Tissue Valvers. How Old is Yours?

[Duffey]

14 years for my bovine Magna 3000.

 

[bucks1972]

I have had my Edwards AVR Carpentier Pericardial Valve for 4 years. Last year my cardiologist put me on visits once every two years instead of once a year. Twice a week I run 4 miles in about 45 minutes. During the summer I walk 18 hold of golf twice a week. I still work part-time and I am 69 year old.

 

[ottagal]

14 years for my bovine Magna 3000.

That is awesome, Duffey! Here's to many, many more years with your bovine valve. Perhaps, you will be a record breaker!

 

[Duffey]

That is awesome, Duffey! Here's to many, many more years with your bovine valve. Perhaps, you will be a record breaker!

I sure hope so!

 

[sweetbanker]

Had mine 8 years and reblocked with stenosis. Doctor told me I had the smallest valve so another OHS.We went in last August and I am now the proud owner of a new 23mm porcine with a bovine patch aortic valve

 

[Paleowoman]

Had mine 8 years and reblocked with stenosis. Doctor told me I had the smallest valve so another OHS.We went in last August and I am now the proud owner of a new 23mm porcine with a bovine patch aortic valve

Hi Kathi - interested to read that your surgeon was able to put in a 23mm valve in place of your previous valve which doc told you was the smallest - which is 19mm. Do you know how/where they put in your bigger valve? 23mm is a lot bigger than 19mm.

In discussion with surgeon I have discovered that they can't put in a bigger valve than what the space is, so to put in a bigger valve they have to put in a stentless valve in supra-annular position or do a root enlargement.

 

[btlRickas01]

I have had my Edwards AVR Carpentier Pericardial Valve for 4 years. Last year my cardiologist put me on visits once every two years instead of once a year. Twice a week I run 4 miles in about 45 minutes. During the summer I walk 18 hold of golf twice a week. I still work part-time and I am 69 year old.

Bucks1972 Great job with your running!

I have an Edwards Paramount Theon RSP, 4 years ago as well. I try to stay on a weekly regiment of 3 miles 3 times a week. I'm 63 so my goal is to keep up to you by the time I'm 69! When I'm not running you can usually find me on my bike during the summer - 20-30 mile rides are the norm.

 

[Threeacres]

14 years for my bovine Magna 3000.

That's great to hear. I've got 1.5 years on my 3300tfx Magna Ease. I was 53 at the time. I jokingly asked my surgeon if I could get the largest size they had as I thought it would help my running. I wonder a lot about how long it will last, but so far so good. My cardiologist is only checking on me every three years at this point. I run a fair amount and I haven't had any symptoms that make me think the valve isn't working perfectly. Glad to hear about a long term recipient, I've heard some pessimistic outlooks from some medical professionals. I don't think they know based on past studies on older versions.

 

[Duffey]

That's great to hear. I've got 1.5 years on my 3300tfx Magna Ease. I was 53 at the time. I jokingly asked my surgeon if I could get the largest size they had as I thought it would help my running. I wonder a lot about how long it will last, but so far so good. My cardiologist is only checking on me every three years at this point. I run a fair amount and I haven't had any symptoms that make me think the valve isn't working perfectly. Glad to hear about a long term recipient, I've heard some pessimistic outlooks from some medical professionals. I don't think they know based on past studies on older versions.

I was 52 when I received mine. The surgeon estimated 11 years longevity, but then I’ve always been an over achiever! Based on my experience, I would expect your newer model Magna to have a good, long run. Best wishes, Mary

 

[sweetbanker]

Hi Kathi - interested to read that your surgeon was able to put in a 23mm valve in place of your previous valve which doc told you was the smallest - which is 19mm. Do you know how/where they put in your bigger valve? 23mm is a lot bigger than 19mm.

In discussion with surgeon I have discovered that they can't put in a bigger valve than what the space is, so to put in a bigger valve they have to put in a stentless valve in supra-annular position or do a root enlargement.

Yes that was done the root enlargement. I was a candidate for Tavr but it would been a replacement of the same size valve. Since I’m young 57,he felt it was better to replace now doing OHS instead again in another 8-10 years when I could have more complications at an older age.

 

[Paleowoman]

Yes that was done the root enlargement. I was a candidate for Tavr but it would been a replacement of the same size valve. Since I’m young 57,he felt it was better to replace now doing OHS instead again in another 8-10 years when I could have more complications at an older age.

