St. Jude Aortic Valve With Silizone Seal

[RonP]

Folks:

I've not had time to keep up with the rooms news from those who have the St. Jude valves with the silizone seals.

Is anyone having problems? Has anyone heard what anyone is proposing to do about the situation? Are we all still safe? Is it anything we should be worried about? Any opinions?

I had my last echo in April and it just showed nominal leakage but they considered that normal. They say not to worry about it until it's significant. I trust my doctors so I'm leaving it in their hands.

I'm still kicking so I sure can't complain.

 

[Mara]

Ron-
You should talk to Billy. His wife passed away after receiving the St. Jude's Silzone. Needless to say, he's not happy with St. Judes.
I think Billy is the man with the knowledge on this subject. I know he has tried to file several lawsuits. you see, the STJS got tried out in Europe before it came here probably because the tort damages laws are so puny there, STJ figured that a few dead Europeans made no dent in their bank account. Too bad, STJ is a good company and a lot of folks on here have their fine products. From what I've read the Silzone valve was not one of them.
Good Luck

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hi Ron,

Glad to see you back! That really looks like 'good news' for you. Everyone with a valve has the probability of nominal leakage. I have been told this by 4 professionals. I actually have some 'trivial leakage' with my Medtronic Hall Mitral valve. With the Slizone, you will need more frequent echo's. I would just continue on as usual, unless you are informed otherwise. You can't let it tear at you by dwelling on it.

Take care

 

[RonP]

Hey Gina:

Hey Gina:

Hey Gina:

It's good to be back too. Now that I'm retired, I'll have more time to review the site and make comments. I've sure got to get my number above 100. That's my goal now.

Because of the atrial fibrillations even with the pacemaker, they're not wanting me to drive, but I'm driving some close to home and being very careful. The chest pains are letting up too so that's good.

I forgot you were from Chicago, my birthplace. I used to live on Halsted Street. Do you know where that is? I've not been back for several years, but will visit again within the next year or so.

Are you doing alright and feeling good?

So, there's no need to worry about the leakages? I've let Dr. Baron worry about those for me and he seems to be watching it pretty close.

Keep in touch and it's great to also see you here again.

RON P.

 

[Granbonny]

Hi Ron

Hi Ron

Glad to see you posting..I'm fairly new March 25th was my AVR..but I love to chat as you can see by my numbers. We went to Lake Ozark in our motorhome last year on the way to Colorado. Beautiful lake.....Bonnie

 

[fdegranville]

Silizone valves

Silizone valves

Hi RonP,
Good to hear you are doing well. I remember the hard time you had after your surgery.

I noticed in your post you mentioned a Dr. Baron. In 1980 a doctor Robert Baron diagnosed my mitral stenosis. He worked for Health & Welfare Canada at the time and had been the chief cardiologist at the Ottawa General Hospital. I doubt very much it is the same man, but thought I would ask. If so, he is a GREAT doctor!

Enjoy you new-found freedom,
fdeg

 

[fdegranville]

Just noticed

Just noticed

Hi Ron,
Just noticed your doctor's first name......so I answered my own question.
fdeg

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hi Ron,

So happy to hear you are doing well. Your attitude is wonderful and of the utmost importance. Let me quote you here.

"So, there's no need to worry about the leakage's? I've let Dr. Baron worry about those for me and he seems to be watching it pretty close".

Go on with your life my friend. As long as your doctor is keeping a close eye on it.......not much more you can do. There are a few others I know with the Slizone that are doing just fine too. I still feel it was an injustice by St. Jude. Looks like they will be compensating for future medical care, etc. There is a class action suit going on out there. I am sure someone will come along and provide you with the information. In the meantime, enjoy. As you said, let your doctor do the worrying unless you hear or feel otherwise.

Yes, Halsted Street. Know the area. It has gone though a lot of changes over the years. I am sure you would not recognize it today. Have lived in the burbs all my life. With the exception of Memphis and living downtown for a couple of years after college. Chicago is a beautiful place. It's great to be home!

 

[bvdr]

Lance,

I'm glad you are feeling so well and your echo came back fine. It most certainly is recommend to have regular echocardiograms following valve replacement. It is amazing you went so long without one!

Do you know if the risk of problems with the Silizone valve decreases the longer it is in? It would be assuring if that would be the case.

 

[RonP]

Recalled St. Jude Aortic Valve

Recalled St. Jude Aortic Valve

Lance:

When St. Jude recalled the Silizone coated mechanical aortic valves, the hospital that installed mine sent me a recall letter informing me of the fact that my particular model had been recalled.

