St.Jude Regent valve

[SV2004]

Hi All

As I mentioned in my previous post, my AVR surgery is on June 8th. I have decided to go with mechanical. The surgeon told me that I will be getting a "St.Jude Regent valve". Did any of you receive that valve? can you please tell me if I need to worry about anything? Also do you know if it has been recalled before?

Thanks
Sree

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Sorry......can't answer your question as I am not certain anyone here has had that particular valve implanted.

However......it would be worth it to "do your homework" so to speak.
I beleive that valve is coated with something and has not been on the market long enough in my opinion to be used in humans. The FDA will say otherwise. But remeber one thing. Just because it's "approved"...does not mean it is safe.

Go ahead and do a search on the St. Jude 'Silzone' valve. Silzone was a coating on the St. Jude valve that was to "detract" secondary infections. I personally knew one woman who suffered and lost her life. Another member of ours on the forum lost his dear wife to Silzone.

You may opt for a plain old St. Jude or tissue valve after reading about the Silzone. In the end ...it all boils down to your decision!

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[tobagotwo]

Here's a link to it:
http://www.sjm.com/devices/device.aspx?name=SJM+Regent®+Valve&location=in&type=18

It appear to be their latest generation valve.

Best wishes,

 

[LUVMyBirman]

I may have been wrong about that valve. Was under the impression it had some sort of coating???

 

[bvdr]

I've got the old model St.Jude mitral valve. I just looked at the Regent link and it sure looks good to me. I think I would have been very comfortable with the new model too.

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey Sree,
I have the SJM Regent 27mm Aortic Valve. I had my surgery April 21,2003. My surgeon told me that this was the newest valve out and that he uses it whenever he can.
I haven't had any problems so far and as for the ticking it isn't that bad either.
When St. Jude sent me my ID card they also sent a postcard picture of the valve and a plastic model of it.
I don't think you have anything to worry about.
Take Care

 

[Bryan B]

Here's what I told my surgeon if he couldn't do the Ross:

backup plan #1 - CE Perimont Bovine

backup plan #2 - St. Judes Regent

The Regent would have been my choice if it turned out my surgeon felt it necessary to put in a mechanical valve.

 

[ShezaGirlie]

Big question to ask???

Big question to ask???

http://www.sjm.com/devices/silzonea...4;+Valve&location=in&type=18&section=overview

So what did St. Jude do with all those recalled Silzone Regent Valves? Must have been tens of millions in dollars worth of valves involved. You think they went to the city dump? You think they were 'remodeled' by taking the Silzone coated cuff off and putting another one on?

 

[Karlynn]

Oh, Janie-girl, you cynic!!! But still an excellent question. One worth asking.

 

[ShezaGirlie]

Hey there!

Hey there!

Are you back from Paris? Details Miss Karlynn, details...

 

[Karlynn]

Haven't left yet. 3 more days.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Janie....so I may not have been too far off base? Thought my mind was failing me Are you saying the Silzone was actually the "Regent" with a Silzone coating? Remodling is a scary thought. Would not put it past them after all I have learned.

 

[ShezaGirlie]

Very Interesting Read...

Very Interesting Read...

Gina...what I was saying is that the some of the Regent valves had the silzone coating on the sewing cuff...

Now, this webpage is particularly interesting especially if you live in one of those states where medical monitoring is not compensated when you have medical problems after implantation of a medical device before 'injury' is proven.

It's long, but worth the read.

http://www.mnd.uscourts.gov/Tunheim_Mdl/Pretrial_Minutes/MDL1396_010504_subclass.pdf