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276
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8/13/2016
Location
Jacksonville, FL
US
I am getting my ducks in a row to go in and have my third open heart surgery. First was on 12/6/17, to repair my aortic valve which was bicuspid, then became fused and unicuspid. At that time, they also graft my aorta due to an aneurysm in the arch. Second surgery was 12 hours after the first, due to the graft hemorrhaging and needing repair. Now, the valve is failing and my only option is another open heart surgery to replace the valve.
Wondering who has had more than one and how bad the recovery is the second time around. For the first one, I was back to riding moto three months after.
Wondering who has had more than one and how bad the recovery is the second time around. For the first one, I was back to riding moto three months after.
She had a tissue valve installed so at some time in the future she will have to have that replaced. Her doc said to expect about 15-18 years with this one. She was worried about that and was leaning toward a mechanical valve because she was told it would last forever but that would have meant blood thinners for the rest of her life and with her Type 1 diabetes, I just hated the idea of adding any other varables to her health issues at all. And the doc also told her that after this replacement that the next would most likely go up through her leg into her heart instead of having to open up her chest, etc. She was 47 when she had the replacement, so she is thinking that when this one "wears out" it should be just in time for her to retire!!!
Good luck with this next replacement. Sounds like it's either too late to go to a tissue valve? If so, please be careful with the blood thinners and riding. Make sure that you always have a medical ID with you and/or have a buddy with you that can let emergency personnel know exactly what you are taking in case you can't. That shit scares the hell out of me.
If you’re young, active and healthy tissue valves are good. Yea they don’t last 15 years or so but Usually you can undergo surgery without complication and get another one later. People that are 80...have a low chance of living long enough to need a replacement.
If You’re overweight. Out of shape
Or have a lot of comorbidities Mechanical is fine. Probably because you’re already on a blood thinner....young and active dont wanna be on blood thinners.
The Shop
I am 33 years old. So I am actually at a disadvantage when it comes to valve choice. If I were to go with a tissue valve, I would not get the same 15-18 years out of it. My surgeon team is saying 5-10 years for a tissue valve. The reason being, the valve calcifies and deteriorates in younger, normal calcium producing patients. The calcium builds up on the leaflets of the valve and just wears it out. I could go mechanical, and as you said... lasts a life time. But I am not ready to go on blood thinners at my age. I still ride motocross and off road trails, and have a very active lifestyle. I don't want to run that risk or slow down at this point.
I am going with the Edwards Inspiris Resilia valve. In a nutshell, it is a mechanical frame, with a hybrid/anti-calcification tissue for leaflets. It is based on Edwards' Perimount valve, which has been extremely successful. I will not have to be on blood thinners, and I do not have to worry about it wearing out as quickly as a normal tissue valve. It also has the structure to have a "valve within a valve" later on should I need this again.
BTW the pulmonary valves from my work (cryolife) have the DNA removed. Significantly lower chance of rejection.
Best if luck!
Also make sure the surgeon floods your chest with co2. I heard some use air, but co2 is better. Been practiced for decades now.
Pit Row
University Hospital in Cleveland. 5-6 hour procedure just kicked off an hour ago. Hoping everything goes perfectly for the kid.
Just got this text from my brother: 'Surgeon came in and said all went well and they were taking the breathing tube out and he will be in recovery soon.'
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