Valve replacement/ What to look forward to?

[Hot Rod Harry]

As I aproach my 1 year post op date (June 22), I still have a leak in my mitral valve, still having chest pain, and tired @ times. It looks like I'm going to end up getting the artificial valve in a year of so.

After surgery, my DR said it was worse than he thought, but repaired it. I wish he would have replaced it. Anyway. What do I have to look forward to?

I would most likely go to Cleveland. Anyone there better than the others? Am I going to have choices for the replacement? Will I feel better right away after surgery? I will be on Cumadin the rest of my life, right? Can this be done with minimal invasion surgery?

BTW, I am 41 years old, car hauler/ truck driver. Thanks.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Yes, you will need to be on Coumadin for the rest of your life with a mechanical valve, but the valve itself should last way longer than you will ever need.

I will need a Mitral Valve sometime in the not too distant future and have asked my surgeon to implant one of the newer On-X valves which has better fluid dynamics, less potential for clot formation, and is less likely to damage the blood cells than any of the other mechanical valves on the market. My Second Choice is a Standard St. Jude mechanical valve. To the best of my knowledge only ONE of our members was able to persuade his surgeon to use an On-X valve at Cleveland Clinic (Dr. Pettersen I think). Another had asked Dr. Lytle to use an On-X but the surgeon backed out just before surgery.

Since you are in Michigan, you might want to look at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak which claims to do even more OHS than Cleveland Clinic (according to one of our members). Beaumont is highly rated (even above U of M) so check it out.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Karlynn]

How disappointing for you Harry. You would wonder why the dr. just didn't replace it if it was that hard to repair.

Take a look at the article that Mike C just posted "St. Jude on top of the world." You might not want to climb Everest with a mechanical valve, but this article shows that you could if you wanted to.

I don't know about feeling better "right away" - you know what the immediate post surgery period is like. But I would think that after you have some recovery under your belt that you would.

 

[RCB]

You need the best for resurgery....

You need the best for resurgery....

....and a chance to fix your repair.
There is nobody better than Cosgrove at CC. Send your records and they will
give you an opinion.

For valve replacement, I'm sure they can handle that resurgery most anywhere.

If you have a high risk surgery, there is nobody better than Dr. Pettersson at CC or Dr. P. McCarthy at NW in Chicago. They have pulled a lot of bad hearts back to life, a few of them are members here.

Good luck Hot Rod-

 

[Kate]

Hi Harry,
I went to the Cleveland Clinic for my aortic valve replacement and was very happy with the care I received. If you have to have your valve replaced, they will likely give you the option to choose between a biological and a mechanical valve. With a mechanical valve, you would need to be on Coumadin for the rest of your life but, as many people on this site have shown, it is often very well tolerated, especially in someone your age. Unfortunately, biological valves don't last as long in younger people like yourself and are even less durable in the mitral valve position than in the aortic - choosing this route would mean at least two resurgeries to achieve a normal lifespan. As you've already had one surgery, mechanical is probably the best option in your situation, but the choice is yours and worth thinking about (if only so that you can feel that you've played an active role in your surgery, which I think really helps when dealing with the psychological aspects of the whole experience).

This surgery can be done with the minimal invasive technique and that's what I had. My scar is pretty small (less than 4 inches) but I spent the same amount of time in the hospital and recovering as everyone else, so it's important to be realistic about how much benefit this technique provides. As my Dr. told me, it's mostly cosmetic.

I'm very sorry you're looking at another surgery, but I have high hopes that it will ultimately improve your quality of life in the future. Best, Kate

 

[OrlandoTommy]

Harry...

Check out www.factsurgery.com
Dr. C is incredible....

My OHS scar is about, maybe a inch long? That was after my Valve Replacment...

Choose your surgeon very wisely, Dr. C is in Tampa but one of the best of the best for valve replacement, between him and his partner they do about 300 a year at Tampa General and specialize in minimaly invasive surgery..

