Triple Valve Replace/Repair 83 year old Mom

[LinH]

My Mother had her Aortic valve replaced 4 years ago, at age 79, minimally invasive surgery. Pig valve. She came through it like a champ! Now, almost 4 years later, at age 83, she is in ICU, as we speak, 2 days post op, with the more invasive sternum surgery this time. It was very devastating to hear that was the route the doctors recommended but they said that it would be the best long term outcome vs Transcatheter approach (that we hoped for) because they considered Transcatheter a therapeutic treatment and the open heart the best overall fix.

Backing up a month ago she was having shortness of breath for the most simplest of tasks. Her routine heart echo gram showed her aortic valve was failing and her mitral valve leak was holding steady from previous check ups. We were surprised to hear that since the pig valve was suppose to last at least 10 years. Her heart doctor ordered a TEE to get a better picture of what was going on with her heart and why the valve was failing. She had a TEE that revealed not only had her pig valve deteriorated (no calcium or vegetation) but the doctor was very super surprised her Mitral valve was much worse than the echo gram showed. From that day forward, her symptoms worsened. She couldn’t sleep at night because she couldn’t breath; wheezing; her stomach began to hurt badly and her feet and ankles began to swell. We took her to hospital and they immediately began to treat her for congestive hear failure with intravenous diuretics and she lost 25 pounds of water. (The stomach pain was from the water build up around her gall bladder and they thought she had a gallbladder infection that would prevent her from heart surgery until that was resolved. Thank God they ruled that out.) At that time, we were also told that additional tests from the hospital showed the Tricuspid valve was also effected. So it went from 2 valves to 3 valves! She stayed in hospital (not return home) until her surgery. It has been hard on family during Covid time because they wouldn’t allow visitors! My mom has 7 children, 16 grandkids, 5 great grandkids! My sister has been a nurse for 30 years, and NO ONE allowed to see her. It’s really horrific to not be with her!

2 1/2 days ago she had her surgery. They replaced her Aortic and Mitral valve and repaired her Tricuspid. This time they used bovine (cow) valves. (Heart Surgeon said that when they did pig valve in 2016, it didn’t turn out to be what the manufacture claimed and discovered that that particular valve was only lasting 5 years.) Surgeon said her sternum was not very dense due to her age and soft bone density but he was able to use two plates to close her up and had to use wire as well to secure. The plates will help her heal quicker and less pain after surgery because it secures the sternum shut vs just using wire. After surgery, the doctor said she had a 10% chance she would bleed out due to all the blood thinner they had to give her because of the lengthy surgery. He said he would return to the hospital immediately should he get the call. Thanks to God that didn’t happen.

She is in ICU now doing as fine as she can be. She was having a hard time Yesterday blowing into the tube to get her lungs strong and they discovered water build up in her lungs (or in lung cavity) which the heart surgeon had to do a procedure and drained both lungs. Sorry I can’t remember what it’s called but it is a common complication and they want to prevent pneumonia. Her heart surgeon is also a lung surgeon/specialist which is a blessing that he can treat both.

My mom knew going into this surgery that she was going to have to fight afterwords. She has been through this before but not as invasive and went into this with a positive mental and spiritual belief. She is NOT a frail 83 year old by any means going into surgery. They have her up walking 3 times a day. The nurse said that when they wake her up to walk she says “let’s do it.” Due to her lengthy surgery the anesthesia is still in her and she sleeps a lot but becoming more alert. We pray she gets past ICU today.

No one is allowed to visit but my sister stays in communication with the nurses and we did a zoom call once with my mom. I have to add that this big Catholic Italian family of hers prayed a perpetual Rosary the entire time during surgery and into the night. Prayers are powerful and we continue to pray for her progression without complications and healing. God Bless all of you going through this and hope you find comfort in a higher power bigger than you or the doctors. God is the only thing holding her and the family together.

 

[dick0236]

Your mom has gone thru a series of procedures that would be difficult for a young person.....let alone someone 83 years old. I hope all goes well.

 

[LinH]

Your mom has gone thru a series of procedures that would be difficult for a young person.....let alone someone 83 years old. I hope all goes well.

Thank you! I can’t find a whole lot of forums for elderly people. I suppose they don’t post much let alone use internet. When I read most post with younger people, under 70, who unfortunately are going through this, there is no commonality to compare my Mom’s age with their age. Hopefully this post encourages the young and middle age that they have age on their side! Although these surgeries are serious, doctors have come a long way! I also hope posting about my mom encourages more people to post about their elderly parent. We all learn and pull from others personal experiences no matter what age.

 

[Paleowoman]

Your mother sounds a remarkable woman, she's an inspiration. Wishing her all the very best. Please keep us posted.

