What Valve Type Did You Choose and Would You Do it Again?

[Elgato]

I know that this was sort of covered over in the other Topic with a survey but I would like to know a little more.
Also this Topic seems to get a lot more traffic.

1. Did you choose a Mechanical or Tissue Valve?

2. What Brand and Model?

3. Did you go with what your surgeon recommended?

4. How long have you had it?

5. Would you make the same decision again?

Thank You

 

[OldManEmu]

Hi Elgato

1. Did you choose a Mechanical or Tissue Valve?
My first surgery was only ever going to be a stop gap as my physical condition was to poor to do the required aneurysm repair so a redo was always going to happen some time in the future, I received a tissue valve the first time around. Going on 7 years later once the aneurysm crossed 5cm triggering surgery, I chose a tissue valve again.

2. What Brand and Model?
I left the choice of tissue valve to the surgeon.

3. Did you go with what your surgeon recommended?
The surgeon recommended a mechanical valve the second time around however the cardio recommended a tissue valve and the cardio is the one that has the experience with the long term follow up of patients. My cardio only deals with valve and heart failure patients and run specialised clinics for them, as I like to say she specialises in basket cases those that are forever going to be under her care.

4. How long have you had it?
The first valve I had was for almost 7 years the second I have had for just over 3 years.

5. Would you make the same decision again?
The first time it wasn't really a choice I was always going to require at least one more surgery.
I am happy with my second choice.

 

[Paleowoman]

Hi Elgato,

1. Did you choose a Mechanical or Tissue Valve? I chose a Tissue Valve - I chose this because a) I have very sensitive hearing and I didn't want to chance hearing a mechanical valve, and b) I have several health issues and didn't want to complicate things more with taking warfarin.

2. What Brand and Model? I was given a Edwards Lifescience Perimount Bovine Magna Ease Aortic valve. I didn't get a choice but I asked the surgeon whether she would use porcine or bovine and was very happy when she told me she would use a bovine valve. I didn't find out the make or model until the day after surgery - I'd given the aneasthetist a typed list of questions (surgeon not very communicative but the anaesthetist was) which included the make of the valve, and he gave me my list back all filled in

3. Did you go with what your surgeon recommended? I went with what the surgeon said as I would much prefer the surgeon put in the brand and model that she had experience with. I mean, I have no experience of different makes of valve since I'm not a surgeon

4. How long have you had it? Just coming up to ten weeks.

5. Would you make the same decision again? Yes.

 

[Cooker]

I know that this was sort of covered over in the other Topic with a survey but I would like to know a little more.
Also this Topic seems to get a lot more traffic.

1. Did you choose a Mechanical or Tissue Valve?

2. What Brand and Model?

3. Did you go with what your surgeon recommended?

4. How long have you had it?

5. Would you make the same decision again?

Thank You

1. Mechanical

2. St Jude - 23aj - 501

3.Yes.... surgeon and cardiologist recommendation

4. 8 years

5. Yes ... a thousand times yes

 

[mom2angel]

1. Did you choose a Mechanical or Tissue Valve?
mechanical

2. What Brand and Model?
first one was a Bjork-Shiley
routine replacement of that one was a St. Judes

3. Did you go with what your surgeon recommended?
probably. I was young so it was my parents decision

4. How long have you had it?
had the Bjork-Shiley for 11 years
have had this one for 21 years

5. Would you make the same decision again?
Yes

Thank You

 

[Gail in Ca]

1st- porcine, 1st surgeon decided,( but my next surgeon for 2nd,3rd, would've given me mechanical.)Lasted 11 yrs
2nd-Carbomedic top hat, Dr. Miller's decision, but I was agreeing with him before surgery. Got endocarditis, only lasted 8.5 yrs
3rd-Carbomedic top hat inside hemashield graft, created by surgeon during surgery when St. Judes ready made valve in graft wouldn't be as large as he wanted to place. I also agreed with getting a mechanical, but knew that if it wasn't possible because of severe tissue damage, I would end up with homograph. Have had it 5 yrs, now, expecting it to last my lifetime.
I would've changed the first time to mechanical since I didn't have another baby after all. The rest I wouldn't have changed. I have longevity in my family.

