“What Are My Options For Aortic Valve Replacement Re-Operations?” Asks Jon

THANK YOU Dr.Salenger for presenting excellent advise regarding surgical heart valvular replacements or repair and emphasizing patient pertinance to seek a cardiothoracic surgeon who has reputable,finite expertise and technical skills for lasting good surgery outcome. Stressing patient compliance needs to have: adequate followup doctor and dental office visits,routine exercise for thirty minutes five days a week,echocardiogram testing every six to twelve months,good weight control and healthy nutrition is MOST INFORMATIVE!

Jon: You ask a good question. I had my aortic valve replaced in 2000 at the age of 60. I exercise regularly, eat all the right foods, take a statin, and all the right supplements, as well as an aspirin a day. I am in good health otherwise and visit my cardiologist twice per year.
I 2007 my valve revealed stenosis, was failing. and had to be replaced. It was an Edwards Life Sciences valve. My second valve is a new and improved Edwards Life Sciences product. It is working perfectly and I lead a very active life. However, I still have the same fear that you have since I am in the fifth year with the new one. This fear is exagerated since in 2007 I requested Edwards Life Sciences to provide me with the pathology results of the first valve and they refuse to provide me with that information.
I am excited about the Sapien valve, but very afraid of the ethics of the manufacturer. I hope by the time we both need a new valve someone will give us more confidence in a life saving situation.
Jim Hayden

Thank you for your very informative info about tissue Aortic Valve replacement. I have learned more from you and other physicians who paricipate in in Adams programs than from the surgeion who preformed my surgry and the Cardiologist. I am four months recovered and attend Cardiac Rehab 3 times a week and it has made me stronger. I am feeling better every day even at the age of 82. Doris

Thank you! Just wondering, though..How can I slow down, or reverse, calcification in my aortic artery? I haven’t had surgery, but have changed my diet and stepped up my exercise. I’ve read that MK 7 (a particular form of vitamin K)can help get the calcium I take (I’m soon to be 59)into my bones and away from the arteries! I’d appreciate any light that can be shed on this subject~

Hi,Thanks for this website. It is so helpful. I am facing first surgery (age 57) and wondering what valve to pick and surgeon. I am curious about the comment of ethics of Edwards, please tell me more. I wish I could do mechanical, everyone wants me to do tissue valve. Coumadin is a problem with other health issues. I live in Twin Cities, MN, so if anyone has a name a great congenital heart surgeon and valve replacement experience, I would love to hear from you.

Nancy,

I just completed (Mar 6, 2012) an aortic valve replacement at the Mayo Clinic, St. Mary’s Hospital, in Rochester, MN, with Dr. Kevin Greason as my primary surgeon. I opted for a bovine tissue valve because, at age 51, I worried about the long-term effects of coumadin or other blood thinners. Also, the newer bovine bioprostheses look to be a bit more robust, potentially offering me 20+ years of use before replacement. By that time, I rationalize, TAVI and other stent-type, non-invasive valve replacements may be more the norm.

The entire surgical team, recovery team, nurses and support staff at St. Mary’s are outstanding. I highly recommend Dr. Greason, the Mayo Clinic, and St. Mary’s hospital for your procedure.

Feel free to contact me with any questions.
-Dan

I too am 57 and facing AVR in two weeks. I still have not chosen what type of valve I want. I go back and forth. Can you hear mechanical valve noise at all? How will tissue valve be replaced in future? After heart cath my surgeon said all was clear and that he wold not expect to ever do anything to my heart agin after AVR. Should I pick mechanical valve so I never have to do this again?

Thanks for all your suggestions. Tony I too see the surgeon this week and have to decide on a valve. I guess I am going with a tissue valve due to my other health issues but it is up to the surgeon. I don’t want to hear the noise of a mechanical and I am very bad at taking medication like coumadin, I know I will miss dosage. I don’t want to worry about blood clots or have routine blood checks. I hope I am making the right decision. It is a hard decision, I have weighed out pros and cons and there isn’t an easy answer. It depends on your health, lifestyle, what is the lesser worry for you. I am open to chatting more about it if you wish. Trust your gut and you will make the right decision for you.

By now perhaps your decisions have been reached, but if not, here is a bit of my husband’s experience. First AVR (at age 46) was a carbo-medic mechanical valve. Yes, you could hear it clicking, and yes it required coumadin. The sound really wasn’t troublesome, and actually became somewhat of a comforting sound. Replacement of that valve was with a medtronic-freestyle, porcine. No more coumadin, no more clicking. Both surgeries were done at Mayo, St. Mary’s. The surgeons in both instances were incredible (Dr. Sundt and Dr. Daley). The care teams were excellent as well. However, if you are indeed in the Twin Cities, it is our understanding that Regions Hospital is also impressive. Best of wishes to you.

Please contact me. I will be having surgery with Dr. Greason June 14th 2016

Hello. Dr. Greason will be my surgeon June 14th 2016. How are you doing as of 2016. Still not sure which way to go. I am 51.