 

[ATHENS1964]

I wish your mother to live many more years and to see other great-grandchildren.

 

[LinH]

Thank you! When the nurse told us that my mom says, “let’s do it,” for her walks, our hearts were filled with joy. That’s our Mamma! She is an inspiration to all of us. I pray that those who go through this can find encouragement in her words. Let’s do it!

 

[pellicle]

My Mother had her Aortic valve replaced 4 years ago, at age 79, minimally invasive ...

I hope everything goes well, some of those bumps along the way (fluid) just come with the territory, they're usually pretty well experienced with methods to work on that.

I'm sure that the Dr's did due dilligence on determining the best method for surgery, myself I'm still unsure that trans catheter suits all situations.

As to elderly and posting, yes I think that they aren't from that generation. Facebook has some active groups I hear, but personally I'd avoid FarceBook.

Best Wishes

 

[Seaton]

Sending the best of best wishes to your mother in her recovery and beyond.
Inspiring to hear how she’s dealt with the difficulties of her situation. Thank you for posting!

 

[MdaPA]

water build up in her lungs (or in lung cavity) which the heart surgeon had to do a procedure and drained both lungs. Sorry I can’t remember what it’s called but it is a common complication and they want to prevent pneumonia.

LinH, sounds like she had pleural effusion. My wife also had this after one of her OHS and they did a procedure called thoracentesis to drain the fluid.

I have to add that this big Catholic Italian family of hers prayed a perpetual Rosary the entire time during surgery and into the night. Prayers are powerful and we continue to pray for her progression without complications and healing.

Also many prayers to St. Anthony of Padua along with the Rosary have gotten my wife safely through and all healed-up after 3 OHS. My wife said she will add prayers for your mother's speedy recovery in her next Rosary (scheduled tonight in our after dinner walk).

 

[sylviayasgur]

sounds like your mom is on her way to a great recovery. wishing her continued strength and hoping all goes smoothly from here on in. please keep us posted!

 

[LinH]

MdsPA: yes, thank you for clarifying the name of the fluid complication, pleural effusion. And it was thoracentisis that they had done to her lungs. Yesterday they removed tubes from her chest so I hope that means, the procedure helped.

And wow! Your wife had 3 OHS! That’s amazing. Please tell her I am grateful for her to offer up the Rosary for my mom. My mom name is Agata. Such a powerful prayer. I am having delivered to my moms room a framed picture of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Sacred Heart of Jesus. The nurse said that images and family photos in the room really encourages patients. I’ll have to add intercession of Saint Anthony to our prayers.

Update on my mom: We Facetimed with her last night. Still in ICU. 72 hours after surgery. She seemed more alert but a bit confused. A bit agitated. And by no means, not her normal smiley, cheery self. I know this can be normal for elderly but I also read that nurses have to watch out for delirium which effects cognitive ability and impairs the healing process. The nurse thinks she will be moved to the heart ward room today. I think they called it Telly. My mom had asked last night and again this morning she wanted to go to her room. She is aware enough to know that she doesn’t like where she is at and wants a room with her own bathroom. Lol.

The family can already tell the difference in her recovery from her minimum invasive surgery from 4 years ago, to this sternum open heart. She isn’t bouncing back as quickly physically, cognitively and we will continue to pray at her age she continues to heal. Nurse said she walked only two steps last night and was exhausted. The day before we were told she was doing well with her walking, even further than the walk before. We were happy to hear that and taken by surprise that the last night nurse said she only walked two step. I know the nurses change shifts but we will need to ask how many steps she is walking vs distance so we understand what “walking” means to each nurse. Wish we could be there ourselves to witness everything for my mom. The family feels helpless that at least one family member can’t be with her. She has a strong Italian accent and hard to understand normally let alone post surgery confusion. The nurses said she doesn’t understand how to ‘suck in’ with those breathing tubes and if a family member was with her, we could help with translation. We did all we can to try to get a family member in the hospital last week due to language barrier but got shot down at each attempt. I can’t tell you how horrible that is knowing my moms thick Italian effects communication that is so crucial when it comes to recovery. We might attempt another go with administration now that she is in this condition. Thank you for all the well wishes.

 

[tom in MO]

Good luck with your mom, she sounds like a fighter.

You might want to push back about the visitor restrictions. My son-in-law has leukemia and due to chemo is severely immune compromised. We can still visit but the restrictions are 1 person at a time, must be masked, must be over 6 feet away, and don't stay too long. These rules apply to in-patient and at his home.

He wasn't allowed visitors at the beginning of covid, but the hospitals in Kansas City stopped that across the board restriction in early June. When he goes in for bone marrow transplant, then he won't be allowed any visitors, but that's not due to covid alone, it's due to not having a functioning immune system due to the marrow transplant.

