Comments on: Trifecta Heart Valve Replacement By St. Jude Medical

By: Jane Taras Carlson

Jane Taras Carlson — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 19:19:43 +0000

I just had a new St. Jude Trifecta valve put in 9.22.11 by Dr. Roselli at the Cleveland Clinic. He told me it was accommodating enough for a transcatheter valve in the future, should one be needed. He felt that after a couple of years or so most valves will be done in this way, making surgery unnecessary. He thought it could last 10-15 years. Since I am 68, this may or may not be necessary.

A surgical surprise for me was that following surgery in Cleveland, my heart became irrelevant. My main problem became breathing. The trauma of surgery can cause pleural effusion, and breathing was difficult. Also I had a partially collapsed lung. After getting off the plane coming home I thought I would die and was taken to the ER. After almost 6 weeks, my breathing is almost back to normal.

What was amazing about this was I never came across this possibility in all the pre-surgical reading I did. It is not that uncommon but was not mentioned by doctors either. I feel it should be, even though it will not be the result for all patients.

By: Bob Roth

Bob Roth — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:22:30 +0000

I will soon need an aortic valve replacement due to a bicuspid valve. I found a link to the Cleveland Clinic and the trifecta valve, then to this site. In everything I have read I have not found what the life expectancy of the trifecta valve is. Can anyone help answer this?

By: AC Wilson

AC Wilson — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:09:50 +0000

Thanks for the comments on this thread they are very helpful in my research. I have looked into Trifecta – I cannot find any published studies and the information on the web only covers six months of time. Can anyone point me to some longer term information? I am able to find 10, 15, and even 20 year studies on pig valves. I plan on having my valve for the long haul so would like some reassurance. Thanks.

By: June Salter

June Salter — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 21:51:26 +0000

Hi, I am a participant in the study also. Had surgery 12 Feb 09 by Dr. Coselli, Houston, Tx. Born with bicuspid aortic valve and developed aneurysm about 15 yrs before surgery. I was 68 yrs of age and in good health except for the limits of the heart valve and aneurysm. I was in ccu for 5 days due to believing the nurses were trying to kill me and could not get my heart in sinus rhythm. Two weeks later I had to have a pacemaker placed because heart never reverted to sinus rhythm. They also injured my left vocal cord when placing the intubation tube. Could only whisper. They tried a thyroplasty in Jan 10 and this failed due to them puncturing my voice box. However, they did give me a little more voice by injecting something like silicone to push my vocal cord back to my voice box. They also did a right axillary artery dacron graft, for pump return which still gives me problems. I did not want to live for a year, prayed to die and even thought of suicide. I am being followed in Shreveport, La by a cardiologist. Have not been back to Houston yet,but will do that this fall. I finally am feeling better and able to use my arms better. I still would have tried the trifecta just to be able to help others. Even through all of this I would use the same valve.

By: Lynne

Lynne — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:39:51 +0000

Hi,
I am a 59 year old female. I am returning to Dr. Coselli, Houston next week for my year check up. I received the trifecta valve last June 19th after being diagnosed with a biscupid aorta valve and a aorta aneurysm. I again was shown all the valve options and choose it over taking cumadin for the rest of my life. I was in ICU for 5 days and released from the hospital June 29th to return to Arkansas. Though the recovery was slow I returned to work teaching in August. My six month check up was great and just had an echo by my local cardiologist and it was good. I would choose this valve again. I researched my surgeon and the used the biscuspid foundation for good information.

By: M. Hult

M. Hult — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:17:08 +0000

Sorry for the delay in posting about Mike’s 6 month check. Everything looked good. He is feeling well and doing great. He has lost some weight and that also has helped. So far so good!

By: M. Hult

M. Hult — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:34:31 +0000

Oh Allen, hope you are still smoke free!! It’s very hard to quit. Both my husband and I smoked for years but quit on July 15, 1984. (which almost caused a divorce; we were so mean!) Anyway, I was addicted to Nicorette gum for over a year, but finally got away from it all. Good luck to you and hope you are doing well. My husband is going in for his 6 month trifecta check on Oct. 21 and I will post then.

By: allen rader

allen rader — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:18:19 +0000

well, all was goinng well for a while. i developed a pleural effusion and a pericardial effusion and had to be flown back to cleveland clinic. underwent another surgery august 5th and doing well again. problem was NOT due to new valve in any way. my progress is slow, but i think at times i expect too much. still smoke free for 19 days

By: M. Hult

M. Hult — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:18:32 +0000

Thanks Bill and congratulations Mark!! Continued great results for you both. And hope your surgery went well also Allen. My husband is doing great too. I’ll report on his six month check in a couple of months.

By: allen rader

allen rader — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:38:07 +0000

i am getting a trifecta valve on monday at cleveland clinic. will let you know what i think of it as time goes on