Odds of Surgery

[epstns]

Hey, Debora - Sorry I didn't welcome you to The Waiting Room yet! We're all out here, waiting for our surgeries -- some sooner, some later, some we don't even know when (like me).

I think the statistics posted here match all the research I've done -- that the average success rate is 97-98%, but that the average includes the elderly and those with other concurrent conditions. That said, nobody right now is calculating success rates for individual patients because there are too many variables (like experience level of doctors, etc.). The main thing to ask is whether you should expect to be at the average, better, or worse -- then just move on. There isn't anything we can do about the odds, and by the time the docs have agreed to perform surgery they are convinced that our individual chances of death if our heart/valve conditions remain untreated are greater than the risk of surgery complications. In other words, they've concluded that we're better off having surgery than not.

Once you've accepted that, the rest is academic.

Welcome to The Waiting Room!

 

[Glenda]

Hi Deborah,

I'm waiting too, and granted I am a very high risk because of the diabetes, the chronic myleoid leukemia, having only one kidney, extremely over weight, and I 'm 60, but sooner or later I will have to have the aorta valve replaced. The doctor said this is a condition that won't repair itself. It will only get worse and he's right. Over the last few months the symptoms are ten times worse than they were two months ago, so I know the surgery is coming up real fast. Like I have said before I also know that God is still in control. I just want to get it over with and start doing the things I used to do.

 

[Marge]

My surgeon -- when I pushed him -- said there was an overall 5% risk for my mitral valve repair; then he said: But statistically an added 2% risk for you. I thought the added risk was related to my age, or my left ventricle dysfunction, but he said: No, it's because of your gender.

He said that for reasons unknown to him women seem to have a statistically higher risk of mortality than men for this type of surgery. (I haven't been able to find anything in the literature I've read to back up that there is a statistical difference based on gender.)

Then he said: But those are just statistics. They don't apply to MY patients. I liked his attitude.

 

[RCB]

Risk algorithm

Risk algorithm

You can visit this website to view one attempt to quantify it:

http://www.heart.ns.ac.yu/stratific1.htmis

 

[medtronic of borg]

maze

maze

I think it is because it had a high degree of failure and even death. But I am not sure. I seem to remember reading this.
RE; Maze
Med

 

[Nancy]

They DO do the Maze procedure for afib during open heart surgery. One of our members xalg just had it done, we have a family member who had it done during mitral repair, and we have another member here jackdrum who has a Maze website:

http://www.mddietofutah.com/wwwboard/index.html

 

[danielgilboa]

The success rates quoted here look very promising and indicate this is a well experienced procedure.

I just want to point out the risks on repeated open chest surgery are significantly higher. We actualy lost the daugter of friends who was going through a second valve replacement at age 13. Very sad. But I am optimistic about mine.

 

[RCB]

Sad Case

Sad Case

Daniel,
The young girl who die during her second surgery is very sad,but also very rare. It must have been a very unusual situation. There are many poeple right here on this board that
have had second surgeries and more. Almost all the tissue valver
will have a second surgery and yet they still decide on another tissue valve.
In my own case, my original valve was total gone when I was
reoperated on. In those days they didn't even intubate pts.
That was over 40 years ago and I felt like I could have gone home
in a couple of days after the surgery. Being young, makes all
the difference!
Of course when you lose a young child, nothing about the odds can save you from the hurt. I would put the odds of a
second surgery at "marginally" higher, not "significantly" higher.
The poeple here facing additional surgeries should not be unduly
alarmed.
The Maze Procedure has a success rate( meaning that the heart returns to SR in a few months) of from 85-95%, depending
on where it is done. Its associated mortality rate is the same as
OHS- 1-3%.

 

[NC-Cutie]

I didn't ask for the odds before my surgery. My main concern was how many times the surgeon had done the procedure. You have to realize that there are risk in any surgery and one of those risk is death. You have to tell yourself that it won't be you. Pray about it and realize that it's the doctors hands guided by the hands of the Lord. Trust God and the odds are, YOU'LL BE FINE.
Be Encouraged

 

[Debrinha GT]

I'm back.

I'm back.

Hi everybody! After being away for a few days I'm back. I had some problems with the people from the building where I used to live in because of my dog and I was forced to move out within days of the occurence. Although we were never formally asked to leave, I couldn't stand the war of nerves I was being subjected to so we went to a new place, a house next door to my mother's. Now things are much better and Milady, the doxie in question, has been running free and I've been feeling more relaxed since the move. The dispute at the building was so serious that my husband had to call an ambulance for me. So that is why I've been away. I'd like to thank everyone who answered my post in my absence and hope that your problems are solved soon. Remember that the operation is to make you better, so although it is a nerve-wracking moment, there is a light at the end of the tunnel which leads to a much better life for you! Keep us posted on what happens. Best of luck to you all.

 

[danielgilboa]

Dear RCB

Yes, our friend's doughter is a rare and unfortunate case of unsucessful second surgery. She had one of the best surgeons in this country beside her but it did not help.

When going through the considerations and decisions on my upcoming surgery, I did take into account choosing a route that has lower chances of repeated surgery. For one thing, I wouldn't go for a tissue valve, with it's advantages, because that means I will see the knife again in about 10 years (I am 44). Another consideration was, not to go for a repair, since my valve is in pretty bad shape, and pushing for a repair (if at all possible) VS replacement would rais the risk of future regression and repeated surgery.

I did notice several of you have gone through repeted surgery and I admire you for that. You must be strong and brave!

Heath for all-

 

[RCB]

The strong and the brave

The strong and the brave

Daniel,
Most people who go through OHS do not think of
themselves as strong and brave- but rather of not having
much choice.
When one chooses to live where you live, is truly
strong and brave. You could leave tomorrow and end the stress,
yet you choose to stay- I couldn't do that, but I will do my
fourth OHS, because I have no other real choice.
You will do fine, my friend!