Surgery Question

[Dennis S]

I had a chance to talk very briefly with the doctor I believe I will choose for my surgeon. He comes with a great reputation. I didn't have an appointment but he had a minute for me between 2 open heart surgeries scheduled for that day. He will be replacing the Aorta valve, probably with a synthetic valve. He said he does all these replacements "off the machine". I think that means not hooking me up to a machine to for my blood during the surgery. This sounds like it is a good thing, but then I wondered if that is even possible. Any thoughts?

 

[FauxClaud]

A friend of mine had just sent me this article link this week.
Sounds like it's what you're talking about? From the article, it didn't sound like they were doing AVRs like that..only bypasses?

And the Beat Goes On
More than 20 percent of the coronary bypass operations in the country are done 'off pump,' with the heart pounding in the chest like the living thing it is.

http://g.msn.com/0MN2ET7/2?http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8445416/site/newsweek&&CM=EmailThis&CE=1

 

[Ross]

To my knowledge, it's not possible to replace a valve on a still beating heart, so they'd have to place you on bypass for a little while.

 

[bvdr]

Ross, I think they can do it now. I googled "valve replacement on beating heart" and several things popped up. Amazing stuff.

 

[Dennis S]

Beating Heart

Beating Heart

Is there anyone in the forum that had valve replacement on a beating heart? Can you describe any advantages or problems as a result of this procedure?

 

[Phyllis]

Found the following on beating heart valve surgery at the University of Miami:
Beating Heart Valve Surgery:

This novel approach for valvular surgery is a major advance and is used extensively at our Medical Center. During beating heart valve surgery, the heart beats while the valve is being replaced, thereby eliminating the risk of ischemia of the heart. When combined valve and coronary artery bypasses are needed, the bypasses are done off pump, followed by the valve replacement. This is beneficial to the patient because it decreases the amount of time on the heart/lung machine. Warm heart surgery, a technique in which the patient and the heart are not cooled, was initially developed by a faculty member, Dr. Tomas Salerno.

According to this, it is used extensively there and there is no indication as to how many they do that way.

 

[hayden]

My doctor said a mechanic could not work on a car engine with the motor running and he could not work on a heart beating......

 

[Dennis S]

Still would love to hear from someone who had beating heart surgery

Still would love to hear from someone who had beating heart surgery

One place where I am lucky is that I have several friends in the medical field up here. They all say this guy is great, and that he has done hundreds of these procedures. I would still love to hear from some one who has had it done this way, but in the meantime I think I will count this as one of the blessings so many people have been praying for.

Found the following on beating heart valve surgery at the University of Miami:
Beating Heart Valve Surgery:


According to this, it is used extensively there and there is no indication as to how many they do that way.