required tests prior to MV replacement

[lance]

Mitral valve diseased by rheumatic fever needs replacing. What diagnostic tests have others receiving miral valves had performed?

Very uncomfortable with angiograms. Wires through blood vessels into heart and all the complications cause me to be very uneasy.

What experiences have others had with assessment prior to mitral valve replacement surgery?

 

[Georgia]

Welcome, Lance

Welcome, Lance

Sorry to hear about your mitral valve. I had mine replaced in February.

The only tests done prior to cardiac catheterization and subsequent surgery was an echocardiogram.

Others will be along soon to fill you in on any others.

Welcome to the site; you're in a really good place to get detailed information on what to expect. I'm sure you're worried and upset at this turn of events. We all were; we're here to help.

I suggest you check out all of the old threads you can; many of your questions and concerns will be address in there. Meanwhile more folks will be along to welcome you. And feel free to ask questions.

 

[Birky]

tests

tests

I had a mitral valve replacement at the end of February and had an echocardiogram, angiogram and TEE. This is where they put the camera down your throat. They also put you in lala land while they are doing it. The angiogram wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Good luck,

 

[MelissaM]

Very uncomfortable with angiograms. Wires through blood vessels into heart and all the complications cause me to be very uneasy.

Ummmm....lots of stuff should make you uneasy. The fact they are stopping your heart, they fact they are cutting you open, the fact that a machine will be breathing with you for a while. All of these things (I think) should make you uneasy. . .

Just remember, that there are reasons for doing these things, and the reasons are usually in your favor. They need to do the angiogram to check out your arteries and make sure they aren't clogged, potentially elminating two open heart surgeries in a short amount of time. Plus, it gives the surgeon a really good look at what is going on with your heart, so he is informed and prepared for your surgery - another good thing!

Your VR.com family is here to help you get through the uneasy parts, let you know that we've been there, and it is possible to come out the other side relatively unscathed. =)

Angiograms should be pretty routine for the cardiologist doing them. Hopefully, you can ask some questions about his or her experience to help alleviate some of your concerns. Mine was pretty interesting and no more traumatic than dental work.

Melissa

 

[Nancy]

Hi lance-

Welcome to this fantastic site. My husband Joe is the patient here and he's had 3 valve surgeries. So it was echocardiogram, angiogram (catheterization) and TEE multiple times for him.

The echo is non-invasive, not a problem at all. The TEE is a small transducer down you throat, you'll be groggy and they will spray your throat with a numbing agent. Joe's had several catheterizations, in his arm, in his neck, up the groin (the usual). He doesn't ever complain about them. The doctors who do them really know what they're doing and it only takes about 45 minutes. Some people are in a very relaxed state, and some even watch the procedure to see their hearts in motion. The dye is warm when it goes into your blood system. The worst part is lying still after the procedure. that is to allow the catheter site to clot up. But really not a painful test.

All of these tests are very necessary. You wouldn't want your surgeon cutting you open without the very best information, would you? The more info they can get beforehand, the easier the surgery will be and the better the result will be.

Just think of all the people here who have had these tests. They'll be wth you in spirit the whole way, through the testing phase through the surgery and after when you are recovering.

You will do just fine.

Remember, surgeon knowledge = good results.

best wishes.

 

[lance]

Hello everyone! Thanks so much to everyone for replying. Your encouragement is much appreciated.

The thought of having to have an angiogram is stressful with the chance of some very serious complications--stroke, heart attack--death.

Has anyone had any complications caused by right side catheterization through a vein? If so what complications have you experienced?

My understanding of the procedure is that it may cause major trauma to the vein and the patient may require a blood transfusion or surgery. Has anyone had this experience?

I suppose I could bank my own blood.

I'm quite comfortable with the TEE--la la land is a great destination.

 

[Kim]

Before my mitral valve replacement, I had 4-5 TEE's, echocardiograms and then a few months before the replacement, a heart cath to make sure all of my arteries were clear and I did not need bypass surgery in addition to the valve replacement. Like others have said, the heart cath was not too bad, the worst part was lying flat on my back for many hours afterward.
Good luck!

