Tricuspid valve replacement/repair

[heartstream]

I have recently had a tricuspid valve repair which was unsuccessfull. I am now left with worse symptoms than before. I am on diaretics and a 1-5 ltr fluid restriction. I don't see to be able to find out any information on people who have had it done. Most of the research seems very grim to say the least. I am really worried about my condition and it was a shock at 43. I seemed to suffer really badly with syptoms and pain from the whole experience. I am very worried and scared as I cannot seem to find people who have had it done. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Ron

 

[kfay]

Ron, sorry your repair has failed. I had my tricuspid valve replaced 3 years ago with a porcine valve at the age of 45 due to a congenital defect called Ebstein's Anomaly. From my understanding, tissue valves are preferrable on the right side of the heart due to lower pressures which can increase your chances of throwing a clot with a mechanical. The good thing is that because of those same low pressures, tissue valves tend to last longer in the right side of the heart than they do in the left.

I know it is disheartening to think you have to go through surgery again, but you've done it before and you can do it again. I think you'll be surprised how great you'll feel once you get all of this fixed. Do you know what has caused the problems with your tricuspid valve? Let me know if I can answer any questions for you.


Kim

 

[heartstream]

Thank you so much for your help. Still there does not seem to be many of us about. I will be back with more questions soon. Thanks

 

[AgilityDog]

Hey, sorry, I've been busy at work and off the board for a while.

I had my tricuspid repaired 8/10/10 along with the replacement of my aortic valve. The tricuspid repair was required because I have a pacemaker/defibrillator, and all the wires run throught the tricuspid. They made the valve sort of saggy, so the surgeon repaired it/gave me an annuloplasty ring for support.
That leaky valve was giving me problems with CHF/fluid retention, coughing, etc. more so than the aortic leakage, which just made me tired and somewhat dizzy.

It is my understanding that because of the lower blood pressure and reduced flow in the tricuspid valve, a tissue replacement is preferred to a mechanical. With a mechanical in that position you INR would have to be much higher than is considered advisable in most cases. I don't know how high.
But the good news is that tissues last longer in that position, too.
There is no reason to believe a replacement won't go well for you. My heart is held together with spit and bailing wire, and run on a battery. So if I can be doing as wonderfully now as I am, after 3 valve jobs in 2 surgeries, there's no reason to believe you can't do extremely well afterwards, either, unless your doctor specifically tells you otherwise.
You might ask about people who've had Ross procedures done. In that procedure, they put a tissue valve in either the tricuspid or pulmonary position (I forget which, my ignorance), and move the native valve to the Aortic position to replace a bad aortic valve. If that's been done so many times, you should do just fine by replacing just the one valve. Faith, and a little Xanax, will help.

 

[Jkm7]

Very sorry your surgery was not successful but hopefully your doctors are discussing a re-op with you. I had two OHS in four years and in all honesty, my second surgery was very much easier on me than my first. (My first was not a valve surgery.) If you are not happy with what your doctors are saying or not saying and they are not giving you the information you need, is it possible for you to seek medical advice from others? If you are happy with your current doctors, mentally and emotionally it might be good to make an appointment with them so you can get a better grip of their treatment plan for you.

Be proactive...... make it clear you want help and you want it now.
ALL BEST Wishes to you.
Please let us know how you are doing.
Re-Ops are usually very do-able.

 

[heartstream]

Well guys thanks. After so many problems with the diaretics and fluid retention, I spents weeks in hospital. Lost faith a bit. This is so helpful to me. I am such an active man who loved all fast contact sports and physical work. It has come as a shock how much this has changed my life. I am now on wharfarin,Betablockers for AF, Ramapril, and the Diaretics. These slow me down loads even after going back to my clinic for a change in Beta blockers. I have started to find info from people who have had it done or know people in the UK.

My Dr keeps suggesting Mechanical because I am only 43 (I think) Most people say Tissue. I don't fancie Wharfarin for the rest of my life but it may happen anyway if I still have AF. I shall be going back to see my sergeon on the 27th with many questions and may even get a second opinion. Last time so many issues of bad care came up I am concerned as my wife is, that it happens again.

I kind of lost the faith in our NHS system and the hospital I went to is known for being the best in the country.

Now I have heard some of your stories it has helped. Anymore!!!!!

God Bless

Ron