too many choices

Paul117 · Mar 29, 2006

Here is one for the books. After two surgeons, Dr. Stone and Dr. Ohair (the robot guy) say that now I need a replacement to fix my Mitral valve repair I have talked to Dr. Werner Dr. Ohair's partner he says that he can repair the repair. Has anyone had to choose between replace or repair the second time around? Do I go somewhere else and get a mechanical replacement when I have a doc telling me he can repair it. (this repair will fix the SAM systolic anterior motion) brought on by the first reapir 12/22/05.
I need some help with this decision.

Karlynn · Mar 29, 2006

Paul, we just had an identical question in another thread recently. Some of the conscensus was that you need to know why the repair failed and why the surgeon thinks a re-repair is worth the attempt. The other member was given a 70% chance that the re-repair would be successful, I believe. Many of us felt that, even tho' that sounded like a good percentage, we'd want a greater amount of certainty than 70% when you're talking about the chance of a repeat OHS within months or a few years if it's not successful.

RCB · Mar 30, 2006

Karlynn is right

Karlynn is right

Always!

http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15060

It was "Fully" discussed!

If you still have a question aftr reading the thread, please ask away!

Karlynn said:
Paul, we just had an identical question in another thread recently. Some of the conscensus was that you need to know why the repair failed and why the surgeon thinks a re-repair is worth the attempt. The other member was given a 70% chance that the re-repair would be successful, I believe. Many of us felt that, even tho' that sounded like a good percentage, we'd want a greater amount of certainty than 70% when you're talking about the chance of a repeat OHS within months or a few years if it's not successful.

paulk · Mar 31, 2006

Paul117 said:
...I need some help with this decision.

Paul,

I'd want to know why Dr. Werner thinks he can repair it, when OHair & Stone thinks it needs to be replaced. Did he specifically describe how he would go about the repair? How experienced is he with re-repairs? Does he think his repair would be a lifetime repair? I'd also try to decide which surgeon I trust the most, regardless of their repair vs. replace opinion.

Assuming this is the Dr. Werner from St. Lukes, I'll add that during my surgeon search in the Milwaukee area, Dr. Werner was one of the surgeons highly recommended to me for mitral valve repair. I didn't meet with him since he wasn't in my health plan.

-Paul

Paul117 · Apr 1, 2006

thanks all

thanks all

Doctor Werner has the reputation as the best mitral repair in the state. My thoughts lead to the fact that he is the only one who has direct acess to Dr. Ohair and his take on the first repair. I'm also thinking that he must have talked to O,hair and feels it is repairable. He explained the ring may be too small and the posteior leaflet (there is only one because O,hair cut away no.2 and sewed 1 to 3 creating a larger one that is overpowering the anterior one thus pushing it toward the aortic outflow. So i'm thinking a second repair might be the thing to do. My heart reminds me from time to time that it is not tip top and the longer I put this off the harder it going to be.

kingpeta · Apr 1, 2006

Hi Paul,
You probably know what I'm gonna say. If it were me, I'd go for the replace and be done with it. Even if they said you had a 95% chance of the re-repair lasting, I think the replacement sucess is higher. It's so commonplace now that you can be quite certain of it's sucess. I can't imagine a third surgery, either. All that said, it is your choice of course. I also think you're looking at the right hospital if you stay in this area.

Pete

MikeHeim · Apr 3, 2006

If you read the other "re-repair" thread, you'll know my stand. Personally, I would "chance" another repair if the surgeon was confident that it would work and hold up. From my experience, the surgeons don't want to operate on you any more than you want to be operated on. If they thought there was a good probability that the repair wouldn't hold up, they would let you know and most likely suggest a replacement. Repairs have an excellent success rate as well as longetivity (see other thread), but I have never seen any stats regarding re-repairs.