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georgi
I think I noticed that Al had said that Valve replacement was harder that bypass. Why would that be? Al????Anyone? Anyone???
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LUVMyBirman
Well-known member
VR is open heart. Bypass is not.
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georgi
Oh yeah, outside verses inside of heart. Still seems tough either way. Where or where is my little dunce hat.LOL
georgi
georgi
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Susan BAV
It's a good question. It's all relative, comparing the surgeries. Some friends and relatives of mine who have had bypasses have had more trouble recovering than I did from the valve replacement. But that could also be from heart damage or medications or their age or subsequent infections or their other health issues or many other possible problems. And I've also heard that the surgical incision where they remove the bypass implant from the patient's leg can be extremely painful and difficult to heal. So it can be also difficult for the patient to walk during recovery, as most heart patients have recommended/prescribed.
I don't know what would exactly be worse. Having the pump be bad or having the plumbing be bad. That's probably also relative, and by degrees.
[edit - Oops, sorry Rachel - Didn't see your reply when I was composing mine.]
I don't know what would exactly be worse. Having the pump be bad or having the plumbing be bad. That's probably also relative, and by degrees.
[edit - Oops, sorry Rachel - Didn't see your reply when I was composing mine.]
I agree it is a good question.
Both are open heart surgeries so neither one is easy. Some of the differences are some by-pass surgeries can be done without stopping the heart. And as was mentioned the valves are inside your heart so they have to cut it open and dig out the old valve after they stop your heart. Then hopefully your heart will re-start where it left off. Mine did but everyone wasn't that lucky.
I have known people who had a tough time with their leg healing after by-pass surgery.
Rich
Both are open heart surgeries so neither one is easy. Some of the differences are some by-pass surgeries can be done without stopping the heart. And as was mentioned the valves are inside your heart so they have to cut it open and dig out the old valve after they stop your heart. Then hopefully your heart will re-start where it left off. Mine did but everyone wasn't that lucky.
I have known people who had a tough time with their leg healing after by-pass surgery.
Rich
M
Mary
marky said:That is a good question..and very interesting.
Is there a valve that is more difficult than another to replace?
All in all..it is all pretty miraculous to me!
I know the mitral is a more complicated replacement than the aortic.
ALCapshaw2
Well-known member
BOTH Bypass and Valve Replacement surgery require access to the heart, most often by opening the sternum so that part is similar and recovery is similar.
Bypass Surgery involves making a small incision in the Coronary Arteries on the OUTSIDE of the Heart, inserting the Bypass Graft (similar to a thin straw), and sewing it up.
Valve Replacement involves REMOVING the Diseased Valve from the Heart and sewing in an artificial valve (either tissue or mechanical) which is MUCH MORE Technically Demanding (and invasive) than Bypass Surgery.
'AL Capshaw' (FWIW, I've had BOTH).
Bypass Surgery involves making a small incision in the Coronary Arteries on the OUTSIDE of the Heart, inserting the Bypass Graft (similar to a thin straw), and sewing it up.
Valve Replacement involves REMOVING the Diseased Valve from the Heart and sewing in an artificial valve (either tissue or mechanical) which is MUCH MORE Technically Demanding (and invasive) than Bypass Surgery.
'AL Capshaw' (FWIW, I've had BOTH).
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georgi
rachel_howell said:
I meant both really. How difficult it is for the patient and the surgeon.
I am such a sponge trying to absorb as much information about the heart and various procedures that the surgeon preformes on the heart. Thanks for the responses.
Georgi,
Being a twofer, I can respond to this, at least from the Patient?s point of view. They went in expecting to do 4 by-passes and replace my Mitral Valve. I wound up with 3 by-passes and a ?ring around the valve?. They ?harvested? (I still love those medical terms) the by-pass veins from my left leg. I wound up with four 2 to 3 inch incisions along the inside of my leg, starting just below my groin and ending at my calf. I had more problems with drainage from my knee area than I did from my chest. I had the two tubes coming out of my chest feeding into holding containers and a small tube coming out of my knee into a little container. Talk about fun trying to walk and keep up with all that stuff. It was also a chore getting in and out of bed, the wheelchair, etc. They also had some problems keeping the small tube in my knee open to allow drainage.
