Update on Colorado Mom!

[soccermom44]

Hi everyone...much news to tell. I just returned home from Colo.

Just after I arrived in Denver to be with my parents, the next day in fact, my mom's surgeon, ( Dr. Miller @ St. Josephs) called. It was 2 days before her surgery. He said that her pre-op catscan revealed too much calcification in her aorta. The risk of it breaking off during surgery, and causing a stroke was too great...so he cancelled the surgery and deemed her "inoperable." The only hope she would have now is a "laproscopic" procedure to repair the valves, which doesn't involve clamping the aorta. It would also solve her skin healing issue. The only thing is that it's not being done in the U.S. yet. Only in Europe.

Anyone ever heard of that? Needless to say we were all devastated. They could have done that test 6 months ago, and saved her the months and months of stress. But I guess a catscan is only done if necessary. before surgery.

She will have an angioplasty done in a couple of weeks, to have a stent put in that one artery. That's all they can do until that new procedure is more than experimental.

Just thought I'd tell you the outcome. Let me know if anyone's ever heard of Laproscopic valve replacement yet. Thanks.

 

[Karlynn]

I'm so sorry to hear that your Mom's news wasn't good and it sounds like you're all in for even more waiting around.

Have you done any web searching on the procedure? You might just turn up information that opens more options for you.

Karlynn

 

[bvdr]

I'm so sorry you had such disappointing news. If you are not fully convinced that it is inoperable, you might consider a consult at Cleveland Clinic. The information about consults is available on their web site.

In the meantime, I hope the angioplasty improves things for your mom. Thanks for updating us. I have thought about your family many times since I knew you were in a hard place.

My heart and prayers go out to your family.

 

[Ross]

Your out of options now. I highly advise a consult at Cleveland Clinic or Mayo. These will be where hope is still offered.

Ask for a consult with Dr. Patrick McCarthy at CCF. If he can't do this, no one can.

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/staff/getstaff.asp?StaffId=920

specialty interests: heart transplantation, ventricular assist devices, modified dor surgical procedure, maze procedure, arrhythmia surgery, surgery of the ascending aorta, high risk surgery , coronary artery bypass surgery

 

[fdegranville]

Update

Update

Hi Soccermom,

I agree with Ross and Betty. If you possibly can consult with the Cleveland Clinic do so. It may be for this particular surgeon has never had to deal with this issue and doesn' t know how to do it safely and rather than admit that, he says it can't be done. The CC deals with the valve cases that smaller centers just don't see. Did he advise you to get another opinion. I think you can call them and discuss the case. They may ask you to forward the tests she's had done and they may be able to make a determination without having to see her. But they may also want to do their own tests.

Best of luck and keep posting to let us know what's happening
fdeg

 

[medtronic of borg]

Second opinion time

Second opinion time

I agree with Ross...Mayo. Or The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Who swop pt's back and forth with Mayo/st.marys all the time.

Med
Try Dr. Weintraub at 319-353-7807 !!!

 

[Heather Fisher]

I'm so sorry too. I also agree with the others and would go with a second opinion. I can't believe something like that is available in Europe but not the U.S. Thanks for the update. Let us know what happens. You will be in my prayers!

Heather

 

[Karlynn]

Reading the suggestions to consult Cleveland and/or Mayo reminded me that my Dad was told (during an emergency issue while on vacation) by doctors at a large university hospital that his bypass could not be repaired . He was having flash pulmonary edemas because of the bad bypass (his lungs filled with fluid in a matter of a few minutes). We were pretty upset thinking nothing could be done. He went back home to his local hospital and his local cardiac surgeon who took a look and said "I think I can do it." My Dad had the surgery and it was successful.

Makes me think of Nancy's motto: Never give in and never give up.

Karlynn

 

[Nancy]

I'm very sorry to hear of your mom's complication. I hope you will still continue to look for help for her. Cleveland Clinic is a good start, the Texas Heart Institute also.

The Texas Heart Institute says that they have a robot for minimally invasive surgery.

Here's the link, go towards the bottom of the page:

http://www.tmc.edu/thi/vsurg.html

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey Soccermom,
I am sorry to about your mom's condition and I hope you can get things worked out for her.

I left you a PM, maybe they can help you out. Please keep us posted.

You, your mom and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Take Care

Dave
__________________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical

 

[hensylee]

Not good news, is it. The others have made good suggestions. I pray that someone can help her out. Mothers are so special.......

 

[MelissaM]

I agree with the others - don't give up yet! If my memory serves me correctly, you have had some consults with the Mayo clinic already. But keep going. The Cleveland Clinic DOES have some wonderful surgeons who can do what amounts to laproscopic surgery (I learned post-op that my minimally invasive surgery essesentially amounts to laproscopic surgery).

Plus, the others are right, the Da Vinci system is out there - a new robotic system for heart surgery. The last I researched, this system had been FDA approved for mitral valves and coronary arteries, but trials are under way for other heart surgeries. I believe a surgeon at a North Carolina University and Columbia University in NY are leading the way in this reasearch. . . the Da Vinci site or reps should be able to tell you more. http://www.columbiasurgery.org/divisions/cardiac/robot_davinci.html)

Good luck and keep us posted!

Melissa

 

[Christina L]

Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic

Take heart! There ARE places in this country that could do this surgery and I believe Cleveland is one of those places. While I was there for my surgery just four weeks ago, we met a man from Iowa whom the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics had turned away, telling him his arteries could not be cleaned out as he had a heart attack 17 years ago and had a quintuple bypass at that time - that his arteries were a mess, that nothing could be done.

So, he went to Cleveland! This man was in his late 60s I believe. We saw him on the unit as he was ready to go home to Iowa and the surgery was a success and he was doing great!

Go to Cleveland if you can. There is help and hope.

Christina L.
Colorado

 

[medtronic of borg]

food for thought

food for thought

In defence of My hospital (UOI) it is the single largest teaching hospital in the nation with some 2900 beds 5000 direct care staff. The last stats i saw re; # of pts per year was 300,000. Plus it is a lot closer to her. Oh yea...The dept of cardiology was set up and developed by two of my former Drs. My surgion at that time was the number two cardiothorasic surgion in the world. I would not trade them for anything!!!! I have had all 17 of my surgeries done there, but one.

Med

 

[Nancy]

Hi Med-

I was wondering what UOI stood for, I know it's the hospital but what is the name.

Thanks.

 

[Ross]

University of Iowa?

 

[medtronic of borg]

Hospital

Hospital

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Those numbers are to the best of my recolection.
Med

 

[soccermom44]

Thank you for all your suggestions and prayers. I, to, think my mom should go to the Cleveland Clinic..or at least have a consultation. She did have one at the Mayo in this process, but that was useless.

Right now she just wants to forget about it for awhile, and enjoy the holidays. Then we'll see.

I'm sure futher updates are coming...until then...Merry Christmas!