They have also requested that I get an echocardiogram at least yearly since that was put in. Like your valve, mine also has leakage and they are watching it for me. They say not to worry as that is their job. If you go to sjm.com, you can see the models that have been recalled. Your surgeon must have known this too as mine did. Check the site out.

RonP.

 

[Sierra Bob]

I found out about the recall via this forum in early 2000 (shortlyafter the January 21, recall. I wasn't notified by St. Jude, my cardiac surgeon, or my cardiologist that I had a silzone coated valve, although I knew by the model number on the card that St. Jude sent me, so St. Jude also knew! I took a packet of information that I obtained off the internet from St. Jude to my cardiologist, including St. Jude's letter that supposedly went to all of St. Jude's "clinician customers". My cardiologist claimed he knew nothing about the recall, and thanked me for the information. I have an echo annually, at my insistance, and I do have minor leakage which I have had since it was first installed. The cardiologist (and the techinican) both say it is so minor they can not tell me if it is through the valve or around the cuff. My cardiologist assures me I will not have a catastrophic failure of the valve. What p----s me off, is I wasn't told I had the valve, or what to be aware of if it started to fail. I'm guessing that since it was five years ago this month since it was installed, I'm probably safe from failure due to the silzone.

 

[Sierra Bob]

Hi Lance---I certainly understand about the dental work. I had a 4-way by-pass and the AVR in April 1999. In September 1999, I had a radical neck dissection and then seven weeks of radiation for secondary cancer in the neck. Since my primary cancer was not found, I had the maximum non-lethal dose of radiation to hopefully kill the demon. Radiation to the neck, not only kills all of the salivary glands (and hopefully the cancer), it can also kill the jaw bone as a result of osteoradionecrosis ( bone death due to radiation). Since the radiation, I have not had a problem with my teeth until last December when two teeth broke off at the gum line and two came loose in their socket. I required oral surgery on all four teeth (at different times). One socket did not stop bleeding until I lowered my INR. My cardiologist wants it between 3.0 & 4.0. I brought it down to 2.5 and it finally stopped. (I self test.) I didn't worry about being at 2.5, since that is the goal specified for many on this list. After three months, one socket had a bone spur through the gum and had never healed. On March 24, the surgeon split the gum and planed off the spur and debrided the jaw bone. I had a check up yesterday, and the gum is still not healing over the jaw bone. I'll be checked again in two weeks, and if the gum isn't healing to cover the bone, I'll have to start Hyperbariac Oxygen Theraphy. HOT is two hours per day, five days per week for eight to ten weeks in a chamber breathing pure oxygen at three atmospheres. This may, or may not, solve the problem. As I said in the last post, after five years, I don't worry about the silzone. Nor am I worried about the cancer. I have a scan once per year from my dummy to my tummy and a endoscopy every six months. So far I have been deemed cancer free!!! I am concerned about bacteria endocarditis and a stroke due to dental problems, so I take my antibiotics and keep my INR +/- 2.5 when I see my dentist or oral surgeon.

Have only positive thoughts!! Bob

 

[TSH]

I had a St. Judes Silzone valve implanted in Aug. of 99. No problems whatsoever so far. I have an annual echo. The last one one fine with no or nominal amounts of leakage. My cardio said it looked as good or better than any other mechanical valve he has seen. I still run a couple of miles 3 to 4 time a week and feel fine. So, I don't worry about it.

I look at it this way: Assuming we don't experience any problems from the Silzone, we may be fortunate since the Silzone was added to the cuff for a reason- to fight off infection. My recollection is that less than 5% of people had problems with the Silzone valve. If the Silzone doesn't hurt me, perhaps it will help by preventing an infection.

I believe Janie from Texas has a Silzone valve. I'd be curious to hear how she is doing.

Ted Hutchins

 

[tcorner]

almost got one

almost got one

Hey Ron,
I had my aortic valve replaced in Feb,04. I was going to get one of the new valves but it didnt work out at the last minute so I got a mechanical one. I am 33 and they had not done enough studies to see if it would last long enough. So I hope everything goes well for you.
Good Luck Tony

 

[RonP]

Good Luck Tony

Good Luck Tony

Tony:

I wish you the best of luck on your new valve. I hope you get to feeling better real soon. Which type of valve did you get? How are you feeling? Are you out exercising or walking yet? That walking sure helps out and it makes you feel better too. The sooner you do it, the quicker you feel better.

We'll keep you in our prayers.

Ron P.

 

[Mary Ellen]

Hi everyone...

I had a silzone St Jude valve replacement in 1998 and have had no problems with it. I get an echo every year and this last one was fine with a very minimal leakage. Hey, think positive. I plan to live to be at least 90!