conventional open heart surgery to help provide oxygen-rich blood to the brain and other vital organs. The machine also pumps, supplies oxygen, removes carbon dioxide from the blood, and provides anesthesia to keep the patient asleep during surgery.

The definition of open heart surgery becomes confusing in light of new procedures being performed on the heart through smaller incisions. There are some new surgical procedures being performed that are done with the heart still beating. Minimally invasive heart surgery (MIDCAB, OPCAB, RACAB), including robotic-assisted heart surgery, is still considered open heart surgery. However, these procedures are being used in some patients as an alternative to open heart surgery requiring the heart-lung machine.

 

[Gail]

I think I remember someone saying something about going though the ribs. I had my Aortic Valve replaced.

Gail

 

[Adrienne]

According to Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia......

Open heart surgery is any surgery where the chest is opened and surgery is performed on the heart. The term "open" refers to the chest, not the heart itself. The heart may or may not be opened, depending on the type of surgery.

Open heart surgery includes surgery on the heart muscle, valves, arteries, or other structures.

A heart-lung machine (also called cardiopulmonary bypass) is usually during conventional open heart surgery to help provide oxygen-rich blood to the brain and other vital organs. The machine also pumps, supplies oxygen, removes carbon dioxide from the blood, and provides anesthesia to keep the patient asleep during surgery.

The definition of open heart surgery becomes confusing in light of new procedures being performed on the heart through smaller incisions. There are some new surgical procedures being performed that are done with the heart still beating. Minimally invasive heart surgery (MIDCAB, OPCAB, RACAB), including robotic-assisted heart surgery, is still considered open heart surgery. However, these procedures are being used in some patients as an alternative to open heart surgery requiring the heart-lung machine.

Thank you Wayne. You can see, though, how the term has become confusing from the last few lines that you quoted.

 

[Ross]

I think I remember someone saying something about going though the ribs. I had my Aortic Valve replaced.

Gail

Now that's interesting. I know they can do Mitral through keyhole, but haven't heard of them doing Aortic. Not that it can't be done, but you'd be one of the firsts.