 

[dick0236]

1. Did you choose a Mechanical or Tissue Valve?

2. What Brand and Model?

3. Did you go with what your surgeon recommended?

4. How long have you had it?

5. Would you make the same decision again?

Thank You

1. Mechanical
2. Starr-Edwards "ball-in-cage", model unknown
3. Yes, but at the time, I think it was the only valve in use.
4. 46+ years
5. Yes

 

[Fundy]

1. tissue
2. St Jude Trifecta
3. surgeon was 50/50 on the mechanical vs tissue at my age, my choice was not a pig tissue valve such as the mosaic, he chose the brand/model
4. 2 1/4 years
5. yes

 

[clay_from_nj]

1. Mechanical.
2. ATS (now Medtronic) OpenPivot.
3. Yes.
4. 18 months.
5. Yes.

I see that many people add a reason for their choice. My cardiologist and surgeon both recommended mechanical, with the surgeon specifying the particular make and model. I agreed, mainly because I came to this point through heart failure and did not, under any circumstances, want to go back there.

 

[Owenall]

1. Did you choose a Mechanical or Tissue Valve?
Mechanical

2. What Brand and Model?
Sorin Bicarbon Fitline

3. Did you go with what your surgeon recommended?
Yes

4. How long have you had it?
Nearly 11 months

5. Would you make the same decision again?
Yes, without doubt.

Phil

 

[big_L]

1. Did you choose a Mechanical or Tissue Valve?
Mechanical

2. What Brand and Model?
St. Jude

3. Did you go with what your surgeon recommended?
Yes

4. How long have you had it?
7 months

5. Would you make the same decision again?
Yes.

 

[neil]

on a side note isnt it pleasing that everybody has commented that they are pleased with the choice of valve, think that says a lot about being no bad choices

 

[Paleowoman]

on a side note isnt it pleasing that everybody has commented that they are pleased with the choice of valve, think that says a lot about being no bad choices

Now if we could see ourselves in a parallel universe where we have chosen a different valve, odds are that like in this universe we would all be pleased with our choice of valve…which means any valve would be a good choice as our original valves were, unfortunatley, not good.

But would any of us do things differently if we had known what we know having gone through AVR ? I may start a thread on that theme because I know I would have done some things differently, though not my choice of valve which would stay the same

 

[ElectLive]

I would do it again. My valve is a-ok so far. I would do it again. Had my valve failed me yesterday, a year ago, 2 years ago, etc....well, I would still (in the moment and at the time) do it again. :wink2:

There are no guarantees, so we all make our own best decision with the available information at hand. So, as a very wise member here once said: once we see our pitch, we should all swing for a home run... :thumbup:

 

[DavesMom]

HiYa,

I've had a Carbomedics mechanical valve for 15 years. I refer to it as my "Wal Mart generic" valve since I'd only heard of the St. Judes brand prior to my surgery. : ) Chose it for the potential longevity on the advice of my surgeon.

No problem at all so far but a couple of years back my echo showed something that could've been either vegetation or a clot. However, a TEE showed nothing, so it was probably the way the technician did the echo.

Yes, I'd chose the same thing again.

Good luck!

 

[Heart Of The Sunrise]

1. Did you choose a Mechanical or Tissue Valve?
Mechanical

2. What Brand and Model?
ON-X

3. Did you go with what your surgeon recommended?
No, He simply asked me-"Tissue or Mechanical?" I told him the ON-X with the attached aortic graft.

4. How long have you had it?
1 YEAR

5. Would you make the same decision again?
Yes.

 

[Superbob]

Tissue (at age 63)

Medtronic Freestyle Aortic Root Heart Valve

Surgeon left it up to me to choose

9 years

Yes, I would choose it again

 

[Elgato]

Tissue (at age 63)

Medtronic Freestyle Aortic Root Heart Valve

Surgeon left it up to me to choose

9 years

Yes, I would choose it again

My surgeon recommended this one yesterday IF I need the root replacement.
He estimated that the root replacement version should last 20 years. Not sure why such a difference
between the root and non root.
Were you aware that you needed root replacement before surgery?
Thanks

 

[Elgato]

1. Did you choose a Mechanical or Tissue Valve?
Mechanical

2. What Brand and Model?
ON-X

3. Did you go with what your surgeon recommended?
No, He simply asked me-"Tissue or Mechanical?" I told him the ON-X with the attached aortic graft.

4. How long have you had it?
1 YEAR

5. Would you make the same decision again?
Yes.

Take a look at these stats for this valve. Based on this it does look superior.
http://www.onxlti.com/low-anticoagulation-study/clinical-results/

 

[Superbob]

My surgeon recommended this one yesterday IF I need the root replacement.
He estimated that the root replacement version should last 20 years. Not sure why such a difference
between the root and non root.
Were you aware that you needed root replacement before surgery?
Thanks

Sure was. That's why I chose the combined valve/root device. It was still a fairly new advance at the time, but it made sense to me. My surgeon and his staff thought I made a good choice for my particular condition.