Valve Type of second surgery

[momshell7]

Ok I guess I will step in to offer my two cents worth on tissue valves, just to stir things up and keep it lively around here

My husband had his valve replaced in October of last year and he chose a porcine tissue valve. This was also the valve that his cardiologist and surgeon recommended for him. My husband is 38 so he is older than you but still quite young. His surgeon is higly reguarded and travels to Europe at least once a month to instruct other surgeons. Anyhow, the surgeon and the cardio told us that this valve is the most advanced tissue valve available. The research on it is not able to give a lifespan range yet,as no one that has one has had to have it replaced yet. They are so far going on 10-15 years and still going.

This surgery was my husbands second surgery. He had his first one when he was 16. They went in and repaired the valve then. He is very happy with his choice, even though he knows he will be facing another surgery later on down the road. His recovery from this surgery was easier on him than his first one. I guess that says something for his surgeon.

Well, those are just my thoughts. The valve you chose is totally up to you. YOU have to be the one to make the final decision. It's your life you are impacting.

Good Luck!

Michelle

 

[parker04]

just another thought!

just another thought!

Well when I was up for my third surgery, I was scared to death too. It all depends on you age and and if you have any underlying problems. But when i got the report back from cleveland Clinic stating that it was a less then 2%. It put my mind at ease. I was 25 at the time.

 

[Tom F.]

Depending on what went wrong with your Ross you may want to seek out the one or two docs. that have a record of fixing failing Ross procedures. Dr. Jeevanandam at University of Chicago has a record of success in that type of thing.

 

[JCDavis81]

fixing the ross

fixing the ross

Tom -

Yeah that's what I thought too. Apparently, its pretty rare for a surgeon to have tons of experience fixing the ross (from what I've heard) Both Jaggers and Cameron, I believe, are near the top in this type of surgery and neither has done more than ten.

All of this talk of mech valves may be just that...jaggers is pretty confident that he'll be able to fix the valve. He puts the odds of fixing the valve at 75 percent.

 

[dmoses1]

scary

scary

My first post here (about 1 month ago), was to ask how to reverse or stop aortic regurgitation.

Ross got right to the point and said there's no way to fix it--except surgery.

That took me a while to swallow (but I thought to myself, "Well, it's mild.")

Since that time, I've read posts from persons who have gone from "mild" to "moderate-severe," and are staring down the barrel of the surgery gun.

Okay . . . it was a bitter pill to swallow, but I've managed to digest it.

Now, I realize that one surgery might not be enough; but, subsequent surgeries could be required (and more often and frequently, depending on valve type).

I'm not okay with this, yet. I don't want to be okay with it. I'm gonna join some of the other members in the place they call "de-nile."

I think I'll be happier there.

 

[jkn2kids]

JC-That's what I like about Cameron.He will steer you the right way.I think Jaggers will work well for you!!!Duke is an excellent hospital.

 

[JCDavis81]

Rachel

Rachel

Thanks for your post -- all those thoughts have been going through my mind recently. God, and I'm so sorry to hear that your tissue valve lasted only a year. That must have been terrifying.

You know, I've lived with this condition for 24 years now and the threat of another surgery has been hanging over my head for at least 8. Now the issue becomes whether I'd rather live with the same threat of another surgery hanging over my head indefintely, or go mechanical and live with the worry of being on coumadin for the rest of my life. I'm leaning toward thinking the latter is the better option.

I do wish they'd hurry up with that stem cell research though and begin growing replacement valves!

Best,
Joe

 

[ddarsch]

You probably have enough responses, but

You probably have enough responses, but

I had my first surgery in 1991 (34 years old), and then my second in 2003 (46 years old). In both cases I chose to have a porcine valve. We all know the risks of surgery, and the risks of a non-positive outcome, but I can tell you with 100% certainty, the recover from the second procedure was magnitudes less painful and stressful than the first. So, whatever choice that you make, I suspect (and hope) that your recovery is as much improved as mine.

Best of luck with the decision and the procedure

 

[gijanet]

Just my two cents.............

Just my two cents.............

but I think I would lean toward the mechanical, too. Katie has had five heart surgeries and is alive to brag about it, but let me tell you. This last recovery was very rough with lots of complications from arrythmia problems - heart jetting over 200 for hours on end - to blood pressure escalating, then plummeting. Katie, like Rachel, also developed HIT and can never have heparin again, further complicating any future surgeries. We were in the hospital almost a month this time.

Tissue was not an option for us due to quick calcification in children. This "should" not pose a problem at your age, but the complications associated with numerous open-heart surgeries will eventually take its toll. While a mechanical valve will not guarantee that there are no more surgeries in your future, it will certainly help reduce those odds. My only true regret with a mechanical is, of course, the coumadin. Just like you, Katie has always been on meds - 18 doses a day for the first year, so this is just one more (now down to six). It's just that she is so rambunctious, and you can't reason with a four year old. She stays bruised from head to foot. I counted seven after her bath tonight.............but it doesn't slow her down any. It's aging me by the minute, but not her.

Best wishes and please keep us posted. Many hugs. Janet