post-surgery update

[nigella]

thanks for your kind thoughts & prayers. mom's surgery went well. the surgeon had to replace the root & the aorta and she's been in the cardiac unit for two days. today is her third and we're hoping she'll be moved up to a regular room. it seems she had some problem with her breathing (also her HR was on the low side) , so they've given her some treatments for that. I'm really glad she's doing good, but I was surprised when the doc said he had to do the aorta an dthe root. The root we did not know about & the aorta he had said there was a 50-50 chance. I'm wondering if anyone's been in this situation where they do the aorta, root and AVR? The doc said the only difference would be an increase in risk by 2%(total 4%) in surgery but as far as prognosis, it would not make a difference, she wouldn't need any more meds, she'd be feeling better all around. Another thing i had not rad about was that most patients if not all are put on pacemakers, just in case, and then when they are discharged, the pacemakers are taken off. This part i did not understand, and the nurse tried to explain, but i still am not clear... anyway, is this common? thanks everyone.

 

[coryp]

thanks for your kind thoughts & prayers. mom's surgery went well. the surgeon had to replace the root & the aorta and she's been in the cardiac unit for two days. today is her third and we're hoping she'll be moved up to a regular room. it seems she had some problem with her breathing (also her HR was on the low side) , so they've given her some treatments for that. I'm really glad she's doing good, but I was surprised when the doc said he had to do the aorta an dthe root. The root we did not know about & the aorta he had said there was a 50-50 chance. I'm wondering if anyone's been in this situation where they do the aorta, root and AVR? The doc said the only difference would be an increase in risk by 2%(total 4%) in surgery but as far as prognosis, it would not make a difference, she wouldn't need any more meds, she'd be feeling better all around. Another thing i had not rad about was that most patients if not all are put on pacemakers, just in case, and then when they are discharged, the pacemakers are taken off. This part i did not understand, and the nurse tried to explain, but i still am not clear... anyway, is this common? thanks everyone.

Nigella,


Glad to hear mom is doing better. I am new to the board and awaiting surgery so take my comments with a great assault. I am not clear about one thing, you say removed the Aorta which part? I am in a similar sitaution where I will have my entire Ascending Aorta removed, a hemi arch , a root remodel (you may want to check if they remedeled or re-implanted the coronaries) and AVR (Bovine) I heard that they do infact add an electric line for a pacemaker during surgery just incase and it is removed before you leave.

thx

 

[nigella]

hi coryp: thanks and welcome to the board. i am elatively new as well & this board is justa wealth of info; i have learned a l lot.as far as i undestood, my mom had the aorta replaced with dacron & the root was replaced ( not sure with what..) . I will try to find out more details esp. now that you've mentioned root remodel & whether they reimplanted the arteries. the surgeon seems aloog & if we don't ask, it seems that he won't tell. An dnow i know what addtl questions i need to ask. thanks... Thanks to you and rachel for info on pacemaker, i guess it's not uncommon.

Nigella,


Glad to hear mom is doing better. I am new to the board and awaiting surgery so take my comments with a great assault. I am not clear about one thing, you say removed the Aorta which part? I am in a similar sitaution where I will have my entire Ascending Aorta removed, a hemi arch , a root remodel (you may want to check if they remedeled or re-implanted the coronaries) and AVR (Bovine) I heard that they do infact add an electric line for a pacemaker during surgery just incase and it is removed before you leave.

thx

 

[hensylee]

we all had the pacer wires - I can still see the wee scars where they were inserted. These wires were the last to go just before discharge. It's a precaution. I didn't have valve replacement; I had bypasses and they do it to us, too.