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boomersooner
Can anyone recommend any good surgeons at the Texas Heart Institute that would possibly do an On-X with a Dacron graft? I am looking for a second opinion since my surgeon does not use the On-X valve.
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ALCapshaw2
Well-known member
It's Friday morning and I see your request for information has gone unanswered for over 10 hours so I will risk being crucified for suggesting that you contact On-X directly. They know which surgeons have implanted their valves.
See my response in the following link for info:
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?p=260588#post260588#post260588
'AL Capshaw'
See my response in the following link for info:
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?p=260588#post260588#post260588
'AL Capshaw'
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boomersooner
Thanks for all the feedback so far. I have an e-mail in to THI, i was just wondering if anyone had any experience with any doctorcs from THI.
I underwent an "aortic valve re-replacement" in March/2006 at St. Luke's Hospital in Houston. Dr. George Reul was my surgeon but he is not doing any operations at the time due to poor health himself.
Dr. Cooley, top icon there, is still very much in the "know" of which surgeon is best for the job. He may be 93 years old but he's still very much involved in the decisions at the Texas Heart Institute.
I have heard a lot of good things about Dr. Coselli & like others have already responded to you, find a surgeon that is at the top of his field. Do a search, if you haven't already done so, of the different surgeons there & email them or call them to get their feedback.
I had a St. Jude valve implanted by the way & I'm doing just fine. Have to take duretics & coumadin, etc., but doing good considering everything.
Good luck to you & keep us posted as to what you find out.
Dr. Cooley, top icon there, is still very much in the "know" of which surgeon is best for the job. He may be 93 years old but he's still very much involved in the decisions at the Texas Heart Institute.
I have heard a lot of good things about Dr. Coselli & like others have already responded to you, find a surgeon that is at the top of his field. Do a search, if you haven't already done so, of the different surgeons there & email them or call them to get their feedback.
I had a St. Jude valve implanted by the way & I'm doing just fine. Have to take duretics & coumadin, etc., but doing good considering everything.
Good luck to you & keep us posted as to what you find out.
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boomersooner
I am confused now. This is the response I got back from THI.
"Thank you for choosing the St. Luke's Physician Referral Center. At this time your request for the ON-X Valve is not available here at the Texas Heart Institute. This is a valve that is still experimental (on going study).
Should you have anymore questions, you may call the Heart Information Center at the Texas Heart Institute. The phone number is: 832-355-9121.
You can visit the website of Texas Heart Institute at www.texasheartinstitute.org and see the profiles of the Cardiologists. If you have any questions, please contact us at (800) 872-9355 and we will be happy to assist you. Again, thank you for choosing the St. Luke's Physician Referral Center."
I know this information is not correct. I think the person that responded might have it confused with the trials.
"Thank you for choosing the St. Luke's Physician Referral Center. At this time your request for the ON-X Valve is not available here at the Texas Heart Institute. This is a valve that is still experimental (on going study).
Should you have anymore questions, you may call the Heart Information Center at the Texas Heart Institute. The phone number is: 832-355-9121.
You can visit the website of Texas Heart Institute at www.texasheartinstitute.org and see the profiles of the Cardiologists. If you have any questions, please contact us at (800) 872-9355 and we will be happy to assist you. Again, thank you for choosing the St. Luke's Physician Referral Center."
I know this information is not correct. I think the person that responded might have it confused with the trials.
Call the number they gave you & try to get more information. Why is it that you are so stuck on the On-X valve? I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with it because I know of several patients that have them, but why is it your valve of choice?
B
boomersooner
For one I am only 25 and want to avoid another operation if I can. From all of the information and people I have spoken with this valve has alot of promise and given my young age and the possibility of low anticoagulation, it would not affect my life style in a huge way. Still a huge way but not as bad as some of the other prospects.
ALCapshaw2
Well-known member
boomersooner said:
Since you are interested in finding a surgeon who will implant an On-X valve, I suggest you call Catheran Burnett at On-X. Her number is 888-339-8000 ext 265 or write to her at [email protected] She is an R.N. and was a Surgical Nurse at Baylor. I would expect she knows most of the surgeons in Texas.
'AL Capshaw'
You are very young indeed & speaking from experience, I know how frightening it is to visualize having to face another OHS in the future.
I was one year younger than you were when I had my first two OHS. I have lived for 31 years with my two mechanical valves, which by the way, are obsolete now. In fact, I now have a 31 year old valve & a brand new valve in my heart but I'm still going. I am 56 years old now & back when I had my first two surgeries done in 1975, the odds were stacked against me because the medical technology was nothing like it is today! But I'm still here & I have led a full & active life all these years. And I intend to go on until the good Lord says that's enough!
Having to live with coumadin has been a way of life for me but it has never interfered in any of my activities. And now, with the home monitors available to you, well it's become even an easier thing to manage.
Do the research & feel good about your decision once you've familarized yourself with as much information as possible. I am very confident that you will do just fine with whatever decision you make!
I was one year younger than you were when I had my first two OHS. I have lived for 31 years with my two mechanical valves, which by the way, are obsolete now. In fact, I now have a 31 year old valve & a brand new valve in my heart but I'm still going. I am 56 years old now & back when I had my first two surgeries done in 1975, the odds were stacked against me because the medical technology was nothing like it is today! But I'm still here & I have led a full & active life all these years. And I intend to go on until the good Lord says that's enough!
Having to live with coumadin has been a way of life for me but it has never interfered in any of my activities. And now, with the home monitors available to you, well it's become even an easier thing to manage.
Do the research & feel good about your decision once you've familarized yourself with as much information as possible. I am very confident that you will do just fine with whatever decision you make!
B
boomersooner
Thanks everyone for the information. It is good to know that there are people out there that have gone through the same thing at 25 or younger.
B
boomersooner
I am not sure why THI told me that the valve is still experimental. This is the quote i found on the On-X site that says otherwise. "The Federal Food and Drug Administration approved the On-X aortic and mitral valves for use in the United States on May 30, 2001 and March 6, 2002 respectively. "
