Agian
Well-known member
That would be great, wouldn't it?
Tissue Quality
- Thread starter Sammy1973
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Hi lyn
Great reading your posts from the UK
Quick question do you know how the latest generation Carpentier Edwards porcine valve compares with the C E Bovine
Hopefully similar ie 15 - 20 years
I had the Aortic valve replaced in 2012
Once again really appreciate your posts
All the best from the UK
Great reading your posts from the UK
Quick question do you know how the latest generation Carpentier Edwards porcine valve compares with the C E Bovine
Hopefully similar ie 15 - 20 years
I had the Aortic valve replaced in 2012
Once again really appreciate your posts
All the best from the UK
Thank you. Some of my fav people are from the UK
I dont know very much about CE porcine since I dont know of many people getting them or discussing them recently. But I can look more into it. I know that for the most part (in earlier valves at least) Cow, pericardial valves tend to thicken as they get older and piggies tear at the base of the leaflet, but beside the chemical treatment for anti calcification the latest CE pig have better treatment at lower pressure which is supposed to keep the flexibility that earlier ones lost in the process. So I would think it would last longer than the pig ones used earlier.Do you know what CE porcine valve you have? I can see what I can find if you want. http://www.edwards.com/Products/PorcineValves/Pages/PorcineCategory.aspx
Ron Danahy
Member
I can't give any of the great statistical information like others have hear but I can give my own experience.
At age 48 I had AVR with a equine stint less valve. That was expected to last 15 to 20 yrs now at age 52 I'm going through the work up to have it replaced due to stinosis.
Don't know if it's just the luck of the draw or if these valves are failing at a high rate.
Sent from my SPH-L720T using Tapatalk
At age 48 I had AVR with a equine stint less valve. That was expected to last 15 to 20 yrs now at age 52 I'm going through the work up to have it replaced due to stinosis.
Don't know if it's just the luck of the draw or if these valves are failing at a high rate.
Sent from my SPH-L720T using Tapatalk
clay_from_nj
Well-known member
At age 46, if I did want a tissue valve, I probably would have had to find another surgeon to do it.
river-wear
Well-known member
Wow, Clay, I'm surprised. I feel like I'm going against the grain for wanting a mechanical valve because both of the surgeons I've talked to (both are 55 years old) said they'd go with tissue if they were me (I'm 46). One of them said 70% of what he puts in are tissue, regardless of age. He also said I could expect 15 years from one. I asked about the age thing, and his opinon was that's only a real factor for those under 30.
Michelle - Although I applaud your surgeons' enthusiasm, I am afraid I don't fully agree. Yes, I have a tissue valve, but I was 63 at time of implant and I am aware of the fact that I could need a re-op in the future myself. If you are OK with that, then by all means, go with the tissue valve. If you want to minimize the statistical likelihood that you will need yet another surgery, then I would go with a mechanical.
I think many of us choose tissue if it is at all practical, in the belief that life after surgery will be as much like life before surgery as is possible. We didn't want to deal with anticoagulation, and are willing to accept some element of risk of re-op to avoid the anticoagulation. That thing of "life after" being like "life before" is over-rated and may not be possible for any number of reasons. My life is the same as before with regard to my valve, but after surgery I also needed a pacemaker. We can't plan it all, we can only play the hands we are dealt.
There are pro's and con's to all of the choices. We teach new folks that the only really "bad" decision is to decide to do nothing. That one rarely ends well, and we are all about helping people maximize their life potential. The choice of tissue versus mechanical is a very personal choice, with some statistical nuances. I feel that you should be fully entitled to explore the options and choose the one that is right for you - even if your surgeon is trying to make it "easier" for you in the future.
I have a tissue valve - by choice. I am not afraid of anticoagulation, though. My mother used it for years, as has my mother-in-law. Heck, I even took warfarin for 3 months after my valve surgery. It is not a death sentence. It does require management, but if you are able to self-manage, it is not the "bad deal" that people claim it to be. We have members here who have been using warfarin for decades, and they do all the things they wanted to do, and survive quite well.
I would suggest that you talk with your surgeons about your preference. If they have a medical reason for recommending the tissue valve, hear them out but make your own choice. If they are OK with that, then proceed. If not, maybe it is time to meet another surgeon who is more willing to consider the wishes of their patient.
I think many of us choose tissue if it is at all practical, in the belief that life after surgery will be as much like life before surgery as is possible. We didn't want to deal with anticoagulation, and are willing to accept some element of risk of re-op to avoid the anticoagulation. That thing of "life after" being like "life before" is over-rated and may not be possible for any number of reasons. My life is the same as before with regard to my valve, but after surgery I also needed a pacemaker. We can't plan it all, we can only play the hands we are dealt.
There are pro's and con's to all of the choices. We teach new folks that the only really "bad" decision is to decide to do nothing. That one rarely ends well, and we are all about helping people maximize their life potential. The choice of tissue versus mechanical is a very personal choice, with some statistical nuances. I feel that you should be fully entitled to explore the options and choose the one that is right for you - even if your surgeon is trying to make it "easier" for you in the future.
I have a tissue valve - by choice. I am not afraid of anticoagulation, though. My mother used it for years, as has my mother-in-law. Heck, I even took warfarin for 3 months after my valve surgery. It is not a death sentence. It does require management, but if you are able to self-manage, it is not the "bad deal" that people claim it to be. We have members here who have been using warfarin for decades, and they do all the things they wanted to do, and survive quite well.
I would suggest that you talk with your surgeons about your preference. If they have a medical reason for recommending the tissue valve, hear them out but make your own choice. If they are OK with that, then proceed. If not, maybe it is time to meet another surgeon who is more willing to consider the wishes of their patient.
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river-wear
Well-known member
Steve, the surgeon absolutely believes that valve choice (tissue v. mechanical) is up to the patient. He just stated what he would do - but that does make it a little harder to not second guess myself. However, after waffling for a few weeks, I am firmly back in the mechanical camp if a repair cannot be done with a good prognosis. I'll be willing to risk a re-op for a repair that could go bad, but I'm simply not willing to do it for a tissue valve. I can respect what other people choose, but it's not for me.
The second surgeon I spoke with has given other members here mechanical valves, so I can't imagine he would object. That wouldn't even make sense to me, but that can certainly be addressed before I commit to anything.
Frankly, I think "life after" with a mechanical valve and warfarin would be better than the decades spent waiting for my heart to cry uncle and get tired of compensating for my leaky valve. I certainly plan to stop obsessing over how much sleep I get each night! (I've been so tired.)
Here's hoping that by the time you wear out your valve, they'll have worked the kinks out of TAVR and you can do the next one the easier way.
The second surgeon I spoke with has given other members here mechanical valves, so I can't imagine he would object. That wouldn't even make sense to me, but that can certainly be addressed before I commit to anything.
Frankly, I think "life after" with a mechanical valve and warfarin would be better than the decades spent waiting for my heart to cry uncle and get tired of compensating for my leaky valve.
I certainly plan to stop obsessing over how much sleep I get each night! (I've been so tired.)Here's hoping that by the time you wear out your valve, they'll have worked the kinks out of TAVR and you can do the next one the easier way.