Tommy

PS: I posted a photo of my scar in the TOWDY shirts section of this site...

 

[Cooker]

Harry,

Sorry to hear that this is going on. I have no problems with my mechanical valve and coumadin is a piece of cake as far as I am concerned.

Best of luck to you. If I had to lets say have one of my other valves worked on and thay said they could repair it I would say no flipping way!! Replace it!! I have heard too many stories of repairs having problems.

Hang in there.

Tom

 

[starfish11040]

To the best of my knowledge only ONE of our members was able to persuade his surgeon to use an On-X valve at Cleveland Clinic (Dr. Pettersen I think). Another had asked Dr. Lytle to use an On-X but the surgeon backed out just before surgery.

'AL Capshaw'

AL,
From what I've read, On-x is the superior valve for the reasons that you stated. There is also a future possibility that it may be determined that on-x requires less or no coumidin. In light of this why do you think these surgeons are refusing to use it? Is it that they don't feel comfortable due to lack of experience with it? Keep going with St. Judes because it works? I would think a top-notch surgeon would want the best.

 

[MyBloodRunnethOrange]

Actually... there are at least two of us now

Actually... there are at least two of us now

I will need a Mitral Valve sometime in the not too distant future and have asked my surgeon to implant one of the newer On-X valves which has better fluid dynamics, less potential for clot formation, and is less likely to damage the blood cells than any of the other mechanical valves on the market. My Second Choice is a Standard St. Jude mechanical valve. To the best of my knowledge only ONE of our members was able to persuade his surgeon to use an On-X valve at Cleveland Clinic (Dr. Pettersen I think). Another had asked Dr. Lytle to use an On-X but the surgeon backed out just before surgery.

'AL Capshaw'

Actually Al, I believe I am the SECOND member that was able to persuade my surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic to use the On-X. Dr. Lars Svensson implanted an On-X in the aortic position and replaced my ascending aorta on May 3, 2007. I was the first patient of his to have the On-x. It took ALOT of work on my part and alot of help from Ms. Catheran Burnett to convince him to use it. In fact, it was a total surprise when I woke up from surgery that he had installed it. He attempted to repair my valve first, but it was in too poor a condition to do so. Anyway, hope you get the valve you want, and remember to stand up for yourself and ask the tough questions. Best of luck!

Chris

 

[RCB]

AL,
From what I've read, On-x is the superior valve for the reasons that you stated. There is also a future possibility that it may be determined that on-x requires less or no coumidin. In light of this why do you think these surgeons are refusing to use it? Is it that they don't feel comfortable due to lack of experience with it? Keep going with St. Judes because it works? I would think a top-notch surgeon would want the best.

Star,
It is very difficult to define "best". ON-X might be the best valve right now, but the data won't be available for at least 5 to 10, even 20 years depending on how much proof you desire. Different valves require different tools to properly seat the valve. It is not like changing a light bulb. It is a matter of "comfort zone" for the surgeons and the hospital. Most hospital have contracts which state price breaks at levels of volume- CC gets a discount that smaller volume hospital don't. CC preferred valve is Carbomedics, but they do others. All the valves CC (and other hospitals as well) implants are all great valves and as of yet have no real proven superiority over one or another.

MyBlood,
When I had my surgery '04 (at CC), I asked about an ON-X valve and they all looked at me like from outer space. I showed them the studies, but they weren't even prepared to talk about. Then one of our members, Randy had a failed repair and we started to talk about him going to CC and getting an ON-X. He was the first and is doing just great. Now you have your ON-X. It is my personal believe that Vr.com has a real impact on members who come here and even on big institutions like CC. Long live VR.com!

 

[John & Joann]

We highly recommend Dr. Petterssen and Carbomedic Valves. (Cleveland Clinic) You will not go wrong with any cardiovascular surgeon at Cleveland Clinic.

We have been going to the Clinic since 1971 with GREAT RESULTS.