 

[LinH]

Good luck with your mom, she sounds like a fighter.

You might want to push back about the visitor restrictions. My son-in-law has leukemia and due to chemo is severely immune compromised. We can still visit but the restrictions are 1 person at a time, must be masked, must be over 6 feet away, and don't stay too long. These rules apply to in-patient and at his home.

He wasn't allowed visitors at the beginning of covid, but the hospitals in Kansas City stopped that across the board restriction in early June. When he goes in for bone marrow transplant, then he won't be allowed any visitors, but that's not due to covid alone, it's due to not having a functioning immune system due to the marrow transplant.

Sorry to hear about your son in law’s condition. I know visitation is sensitive due to the virus for any patient in a hospital. We were hoping one of us, who is the least exposed and not going out, could get in to be with her. This is a tough operation and recover even more tougher. And now more than ever, our encouragement could help her tremendously to push through it. We figured the risk probability is similar to the nurses, doctors and staff who all have to go home to their families and are just as exposed as a visitor coming to see a loved one. I understand it’s the minimizing that’s important but three of us sisters are quarantining in my moms house until she gets home, so we can care for her. Mamma raised us well and that’s what Italians do in close family relationships. Praying that us three adult sisters behave for her. Lol! We think quarantining ourselves a week to 10 days before she gets home is very important. The thought of risking anything in her condition is not worth the peace if mind we will have for doing all we can to minimize the risk.
Just spoke with my mom and she sounds much more alert than she was yesterday. A tad bit irritable but also some humor. We think her lack of communication could have been due to her low hearing aid batteries that have not been changed out for a week. So we got her new batteries sent to her room. Blessings!

 

[ForeverThankful]

Your Mom sounds like a very strong woman. She's very lucky to have such a loving family and you are very lucky to have her!

Best wishes to her for a speedy recovery.

 

[MdaPA]

Yesterday they removed tubes from her chest so I hope that means, the procedure helped.

Yes, it's always a good sign when things get removed (e.g. chest tubes, pace maker wires, Foley cath, etc)!

She seemed more alert but a bit confused. A bit agitated. And by no means, not her normal smiley, cheery self. I know this can be normal for elderly but I also read that nurses have to watch out for delirium which effects cognitive ability and impairs the healing process.

Coming off (and going on) meds like pain killers given during/after surgery can certainly impact the mind, cause confusion, impact emotions, etc.

 

[MdaPA]

Nurse said she walked only two steps last night and was exhausted. The day before we were told she was doing well with her walking, even further than the walk before. We were happy to hear that and taken by surprise that the last night nurse said she only walked two step. I know the nurses change shifts but we will need to ask how many steps she is walking vs distance so we understand what “walking” means to each nurse. Wish we could be there ourselves to witness everything for my mom.

Getting up and walking is is so important and is her ticket out of there. As nurses are busy, changing shifts, etc. they can't possibly give the patient the full attention and push as a family member would be able to do. I can't imagine how hard this must be for you and your family to not be there during this time to aid in her recovery, talk with the doctors, etc. As Tom mentioned, pressure the visitor restrictions so you can help her with her recovery.

There will be good days and there will be bad days in the recovery process so don't let that get her (and you!) down.

We think her lack of communication could have been due to her low hearing aid batteries that have not been changed out for a week.

Thought you said she was Italian? If so, she would have communicated with her hands like us paisans do!

 

[LinH]

Getting up and walking is is so important and is her ticket out of there. As nurses are busy, changing shifts, etc. they can't possibly give the patient the full attention and push as a family member would be able to do. I can't imagine how hard this must be for you and your family to not be there during this time to aid in her recovery, talk with the doctors, etc. As Tom mentioned, pressure the visitor restrictions so you can help her with her recovery.

There will be good days and there will be bad days in the recovery process so don't let that get her (and you!) down.


Thought you said she was Italian? If so, she would have communicated with her hands like us paisans do!

That is true! Hard to communicate without using the hands!

We had a good FaceTime call with Mom yesterday afternoon once she moved to her room. She was communication much better and the mom that we knew was back. Still a little off but progressing. She said to call her back because she was eating which is also great that she was eating on her own. We were ecstatic! We called her back an hour later as promised but this time she said she was too tired and was more serious. Last night in the middle of the night she. All ed my sister. She was anxious and hysterical from a nightmare. It took the nurse and my sister 45 minutes to calm her down and a few helpers to walk her to bathroom. She got meds to put her to sleep and pushed breakfast to 9:30 am so she could get as much sleep as possible. Doctors say this is normal and she might be like this for a few more days. Praying she gets past this phase as she is becoming more and more alert. Oddly enough she doesn’t complain of pain.