On-x mechanical valve noise

[CANI33]

Hi everyone . I´m Cristian fron Buenos Aires, Argentina. I´m 34 years old. I have a biscuspid aortic valve with a severe stenosis actually. I´m cardiologyst. My desicion is a mechanical valve and the on-x valve is interesting for me about the posibility to avoid the anticoagulation in the future... But the noise of mechanical valves sometimes is important and it can to be a problem for me. Me question is about your experience with this valve. Thank you very much

 

[Ross]

Most people don't hear their valves. Some do, but usually, with time, it becomes a nonissue.

 

[westie]

on-x valve

on-x valve

.
hello christian

firstly sorry i have been unable to reply to your private message; partly it may be a problem with the dial up 35 kbps internet we have in my remote country area. electric fences and wet grass play havoc with the copper phone lines!

i am very pleased with my on-x valve, my health is 100%. every doctor and specialist i have come across says my valve is very quite, the quietest they have ever heard. my g.p says this may be an indicator that it is better engineered and more efficent than other mechanical valves. i do hear the valve sometimes, but no one else does. also there is ZERO leakage around the valve. (wether that is due to the valve or the surgeons skill, i do not know)

at this stage, a warfarin free future for on-x valve implantees is pure speculation; if it ever happens we can regard it as a bonus. meantime, there are plenty of other positive reasons for selecting this valve.

be aware that at least some surgeons are very cynical/prejudiced/ignorant about this valve. my wonderfull surgeon (seriously) said it would not have it stuck in him!

please note my implant is in mitral position, aortic implants like yours may have diferent outcomes

 

[Faye]

I have an On-X valve in the aortic position. I can hear it ticking if I listen for it and so can others if we are in a quiet place. It sounds like a watch - just a soft tick, tick, tick.

I am 19 months post surgery and I have found as time passes, I notice it less and less.

I, too, have great results - my valve is working perfectly with no leaking and no regurg.

Good luck as you move forward with your valve decision. Once it is made, don't look back. There are many good choices!

 

[Cameron]

Christian,
I have an On-X in the Aortic position. The only time I can hear it is sometimes when in bed lying on my left side and even then I don't hear every beat and it is soft and comforting rather than loud and annoying. My wife says she can sometimes hear it in bed too (she has Bionic Woman quality hearing and is disturbed by ticking watches and clocks) but it does not disturb either of us. In normal day to day activity no-one has ever said they hear me ticking and I certainly have never heard my self from "outside" as opposed to the "inside" ticking I described above.
I also agree that the possibility of less anticoagulation with the On-X should be a very, very small part of your decision making process. Base your decision on what you know for sure now - better blood flow, less stagnant areas etc. - and the rest, if it happens, will be a a bonus. I have found that Warfarin treatment is not that big a deal for me - I seem to be fairly stable, don't do any extreme sports, and can manage to remember to take my pills every night before bed!
Good luck.
Cameron

 

[dtread]

Cristian, I have On-X in aortic position, and it is very quiet. I can occasionally hear it as a very soft ticking if I'm in a quiet room; it is not bothersome at all. Basically it is a non-issue, at least for me. It has always been quiet, and it got quieter over time. Regarding exercise, the valve is great. I put it to the test every week in the gym and on my bicycle and it performs flawlessly. Good luck!

 

[CANI33]

Thank you very much for yours opinions. They are very important to make my choise. My english is not the best but I also can response any questions.
I´m realy feel pleased to be in this site with all you.

 

[vprnet]

I fully concure with the post by Westie and others on how quite the ON-X is in my experience. Soon after surgery I noticed the surgeons come into to ICU and direct their ears toward my chest and comment how quite it was. As I understood it was the second ON-X performed by that surgical group at the hospital where SJ was the defacto valve used.