St Jude

[Curtsmum]

I have been reading a thread on the on x valve and dont want to high jack anybodys thread. Our surgeon as told us that when he replaces Curts valve, he will be using the St Jude valve. Lots of people who are recently having ohs seem to be getting the on x and seems to be a lot of trials being done. Guess my question is - is the st jude old news, are people happy with the st jude valve and would it still be a choice for today. Thanks for any help in advance .

 

[Ross]

St Jude is the "Golden Standard" in heart valves replacement. You should be able to choose anything you want. St.Jude is tried and tested for years. On-X is gaining ground as it becomes more widely known about. If you want an On-X, talk with your surgeon and see what you can do about it.

 

[Curtsmum]

Well hopefully we will get quite a few more years with Curt's repair and maybe then the On-X, will have had more re-search. Guess it's just our surgeons prefered choice. Golden standered sounds good to me, thanks Ross.

 

[EireCara]

Hi Paula, I hope Curtis is keeping well, and Santa came to such a brave little boy, and his brave MUM of course.

HAPPY NEW YEAR....x

 

[geebee]

Hi Paula,

I have no problems with my St. Jude and I have had it for almost 15 years. I would not hesitate to suggest it to someone facing surgery. Doesn't mean anything negative to any other valve - just my experience and opinion.

 

[Cooker]

St Jude is the "Golden Standard" in heart valves replacement. You should be able to choose anything you want. St.Jude is tried and tested for years. On-X is gaining ground as it becomes more widely known about. If you want an On-X, talk with your surgeon and see what you can do about it.

Agree 100% ....My St Jude is working just fine......

 

[Eva]

St Jude is the "Golden Standard" in heart valves replacement. You should be able to choose anything you want. St.Jude is tried and tested for years. On-X is gaining ground as it becomes more widely known about. If you want an On-X, talk with your surgeon and see what you can do about it.

Agree 100% ....My St Jude is working just fine......

I agree too! I have two St. Jude mechanical valves in my heart

 

[Bina]

My Dad would say, "Cross that bridge when you come to it."

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Paula -

Have you studied the On-X websites www.onxvalves.com and www.heartvalvechoice.com well enough to understand the technological improvements and benefits?

If not, I recommend that you do so. Then you will be in a better position to make an informed decision.

The St. Jude Master's Series Valves have been around for 30 years and counting so they are 'Good Valves'. (I have one). I just happen to think that the On-X is a 'Better Valve' in several areas:

Reduced Risk of Clot Formation because of:
1- Reduced Turbulence due to full 90 degree opening
(vs. 75 to 85 degree openings for older valve designs)
2- Harder, Smoother (patented) evolution of the Pyrolytic Carbon material in the leaflets (Designed by Jack Bokros, Ph.D., who also designed the leaflets in St. Jude, ATS, and Carbomedics and holds several Patents)
3- Improved (smoother) Valve Pivots

Less Damage to Red Blood Cells (Hemolysis)
- equivalent to levels in Tissue Valves, about 1/2 the level in older mechanical valves.

ONLY Valve that has a built in Barrier to Pannus Tissue Growth which is the Major Factor in Mechanical Valve Explantation (i.e. Removal and Replacement) - This is a Low (but NOT Zero) Risk condition that has been reported on VR.com for both Mechanical and Tissue Valves.

Anti-Coagulation with Coumadin / Warfarin gets around the Clotting Issue (for the most part) *as long as INR is In-Range*.

The BIG ISSUE and Difference is when it is necessary to go OFF Anti-Coagulation for Invasive Procedures.

OLDER Mechanical Valves are Known to cause Clot Formation after ?? days when going OFF Coumadin.

Experience with the On-X Valves in Africa with a substantial population of Non-Compliant recipients shows greatly reduced risk of Stroke compared with the older Mechanical Valve Designs in patients whose INR is NOT in
Range (ask On-X for a copy of the Study).

FYI, the On-X Valves were introduced to the World Market in 1996 (12 Years ago) and there are over 70,000 On-X Valves in use around the World (64 Countries).

Yes, It's the "New Kid on the Block", but it's no longer in 'childhood' (as many in the Medical Field seem to think).

It comes down to answering the Question:
Do you want the latest improvements in technology with a 12 year track record or,
Do you want a Valve that has been around for 30 years with good results?


BTW, the St. Jude REGENT Valve was introduced in 1999(?), AFTER the On-X valve came onto market. It would be interesting to know how many have been implanted. There was a report on surgical experiences with this valve in a Medical Journal a few years ago. (I'll have to look up the reference).

MY preference would be On-X as First Choice
with the St. Jude Master's Series as Second Choice.

'AL Capshaw'

Disclaimer: I am NOT a Medical Professional, merely an interested Heart Valve Patient. The above is a summary of my 'understanding' and is my non-professional *opinion*.

 

[Curtsmum]

My Dad would say, "Cross that bridge when you come to it."

Thankyou all so much for the information. Think i will take Bina's dads advice on this one for the time being, or i will drive myself mad.
I'm sure the surgeon will expain his choice of the St Jude valve, when the time comes.

 

[Curtsmum]

Hi Paula, I hope Curtis is keeping well, and Santa came to such a brave little boy, and his brave MUM of course.

HAPPY NEW YEAR....x

Hi Jacqui. He got a x box 360, so he is never out of his bedroom now. A hornby train set, which is more for me and loads more things and money.We had a great time thanks.Hope you are doing well and had a good time, all the best for the new year.

 

[Curtsmum]

Thankyou Al, for taking the time to post the information, i will save it to my computer and have a good look into it, when i'm ready, thanks.

