Wow Vince.., you have been through A LOT ! Glad to hear you are back up and running. I am curious what your thoughts are on my situation:
I am a 68 year old very fit guy who loves exercising and eating right and like you, was also born with a bicuspid aortic valve. I had a SAVR done last January and got a metal aortic valve. A few months later I was diagnosed with a moderate paravalvular leakage around the sewing ring which really limits my lifestyle. That said, I went to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and the surgeon there is recommending a re-operation this coming January (best to wait at least one year) and feels that I since he will already be in open heart mode, I should consider a swap out to a bovine valve.
After all you have been through I am curious if you have any ideas regarding data accumulation on re-operation, how to find an experienced surgeon when it comes to re-operation, and anything else you may have for thoughts?
Vincent Turner Thank you! Also, thank you for sharing your story. I would say that it is super important to find ... Read more
Vincent Turner Thank you! Also, thank you for sharing your story. I would say that it is super important to find an experienced surgeon. I really am amazed that I survived my second surgery. Dr. Jeffrey Answini and Cincinnati at Christ Hospital is a miracle worker. I really only have a one percent chance of survival. He is very experienced. The Cleveland clinic has a great reputation As you know. My goal is always with any type of surgery for it to be minimally invasive. So I would look to see if someone can do the surgery without cracking your chest. I am a respiratory therapist and I have recovered a lot of open heart surgeries. Those that are minimally invasive the recovery is so much easier and the risks are so much lower.
This is what I will say about organic valves. No blood thinners unless you have a clotting issue. That means not checking your INR like crazy. And with organic valves, they can put a replacement valve in by catheter in your groin. Right now the technology allows that to happen one time. Meaning you can’t place a replacement valve inside of a second replacement valve. However, the technology is improving rapidly. My hope for myself is that I will get a valve replaced by catheter in several years and after that When it’s time to replace it again …. The technology will allow that.
Best of luck to you!
Vincent Turner Also, if I had to do all over again, I would’ve gotten a biologic valve. It is rare for an infectio ... Read more
Vincent Turner Also, if I had to do all over again, I would’ve gotten a biologic valve. It is rare for an infection in a mechanical valve but when it does happen, it is life-threatening. There’s my two cents.Ha.
Robert DeVita Thanks Vincent, I truly appreciate you time and thoughts on this.., best of health to you my friend!
I ...Read more
I am a 68 year old very fit guy who loves exercising and eating right and like you, was also born with a bicuspid aortic valve. I had a SAVR done last January and got a metal aortic valve. A few months later I was diagnosed with a moderate paravalvular leakage around the sewing ring which really limits my lifestyle. That said, I went to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and the surgeon there is recommending a re-operation this coming January (best to wait at least one year) and feels that I since he will already be in open heart mode, I should consider a swap out to a bovine valve.
After all you have been through I am curious if you have any ideas regarding data accumulation on re-operation, how to find an experienced surgeon when it comes to re-operation, and anything else you may have for thoughts?
Also, thank you for sharing your story. I would say that it is super important to find ... Read more
Also, thank you for sharing your story. I would say that it is super important to find an experienced surgeon. I really am amazed that I survived my second surgery. Dr. Jeffrey Answini and Cincinnati at Christ Hospital is a miracle worker. I really only have a one percent chance of survival. He is very experienced. The Cleveland clinic has a great reputation As you know. My goal is always with any type of surgery for it to be minimally invasive. So I would look to see if someone can do the surgery without cracking your chest. I am a respiratory therapist and I have recovered a lot of open heart surgeries. Those that are minimally invasive the recovery is so much easier and the risks are so much lower.
This is what I will say about organic valves. No blood thinners unless you have a clotting issue. That means not checking your INR like crazy. And with organic valves, they can put a replacement valve in by catheter in your groin. Right now the technology allows that to happen one time. Meaning you can’t place a replacement valve inside of a second replacement valve. However, the technology is improving rapidly. My hope for myself is that I will get a valve replaced by catheter in several years and after that When it’s time to replace it again …. The technology will allow that.
Best of luck to you!