Who are good candidates for Minimally Invasive ????

[dj/utvolsfan]

Just wondering out loud. I received a packet from Cleveland yesterday and read a little in the information section about minimally invasive procedures. Can anyone share their knowledge as to who would be a good candidate? I am having repairs and a snipping of a membrane, so I am waving my hand frantically, 'take me, take me!!' for the mi. Bottom line though - just fix me. I'll gladly take whatever is given me at this point.
Debbi

 

[ArleneT]

Debbi,

I'm not sure how they determine who would be a good candidate for the minimally invasive technique. Hopefully, someone else will be along shortly that can answer that for you.

I did want to pass this along to you though. When I talked to Dr. Cosgrove's assistant after he had evaluated the files that my cardiologist sent him, I was told that he estimated a 95% chance of a repair instead of a replacement. They also indicated it would likely be done using the minimally invasive procedure. This was before surgery was even scheduled. I would suggest that you call your contact person at CC and ask them if there are any notes in your file about these things.

Good luck,
Arlene

 

[Phyllis]

My understanding is that if you don't need bypass, you are a candidate for minimally invasive.

 

[wags23]

Could someone briefly explain the minimally invasive valve replacement ?

Thanks

 

[Phyllis]

The type Dick had was a 4" cut of the sternum. As the cardiologist said, it is kind of like getting hit my a mack truck instead of a 16 wheeler. If you have a high speed connection, there is a good video of Dr. Cohn performing the operation at:http://www.or-live.com/BrighamandWomens/1127/

 

[Philip]

Search CTS Net, The Cardiothoracic Surgery Network for "Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Surgery." I have found CTS to be a good source and if my memory is correct I found a very good description there. Note: Whoever came up with the "minimally invasive" term for this procedure needs psychiatric help.
Philip

 

[paulk]

Just wondering out loud. I received a packet from Cleveland yesterday and read a little in the information section about minimally invasive procedures. Can anyone share their knowledge as to who would be a good candidate? I am having repairs and a snipping of a membrane, so I am waving my hand frantically, 'take me, take me!!' for the mi. Bottom line though - just fix me. I'll gladly take whatever is given me at this point.
Debbi

Debbi,

My understanding is that, besides the surgery type, one big factor is a persons physical makeup. A certain 'thinness' is required for minimally invasive, so there is, uh, less stuff to go through. While trying to be unbiased, the important thing is what the surgeon has experience with, and is comfortable with. Some surgeons prefer min. invasive, other surgeons prefer a traditional sternectomy (sp?).

-Paul

 

[joanne6]

Not so thin

Not so thin

I had a minimally invasive mitral valve repair last August. My procedure was done with approx 3" incision under the R breast. The sternum was not touched. No bones were broken. My surgeon now is breaking one rib on the R side of the body and then wiring that back together. I had the rib spreading procedure.
Small incision on the right side for the chest tube and incision in the R groin area for the heart-lung bypass.
With this approach no one can tell you have had OHS from looking at you. It was still uncomfortable for several weeks.
A friend of mine who reads the site but does not write, had hers 5 weeks ago with the same surgeon I used. She is doing very well.
Does that help?

 

[dj/utvolsfan]

Joanne ---not so thin????

Joanne ---not so thin????

Hey, yes your reply did help! I am wondering if you are telling me that you are not the thinnest person int he world and were still able to have the minimally invasive procedure? I used to be so fit and trim, now-a-days with the heart thing and all, I have gained weight and I am absolutely miserable. I hardly recognize myself. One other thing I have read about the mi procedure is it may not be done if two repairs or replacements are done. I am scheduled for both the mitral and aortic valves to be looked at. I am hoping I will be a candidate.
I swear it hurts me for some of these people (women) who have been 'rejected' by their men cause of their heart problems, surgery scars. I swore off men a few years ago and haven't had the energy or desire to pursue a relationship. I will be livid and speechless if a man loses interest once he sees my scar...that is once I get back into this game of life. I keep hoping that there is someone special out there. We'll see. First things first!!!
Thanks for your reply!
Debbi

 

[joanne6]

I didn'tmean I was the fattest person either. Actually was already slightly overweight when I had OHS. I completely lost my appetite for several weeks after and lost 22 lbs. Once I got my appetite back, I haven't been able to start back on my perpetual life of dieting.
There are many factors affecting the route the doc takes to get to the valves but they have to make that decision based on what is right for each patient. I don't think I had a second's less pain than if I had the sternotomy. Main difference is no visible scar.
Take care.