Thanks for your reply. I will probably have to have that kind of surgery when my 19mm valve degenerates as it is too small (I have moderate patient prosthesis mismatch) though the surgeons I have seen consider it will carry a high mortality risk and may not mean they can put in a bigger valve. I would not be a candidate for TAVR as the 19mm valve is too small to take a TAVR.

 

[Superbob]

Having celebrated its 14th birthday in February, the valve portion of my Medtronic Freestyle combined valve/root is still working well. But if I have an expanding aneurysm that screams out for surgery, they will replace the valve while repairing the root and zapping the aneurysm. Kinda sad 'cause I am attached to my Freestyle (and it to me) so hoping I get to find out how many more years it can go (and we together)....

 

[Forrest]

My Magna 3000 TFX bovine valve (21mm) is nearing 10 years old. I’m six times older than my valve so it should respect me as its elder, but I imagine it will do as it pleases. After my cardiologist visit this spring my doc said I’m doing well and that I’m still on doing Echos every 2 years. I golf (walking) and exercise regularly and fly fish on rivers. I take care of my health and eat well, but still have fun and eat ice cream! I feel fortunate, not saying that things I do give me anything extra, but it’s good to stay active as your health allows. Best wishes to all my valve bros & sisters!

 

[haggis basher]

I have Carpentier Edwards bovine in mitral position and my valve is coming up to 4 1/2 years.
How old is yours?

I think this could be interesting.

Well my Carpenter Edwards Aortic tissue valve is coming up 8 years (installed 2011 - (71age), I train (run) most days, and still do 5km run in 30mins! (79age in July)

 

[ottagal]

I would not be a candidate for TAVR as the 19mm valve is too small to take a TAVR.

Paleowoman, I am in the same boat as you. Valve is too small for TAVR at 21mm (think that was the cut off) but was told that before I had surgery so never had expectation of TAVR.

 

[Paleowoman]

Paleowoman, I am in the same boat as you. Valve is too small for TAVR at 21mm (think that was the cut off) but was told that before I had surgery so never had expectation of TAVR.

Hi Ottagal - I never expected TAVR, nor have I ever wished I could have it either. As discussed on previous threads about TAVR, there are no durability assessments of it, the leaflets are much more thin and fragile than the leaflets of surgical bioprosthetic valves, and they've only ever been implanted in patients too elderly or too ill to have open heart surgery....until recently, that is. But even if I had a bigger bioprosthetic valve I would not want to have TAVR with the current state of them.

 

[Jerroldw1]

That is awesome, Duffey! Here's to many, many more years with your bovine valve. Perhaps, you will be a record breaker!

My pig valve failed after 14 years, replaced with mechanical, and warfarin, so that was 25 years ago, still clicking. (80 yo)

 

[ottagal]

My pig valve failed after 14 years, replaced with mechanical, and warfarin, so that was 25 years ago, still clicking. (80 yo)

That's a great track record! Duffey may pass it! You never know. All the best.

 

[Duffey]

My pig valve failed after 14 years, replaced with mechanical, and warfarin, so that was 25 years ago, still clicking. (80 yo)

Congratulations! By my calculations, you received your porcine valve in 1980. With all the advancements made in the intervening years, if you had the tissue valve implanted now, you might break all longevity records!

 

[Keithl]

I have an uncle who takes blood thinners, but not because of a valve replacement. But, my point is, he had a near-death experience a few years ago, from a nose bleed, almost bleeding to death due to the blood thinners. For this reason/potential threat, I would be far more inclined to want to go with a natural/bovine valve, if at all possible. I am coming up on 58. Thus far, my aortic regurgitation has been labeled as mild/moderate in the 4-5 years it has been monitored. Knock on wood, maybe I won't ever have to undergo valve replacement. But, as the years go by and I get older, if/when the time does come, the more inclined I am to go with a natural/bovine valve rather than mechanical, solely because of the requirement to take blood thinners.

I have had 2 nose bleeds that stopped fairly quickly, first one bled a bit, bit just put a tissue in my nose. I have had 2 minor finger bleeds as well and all stopped fairly quickly and my INR has been running 2.5 - 3.5. While I understood the risk of bleeds with mechanical, the risks and costs of multiple OHS was not something I was will to deal with.