TJ's Profile

Background: 55 yr old male. Always led active and healthy lifestyle, athletic, competitive bodybuilding (previously), now recreational long-distance runner. First referred to AVR some 22 years ago (2002) when I was 33, but that's a separate topic for another day. Valve anatomy changed overtime - originally regurgitation, then stenosis (so mixed). Preserved systolic function. Ejection Fraction (EF) 50-55% before/at surgery. No symptoms prior to surgery, except my 1-hr runs started getting harder and slower for the 2 years prior. Surgery: July 23, 2024 - Bentall procedure (AVR with On-X mechanical valve, aortic root and ascending aorta). Post-Op Complications: • Buy 1, Get 1 (also got a stent): Felt great after surgery ever since I woke up in the ICU. No issues, felt invincible. But on the CT scan before discharge on Day 6, they saw a "pinch" or "kink" in my left main coronary artery (which happened when it was plugged-back into the newly replaced ascending aorta). Bummer because I had wide-open coronary arteries on CT scan prior to surgery, no plaque and perfect lipid provide too, but I'm glad they caught it while I was still there. A stent was placed to straightened the left main, and I was sent home few more days later. I was already walking 3-4 miles within 10-12 days after surgery and couple of days after stent. • Pericardial Effusion: Within days after discharge, I went from walking miles to not even able to move, and I returned to the hospital where they found a large effusion around my heart. I was sent to heart catheterization lab again and they drained 1 liter of "blood-tinged straw-colored fluid" around my heart. I felt good instantly. This large effusion was perhaps caused by too many blood thinners (Plavix for stent, and coumadin & heparin for valve). In retrospect, if I didn't need the stent/Plavix, I probably wouldn't have had this effusion either. • AFib: A day after the effusion drainage while I was still in hospital, my heart went into AFib. Stayed in AFib for 2 days, and just when they were contemplating cardioversion, it went back to sinus rhythm on its own. No prior history of AFib, or any repeat since. • Echo (EF): I was most disheartened by the drop of my EF post-surgery, from 50-55% to <40% (38-39%). I had never been below 50-55% ever, including months before, and at the surgery itself. • Echo UPDATE (Oct'24): My most recent echo after 11-weeks post-op showed somewhat improved EF of 45%. Some relief. The pericardial effusion is minimal/trace so that's better too. A couple of other lingering attributes which time will resolve hopefully. • Echo UPDATE (Nov'24): My echo last week (3.5 months post-op) is all normal. EF is now 55-60%, no pericardial effusion etc. All concerns noted earlier are resolved. Life is good :-)