 

[Teresa UK]

My surgeon said he uses the minimally invasive method for the majority of his AVR patients (which will eventually include me), which he described as cutting a top quarter of the sternum, leaving a scar of about 6". He said that as I have (in his words) "a lot of breast tissue" (I could think of a few comments to put here, but will restrain myself), this smaller, higher incision will mean less pulling on the scar. Makes sense to me. I'm not that big otherwise - what I mean is, there wouldn't be that much extra fat where the actual cut would be - as others have said that weight might be an issue. Seems like "minimally invasive" means different things to different surgeons.
Teresa

 

[Rush20]

I had the minimally invasive procedure during my AVR. During the pre-surgery consultation, my surgeon told me he was going to cut in under my rib, however much to my surprise after waking up, he had cut in at the top of my sternum. My scar is barely visible, it is pencil thin and about the length of my little finger and what little bit is visible is covered by chest hair. Lucky being a guy I guess.

During my post-op meeting with my surgeon, I asked him why the change in procedure and he told me he changed his mind based on last minute X-rays and the position of my upper ribs. He felt it would be too tight and felt the surgery had a better change of success by going in directly and only cracking the sternum. After all, it was only a "routine AVR" per the surgeon.

 

[mamsram]

I had min. inv. valve replacement surgery by Dr. Cohn at Brighams and womens. I was told by him that I was a good candidate for this, providing my arteries were clear. An angio showed arteries in excellent condition.
I asked the cardiologist why I was a good candidate and he said that it was because I had no other health issues and since the arteries were clear it was going to happen. ME BIG HAPPY!
I got a 5in. scar dead center and ha-ha its covered by hair.
I also did not think that it was a terrible ordeal. The first day was painful, but they worked on reducing that. After that day the only pain was when I coughed. (I didn't sneeze)

 

[Nancy]

Joe had minimally invasive (HeartPort), through the side and an incision under the breast area and groin. It was his third valve surgery and was done for a small repair to his mitral valve (paravalvular leak). It went well, in spite of the fact that he has several issues. I would say that he was up and feeling better about one day sooner, the rest of the healing was about on par except he didn't have sternum healing issues. It still is difficult surgery and the side minimally invasive bangs up your lungs and side area, the groin incision is uncomfortable and the incision under the breast area is sore. Your heart is still invaded, so expect the same type of healing that you read about here. I seem to remember that he was out and about briefly with me at approx. 10 days.

His ribs were not broken, only spread.

 

[Christian]

Hey, yes your reply did help! I am wondering if you are telling me that you are not the thinnest person int he world and were still able to have the minimally invasive procedure? I used to be so fit and trim, now-a-days with the heart thing and all, I have gained weight and I am absolutely miserable. I hardly recognize myself. One other thing I have read about the mi procedure is it may not be done if two repairs or replacements are done. I am scheduled for both the mitral and aortic valves to be looked at. I am hoping I will be a candidate.
I swear it hurts me for some of these people (women) who have been 'rejected' by their men cause of their heart problems, surgery scars. I swore off men a few years ago and haven't had the energy or desire to pursue a relationship. I will be livid and speechless if a man loses interest once he sees my scar...that is once I get back into this game of life. I keep hoping that there is someone special out there. We'll see. First things first!!!
Thanks for your reply!
Debbi

My wife's scar is the sexiest thing about her.

 

[dj/utvolsfan]

Christian...

Christian...

Men like you are worth your weight in gold! Thanks for the vote of confidence!!

My wife's scar is the sexiest thing about her.

 

[Superbob]

Badge of Courage

Badge of Courage

Debbi, wear the scar as a badge of courage. That's what it is, and it will command wide respect.

Cheers,

Bob

 

[Divine Diva48]

Two years post Minimally Invasive MVR

Two years post Minimally Invasive MVR

Hi,

I had a mitral valve replacement done through minimally invasive surgery two years ago at Duke University. I had never heard of such a tihing prior to then. I was so hesitant about having that long unattractive scar going down the front of my body and my brother knew the #2 CardioThorasic surgeon in the country who told me about this procedure. I had a Right Thorocotomy incision because it was my mitral valve that was replaced. I had more pain because they had to go through my chest to get to the heart. I als have a scar from my chest tube, a scar from my jp drain and 4 smaller scars (that are disappearing) on my chest. The site where the heart-lung machine was is barely there now also. I am grateful for this technique because it allows you to go on without the famous "sternum" scar that is associated with OHS. As for the body size thing, I am a 5'7 female who at the time of my surgery weighed about 145 pounds. Good luck in your decision.