 

[briansmom]

Paula,
I agree with Bina's dad on this one.

On the other hand, I chose the On-X for my son because of the possibility of no anti coagulation. I pray that it works out because my teenage son is not great about taking his drugs. I am just waiting for him to grow up and get a clue. He is one step forward and 7/8 backwards. Thankfully that does give us some progress!

 

[lance]

Seek reassurance

Seek reassurance

If I had to do it again I would ask the surgeon about the "track record" of the valve being recommended, how long its been on the market and how many (guestestimate) they have installed.

 

[geckley]

I asked this same question about 3 months ago and there seems to be 2 camps on this topic. I chose the St Jude and so far no complaints. I asked my surgeon about it and he uses on x in other locations but the Mitral. I don't know why. He prefers the St. Jude in that position. I had too many other things to worry about, so I trusted his choice.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

I asked this same question about 3 months ago and there seems to be 2 camps on this topic. I chose the St Jude and so far no complaints. I asked my surgeon about it and he uses on x in other locations but the Mitral. I don't know why. He prefers the St. Jude in that position. I had too many other things to worry about, so I trusted his choice.

I would be Very Interested in knowing your surgeon's reasoning in choosing the St. Jude Valve over the On-x for the Mitral Position.

The Mitral Postion is KNOWN to be more prone to Clot Formation than the Aortic Position.

The On-X Valve has several improvements which REDUCE the Risk of Clot Formation vs. older mechanical valves, *especially* in the Mitral Position.

The On-X Valve has a Barrier to Retard / Prevent Pannus Tissue Growth, the leading reason that (older) mechanical valves need to be replaced.

I don't get it. What am I missing?

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Marty]

Al, I asked my surgeon who wrote one of the early books covering both mechanical and bioprosthetic valves why he didn't swith immediately to On-X. He said that for the last thirty years manufacturers came out with a new wonder valve almost every year. Rarely did one stand the test of time like St.Jude. He has nothing against On-X. If they are still around after about ten years he said he might consider using one!

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Al, I asked my surgeon who wrote one of the early books covering both mechanical and bioprosthetic valves why he didn't swith immediately to On-X. He said that for the last thirty years manufacturers came out with a new wonder valve almost every year. Rarely did one stand the test of time like St.Jude. He has nothing against On-X. If they are still around after about ten years he said he might consider using one!

Did he mean *another* 10 years (after the 12 years they have already been around?
(edit: WHEN did he make that statement?)

On-X has sold over 70,000 valves in 64 countries since they were introduced to the world market in 1996 (and FDA approved for use in the USA in 2001).

It seems that a lot of Surgeons want to wait for 20 years experience with hundreds of thousands of implants by OTHER surgeons before they will 'take a chance' on something NEW (and improved).

Sorry, but if everyone took the attitude expressed by your surgeon, there would be NO PROGRESS because NO ONE would ever try anything new.

That said, I can understand reluctance to try New Products when they are in their infancy, but how much more use / experience does your Surgeon want to see?

Is he saying that 12 years and 70,000 valves is STILL not enough for him to consider using the valve?

What numbers would he consider to be enough?

FWIW, Comparison Data supplied to the FDA after 5 years showed superior performance in Morbid Event History (Thromboembolism, Thrombosis, and Hemorrhage) compared with SJM, CMI, ATS, and MH.

BTW, I remember one of our members stating that she(?) had to sign a waiver to receive an early model St. Jude Valve when surgeons were first starting to use them in place of the old Ball and Cage Valves when some of them were having structural failures. Note that this was BEFORE St. Jude had received FDA approval (hence the waiver).

If those surgeons had taken a similar attitude as Dr. Lefrak, everyone would still be receiving Ball and Cage Valves!

Maybe it's time for Dr. Lefrak to Look at the Data.

(...or maybe it's time for you to ask that question again, since it *has been 10 years* since you received your valve

'AL Capshaw'

 

[zipper2]

I would be Very Interested in knowing your surgeon's reasoning in choosing the St. Jude Valve over the On-x for the Mitral Position.

The Mitral Postion is KNOWN to be more prone to Clot Formation than the Aortic Position.

The On-X Valve has several improvements which REDUCE the Risk of Clot Formation vs. older mechanical valves, *especially* in the Mitral Position.

The On-X Valve has a Barrier to Retard / Prevent Pannus Tissue Growth, the leading reason that (older) mechanical valves need to be replaced.

I don't get it. What am I missing?

'AL Capshaw'

My surgeon said in sept during my tests,cath and tee i had

The on-x was great just they haven't used as many,as the st.jude

and he wasn't as experienced with the on-x as much as the st.jude.

that was his reasoning on me getting the st.jude during my surgery.

Al was this a good enough answer? or should've i gotat him??

(LOL).?????

zipper2 (DEB)

 

[ALCapshaw2]

My surgeon said in sept during my tests,cath and tee i had

The on-x was great just they haven't used as many,as the st.jude

and he wasn't as experienced with the on-x as much as the st.jude.

that was his reasoning on me getting the st.jude during my surgery.

Al was this a good enough answer? or should've i gotat him??

(LOL).?????

zipper2 (DEB)

CONSERVATIVE Surgeons are wanting to wait to examine the 20 Year Data from OTHER Surgeons before 'taking a chance' on "New Technology".

You can Have a LONG HISTORY of 'Good Enough' Performance
or you can have New Technology.

You Can't have BOTH. That's why it's a tough decision.

Take your "Best Shot" or Flip a Coin.

Maybe we will all know in another 10 years or so...

'AL Capshaw'