My layman?s understanding of by-pass is the front side of the heart by-passes are fairly easy (if any surgery can be considered EASY) but they sometimes have to move the heart to get to the back side. Of course, with valve repair/replacement they have to actually cut open your heart and get inside. By-passes can sometimes be accomplished without having to stop the heart but I?m certain not too many valve replacements/repairs are done with the old pump still pumping. Both (I know there are exceptions) usually require cracking the sternum.
As for the Surgeon?s perspective, I can?t say. I slept thru mine and was not able to ask which he would like best.
Bottom line, a by-pass in combination with valve replacement/repair adds a new place (your leg) to get healed up along with the sternum. We have all learned from this site that some folks have an easy time of it (Thankfully I did). Others have a harder time.
As for which might be harder, both require OHS. I'm glad I got both out of the way at the same time instead of having to recover from each one separate.
Hope this helps.
May God Bless,
Danny
Being a twofer, I can respond to this, at least from the Patient?s point of view. They went in expecting to do 4 by-passes and replace my Mitral Valve. I wound up with 3 by-passes and a ?ring around the valve?. They ?harvested? (I still love those medical terms) the by-pass veins from my left leg. I wound up with four 2 to 3 inch incisions along the inside of my leg, starting just below my groin and ending at my calf. I had more problems with drainage from my knee area than I did from my chest. I had the two tubes coming out of my chest feeding into holding containers and a small tube coming out of my knee into a little container. Talk about fun trying to walk and keep up with all that stuff. It was also a chore getting in and out of bed, the wheelchair, etc. They also had some problems keeping the small tube in my knee open to allow drainage.
My layman?s understanding of by-pass is the front side of the heart by-passes are fairly easy (if any surgery can be considered EASY) but they sometimes have to move the heart to get to the back side. Of course, with valve repair/replacement they have to actually cut open your heart and get inside. By-passes can sometimes be accomplished without having to stop the heart but I?m certain not too many valve replacements/repairs are done with the old pump still pumping. Both (I know there are exceptions) usually require cracking the sternum.
As for the Surgeon?s perspective, I can?t say. I slept thru mine and was not able to ask which he would like best.
Bottom line, a by-pass in combination with valve replacement/repair adds a new place (your leg) to get healed up along with the sternum. We have all learned from this site that some folks have an easy time of it (Thankfully I did). Others have a harder time.
As for which might be harder, both require OHS. I'm glad I got both out of the way at the same time instead of having to recover from each one separate.
Hope this helps.
May God Bless,
Danny
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geebee
Both surgeries are "open chest" surgeries (mostly) but only valve replacement is true "open heart" since by-pass does not involve cutting into the heart.
There might be some slight differences in recovery times for each type of surgery but I think, in general, the initial recovery time is about the same. With valve replacement, it may take longer to fully recover since people are usually ill for a longer time than a person needing by-pass.
From a surgeon's standpoint, I would think valve replacement is more involved and probably takes a longer time to perform.
There might be some slight differences in recovery times for each type of surgery but I think, in general, the initial recovery time is about the same. With valve replacement, it may take longer to fully recover since people are usually ill for a longer time than a person needing by-pass.
From a surgeon's standpoint, I would think valve replacement is more involved and probably takes a longer time to perform.
B
Blnmakerr
I had BAVR surgery with a double bypass in September. The pain from the leg incisions (harvesting the veins for grafting) was worse than the chest incision pain. My surgery lasted just 3.5 hours and I was on bypass for just 72 minutes....
aussigal
Well-known member
I had both as well...as they were both done within a couple of hours of each other I cant tell if either was harder to recover from. My leg pain from the vein harvest was absolutely NIL and now there are a few numb & tingly spots along the scar line. My harvest site was from the lower leg. Now I wonder if that makes for easier healing?!...The most annoying and longest lasting pain I had was from the pig-tail catheter that was draining the Pneumothorax I had in my right lung. Apparently both my surgeries were difficult due to my "uniqueness" .
.My surgeon told me that the mitral valve is the hardest to replace. It is on the back side so the heart has to be turned or come out. The mitral valve is very intricate and shaped like a parachute with all the strings coming down to the bottom. The mechanical mitral valve also requires maintaining a higher INR.