 

[Granbonny]

Hi Lance

Hi Lance

Welcome to our wonderful site....My age 72 year old Hubby just had a heart cath a few weeks ago..No problem..He was very mellow..and enjoyed the nurses pampering him afterwards. He only laid flat for 4 hours...then home.. No driving for 48 hours..and after 24 hours..a shower to remove the bandage. Just a little bruised...No problems with his arteries..Thank goodness... Tell us more about you..Which hospital will you be having your Cath done?Don't worry..These Cardiologist do many everyday. And I am sure you will get a good feel shot to relax you.... Bonnie

 

[Nancy]

Hi Lance-

My husband had a right heart cath with a Swan catheter. His was to diagnose his pulmonary hypertension. I'll tell you this, but it won't happen to you. His docs left the catheter in his neck sutured in for 2 days, because they had to try different medications to see what would work for him. He wasn't allowed to move around too much. This is something that is not a normal thing and it was not something I could look at comfortably. But I want you to know that he survived that procedure, no problems. The docs who did that knew what they were doing, and so will the ones who do your normal procedure.

You will be just fine. The docs who do caths usually specialize in it.
It's done all the time, all the time.

 

[medtronic of borg]

caths

caths

I have had 7 of them...I think...I hope I am remembering all of them. What I am saying is relax!

Med

 

[bvdr]

Hi Lance,

Welcome to this site. I also had mitral stenosis/regurgitation as a result of rheumatic heart disease and had a mechanical St. Jude valve put in Aug. 25 '03.

I had a right and left heart cath done and except for it being a little longer procedure than usual, it wasn't too bad at all. I did have extensive brusing that lasted quite a while but it wasn't "painful".

These are done so often and complications are so few that I hope you don't spend too much time worrying about it.

I also had some regular echos, ekgs, stress test, cardiolite stress test, pulmonary tests, x-rays, and a TEE prior to surgery.

I looked on your profile and saw you are on digoxin. Is it for atrial fibrillation? You didn't list coumadin as a medication which of course would complicate things a little. I had atrial fib when I had my heart cath but had not yet been put on coumadin.

Spend time on this site and follow some of the links and references and there are so many helpful people here that will be there to point you in the right direction as you look for answers.

 

[lance]

Thanks to all of you for replying and offering so much encouragement and comfort.

I notice BVD that you had rheumatic fever and had your mitral valve replaced. Did the access vein for the right side cath survive the experience? IS it still functional or was it tied shut? Someone said that following right sided heart catheterization through the elbow or groin it was normal to put a ligature to the vein. This is what bothers me the most. I like to keep my working parts working.

The Swan Ganz procedure lasting a couple of days with the catheter in place sounds extremely inconvenient but was well tolerated so I shouldn't be too concerned with laying flat for a few hours.

I very happy to have found this wonderful site with such helpful people

 

[bvdr]

Lance,

The vein is fine. The ligature that is commonly used is used to close off the puncture hole caused by the insertion catheter (i.e.needle ) not to tie off the entire vessel. Think of it as mending a hole in a sock.

I think you will do just fine. How long have you known about your heart disease? Are you having symptoms?

We are glad you are here with us and there is an incredible array of conditions and experiences on this board so pour yourself a cup of coffee or something and settle in for a spell.

 

[MarciaB]

Lance,

Hey, one angiogram is not so bad, I've had FIVE. That's including one to ballon the mitral valve. The first was about 16 years ago. I had to lay flat on my back 8 hours afterwards. Number 5 was done last week with a local only so they could exercise me if they needed to (they did). I only had to lay down afterwards for 2 hours and they continually tilted the bed up during that time. The nurse showed me the catheter so I could see how small it was. It didn't look like it was so small to me; wonder what the first one looked like? They have gone in on the right groin each time. They gave me the disk to give the surgeon and we brought it right home and watched it. I have a training tape made from the balloon also (pretty boring). I've never had one bit of trouble. My only complain is that they were freer with the morphine years ago.

Good luck, you'll be fine.

 

[catwoman]

Lance:

I found the heart cath and angiogram fascinating. I was a little groggy when they started it, then asked "Well, when are you going to be in my heart?" The cardiologists (father-son team) said, "We're there now."
"Oh, so those are my ribs?" I asked, looking at lines on either side of the monitor.

 

[Bob]

I had a mitral repair last January. Prior to it they did the cath, angio, TEE, etc. As to wires up the veins I wa lucky to be wide awake and watch. It was so cool to see my heart and its connections. He even showed me the leaky mitral and how they would repair or replace it. That was great and no after effects. Maybe this isn't for everyone but it is really something to see. Best of all to you.