The "Florida Sleeve" and stuff

[needinfo]

I posted this question somewhere, but cant find it so I will start a thread of its own.
Has anyone had any experience with or knowledge of the Florida Sleeve? My Cardio explained it this way for me. I have a BAV and of course a dialated AA (5.4 - 5.6 depending on who does the echo). His review of the latests results show my valve is very healthy and appears to be uncalcified. The sleeve is placed around the aorta to "close the gap" if you will, thus allowing the BAV to close and function normally. I have read a bit on the FS but have not seen any discussion in here on it.
And since I mentioned echos, I have copies of several of my echos dating back to 1980. All of the results for the dystol and systol size of the AA have been nearly the same since. The AHA sets guidelines for surgery and based on thise guidelines I am a candidate for valve replacement. Question is, there are tall people and short people, fat people and skinny, is it possible that this is the size of my AA and my real problem is a screwed up valve? Understand I am not in denial, I know I have ticker problems, but I have not spent 10 years in medical school either so I was just throwing this out for discussion to some "uneducated" people like myself....
Thanks!
Tom

 

[Phyllis]

I don't remember ever having it mentioned here, but upon a google search, I came up with this: http://www.hsforum.com/stories/storyReader$4178

 

[gadoty1]

i am so excited to read that link that Phyllis posted! Dr Martin is my surgeon and everyone told me he was one of the best but I couldn't find much info on him. Other then the fact that he is in charge of the on-x study for low/no dose ACT for Florida, this is the first I have read about him. Also Dr. Hess' name is on the florida sleeve study and he was the surgeon who saw me when i went back to the hospital to be monitored a week after i was released. Guess I'm a little star struck! BTW Iremember dr. Martin telling me about this sleeve when i had my initial consultation with him. He said my aortic valve would have to be in purfect shape once he got in there for him to use it. Something a surgeon wouldn't know until they actually got to look at the heart. I guess a lot can be missed by ct scans and echo's. My first surgery they didn't know i had a BAV until they were in there. This time they found a hole in one of the leaflets that they didn't know was there until my surgery.

 

[hensylee]

WELL, hey there, Florida Folks. I've been outta touch so missed your entry to VR. welcome from another Floridian. Destin? Lake City? I am in DeFuniak. Had my surgery in Pensacols (west Fla Hosp). I keep hearing Panama City has a good heart section in their hospital.

welcome to VR.

 

[needinfo]

WELL, hey there, Florida Folks. I've been outta touch so missed your entry to VR. welcome from another Floridian. Destin? Lake City? I am in DeFuniak. Had my surgery in Pensacols (west Fla Hosp). I keep hearing Panama City has a good heart section in their hospital.

welcome to VR.

I know "The Yak" or "DeFunk" very well.....

 

[bookjp]

I posted this question somewhere, but cant find it so I will start a thread of its own.
Has anyone had any experience with or knowledge of the Florida Sleeve? My Cardio explained it this way for me. I have a BAV and of course a dilated AA (5.4 - 5.6 depending on who does the echo). His review of the latests results show my valve is very healthy and appears to be uncalcified. The sleeve is placed around the aorta to "close the gap" if you will, thus allowing the BAV to close and function normally. I have read a bit on the FS but have not seen any discussion in here on it.
And since I mentioned echos, I have copies of several of my echos dating back to 1980. All of the results for the dystol and systolic size of the AA have been nearly the same since. The AHA sets guidelines for surgery and based on these guidelines I am a candidate for valve replacement. Question is, there are tall people and short people, fat people and skinny, is it possible that this is the size of my AA and my real problem is a screwed up valve? Understand I am not in denial, I know I have ticker problems, but I have not spent 10 years in medical school either so I was just throwing this out for discussion to some "uneducated" people like myself....
Thanks!
Tom

Tom that's the same question I have because I'm in the same boat as you almost.I have a badly calcified bicuspid valve that needs replace but saw a picture of my ct scan and my ascending aorta is at 5.0 -5.2 all the way up like it was made that way.There's really no bulges in it.My problem is I had an echo ten years ago and no one can seem to find it.So I have nothing to compare it to!!!!!

 

[Lynlw]

I could be wrong but I believe the "normal" numbers are based on the ave person, so something that might be huge in a smaller built person would be a proportainately normal size in a larger, taller person. For Kids they don't really go by a set of normal numbers since they are all differnt sizes so they go by function ect ..I'm sorry I'm not explaining that well.

 

[ccummins]

Wow, thanks for starting this thread! I have the same condition but I am at 5cm. Meeting with surgeon tomorrow. If there is any way that I can save my valve I am up for it! I am only needing surgery for the AA but figured they would replace the BAV while they were in there even though it has caused me no problems. And besides ... I went to UF which makes me proud. Go Gators!!