Will I need a new valve

[Lucky]

Hello everyone,
I used this site 11 years ago when I had my aortic valve replaced and found the membership so supportive!
Anyway here I am again and would be grateful for help to this question.
I found out that my aortic root has now reached 5cms and needs repairng.
As I have only just started on this journey and not yet seen a surgeon can anyone tell me if my well-serving
mechanical valve will have to be replaced as well as the aortic root?:

 

[pellicle]

hi

I cant say that, but I had a functional homograph and an aneurysm on my aorta when they did my last surgery in 2011 and they did the valve too. Clearly that is different to yours.

Without knowing I would suspect perhaps the aortic root can be sleved without detaching it. I suspect that will be the crux of the matter.

Best wishes and do post back when / as you know

 

[Gail in Ca]

I would guess the valve would be spared if your aneurysm doesn't involve the coronary arteries. Or the surgeon may want to give you a new valve inside a graft, which is what I got when I had my mechanical removed due to endocarditis. I think your surgeon would discuss the possibles with you before your surgery. Now that my valve is inside a hemashield graft, my INR only needs to be 2-2.5, even as low as 1.8.
Many surgeons are more conservative, and won't just replace because they're in there again! But, if need be, they will take out the old and put in new. In my case I also got a larger valve than the one I had before.

 

[Heart Of The Sunrise]

Lucky: On March 18th at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital I am having the ON-X Valve implanted with the aortic graft attached. My surgeon mentioned that he recently had a patient with a condition like yours. The choice was made to replace the well-serving St. Jude Valve with the ON-X valve and graft configuration. Dr. Bavaria commented that the St. Jude Valve he removed was in prestine condition. As Gail stated above the valve may be spared or a combined valve/graft solution may be presented to you as an option. Either choice is good and will preserve your life.:thumbup:
What type of valve do you currently have?

 

[Superman]

I received a St. Jude Valve/graft conduit that replaced my old St. Jude valve when I had my aneurysm repaired. The old valve was fine, but as long as they were digging around in there, why not?

ON-X did not have a valve/graft one piece unit at the time I had mine done.

 

[Lucky]

I have one called a Sorin Fitline 25mm which I have not seen on anyone else. Perhaps it is a European model used over here.

Very best wishes for you surgery later this month