RIP Tissue valve of 11 years. OHS No 2, Tissue or Mechanical?? aged 42

[lee1lpool]

Hi all,

I had OHS in 2001 (aged 31) to replace my tricuspid valve with a tissue valve. Recent scan revealed my little friend`s life is coming to an end- revealed narrowing of the valve,and would need a new valve so, it will be my OHS number 2 in a few weeks.

My surgeon in 2001 said the valve would last 15 years minimum because the valve will be less worked on the right hand side of heart,but its only lasted ted 11 years,so I`m dissapointed. On a positive note I`ve had 11 great years, visited lots of countries and led a full active life.

Has anyone got experience with valves on right side of heart? I`ve read that surgeons prefer to give tissue valves to right hand side of heart because mechanical valves need high warfain INR.

If given the choice, I may opt for a mechanical valve this time. But undecided.

Enjoy reading the posts on here,

Lee from Liverpool,England

 

[ottagal]

Hi Lee,
Welcome to this great forum, but sorry for the circumstance. I am sure others with right sided valve issues will come along to help. I, too recall reading that tissue is preferred for right side, but I am no expert in that area.
All the best with your upcoming surgery! We will be rooting for you.

 

[Debbrn]

I have had my pulmonary valve replaced and my tricuspid valve repaired twice. They were my 3rd and 4th heart surgery. It is true that docs prefer tissue valves on the right side of the heart. My first cadavar valve lasted 19 years. I'm soory your valve only lasted 11 years.

Debbie

 

[neil]

sorry your valve only laster 11yrs, but am sure your next will last much longer

 

[Phil]

Hi Lee,

We are a little similar. I had my aortic valve replaced (human tissue) in 2002 and now it's running out of grunt. I too was told I'd get longer life from it, but not so. Initially I was disappointed, but now I know 10 years is not too bad. I have an Echo scheduled for the start of next month and am hoping I'll get more of an idea when surgery will occur. (Last year he said sometime during 2012). I've decided to go mechanical this time around because this will be surgery number three and I feel this is enough and because I don't want to experiece the feeling like crap leading up to surgery stuff again. I can't wait for the surgery to happen as the waiting around is hard work - I've stopped running and am not traveling to the UK this year, etc. I want my life back! Hope all goes well with you and good luck.

All the best.


Phil.

 

[Lynlw]

Hi sorry to hear your valve didnt last as long as you hoped. I know that stinks. What kind of tissue valve did you have? My son has had quite a few heart surgeries, but most of them for the pulmonary/right side issue. (valve and/or conduit) Yes for the most part they reccomend tissue valves on the right side, because the pressures are lower so the chances of clots forming are higher even with Anticoagulents, also because tissue valves tend to last longer on the right side. I know it sinks when you need surgery sooner than you hoped, Justin got a bovine pulmonary valve and dacron (that should have lasted about "forever") when he was 17 when he was 18 he already was having problems so had surgery 2 years after the last one, it turned out his tissue valve stilll looked brand new but one of the 2 conduits he got was were the stenosis was, everyone was pretty surprised. The "good" news is the risks of a 2nd surgery aren't much different than the first, and hopefully by the time this valve needs replaced they will be able to replace it by cath. They already have been replacing pulmonary valves by cath for about a decade and they're approved in the US for the past couple years. so they are working on the other valves now.
Unfortunately since right sided valve replacements are relatively rare compared to the left side, and most people who need them it usually is a part of their CHDs, and most people who need them it usually is a part of complex CHDs, and had surgery as children there aren't many members here who've had them. You might want to also check the forums at the adults with CHD org. Quite a few of the members have had multiple OHS and right sided, bith pulmonary or tricuspid valve replacements. There is alot of info at their site besde the forums. http://www.achaheart.org/ since you are in the UK there also is a really great UK adults with CHD group Grown Up Congenital Hearts http://www.guch.org.uk/

 

[kfay]

Phil, I also have a tissue tricuspid valve. Mine is almost 4 years old and I got it when I was 45. I, too, would like to think I will get 15 years or so out of this one, buy obviously there is no way to know. I'll actually have my 4 year checkup in a month or so, and for me this will be a good indicator for how this valve is doing for many reasons. The surgeon who did mine is probably one of the most experienced tricuspid valve surgeons in the world because he has the most experience with Ebstein's Anomaly, which is a defect of the tricuspid valve. I think he mainly uses tissue on that side for the reasons already stated, but I do know 2 people who do have mechanicals there because they had to have a mechanical in a different position and they had already experienced some problems with other tissue and mechanical valves in their hearts. They do have a higher INR requirement, I think it is 3.5-4.5.

The plan for me right now is to keep replacing with tissue as I need them. I've had 2 surgeries so far and am thinking i'll have 2 ore in my lifetime.


Kim

 

[Sarah_Louise]

Hi Lee, welcome to the boards
I'm from the UK & had 5 heart ops and waiting for number 6,
I've got tricuspid regurgatation caused by severe pulmonary stenosis, never had any trouble with my tricupid valve before, but if i can help just ask
Love Sarah xxx