Don Wigginton - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

21 days ago

Pacing Wires Cut

Anyone else have their pacing wires cut rather than pulled? Pulled seems to be the norm but my surgeon cuts the wires and leaves in ...Read more

Pacing Wires Cut

Anyone else have their pacing wires cut rather than pulled? Pulled seems to be the norm but my surgeon cuts the wires and leaves in place.
Now I feel like it's just another thing to add to the list of potential problems down the road...

I'm 12 days post op for bentall and hemiarch replacement with ON-X.

Richard Munson Mine were pulled out and i agree with you on future problems. My theory is as little foreign objects ... Read more

Richard Munson Mine were pulled out and i agree with you on future problems. My theory is as little foreign objects in your body as possible. Maybe he was thinking of a jack to charge your i phone.

Marie Myers The cardiologist visited me one day while in recovery on the step-down unit. He said that he would tr ... Read more

Marie Myers The cardiologist visited me one day while in recovery on the step-down unit. He said that he would try to pull them out, but if there was any resistance in removing them, that he would simply cut the strings. He was able to remove them.

Don Wiggintonposted an update

45 days ago

Aortic replacement before 5.0 cm

My background:

I've been followed for the last 30 years (now in my 40's) for BAV. My aortic root is now ...Read more

Aortic replacement before 5.0 cm

My background:

I've been followed for the last 30 years (now in my 40's) for BAV. My aortic root is now 4.6 cm and ascending aorta 4.7 cm (CTA). The ascending has grown about 1 mm per year over the last five years. I have severe aortic regurgitation with an eccentric jet and no major symptoms. One surgeon wants to do the surgery now another says I can probably wait and get some repeat imaging done in a few months.

Anyone have a similar experience with having surgery before the 5.0 cm threshold?

It would be nice to get the surgery done and out of the way, but at the same time waiting doesn't sound bad either.

Valve sparing is no longer an option due to calcification so I will be going with the On-X.

Thanks - Don

Michael Ponzio I got mine done 4.8 about 5 weeks ago. Better to get it done sooner than later.

Valerie Allen Does the severe aortic regurgitation not put you in the surgery column? Just a question, as I know se ... Read more

Valerie Allen Does the severe aortic regurgitation not put you in the surgery column? Just a question, as I know severe stenosis does.

Don Wigginton According to guidelines it does not since I have no symptoms and heart is still normal size and EF ab ... Read more

Don Wigginton According to guidelines it does not since I have no symptoms and heart is still normal size and EF about 60%. It is indeed a grey area...

Thanks for the insight Michael.

Don Wigginton Michael, was the justification of your surgery the valve or the aorta at 4.8?

Michael Ponzio The surgery was necessary because of the severe aortic stenosis.

Marie Myers My surgery was driven by my 4.9 mm aneurysm size. I am a petite woman, and the ascending aneurysm was ... Read more

Marie Myers My surgery was driven by my 4.9 mm aneurysm size. I am a petite woman, and the ascending aneurysm was the driving force for my surgery. I also had an aortic root aneurysm and AVR (tissue )replaced at the same time. My echo showed regurgitation and the eccentric jet also.

Don Wigginton Thanks Marie and Michael.
Marie there is definitely some good info out there on patient heigh vs ... Read more

Don Wigginton Thanks Marie and Michael.
Marie there is definitely some good info out there on patient heigh vs aorta size and the associated risk.

susan harris i would ask each surgeon the pros/cons of now vs waiting, risks of both options. and see who you jive ... Read more

susan harris i would ask each surgeon the pros/cons of now vs waiting, risks of both options. and see who you jive with more. or get a tie breaking consult.

Don Wigginton Well I had my surgery this week, now 4 days post op. 42 year old male.

Feeling pretty well and getting around some.

Severe regurgitation without symptoms bicuspid aortic valve was replaced with On-x valve and conduit as well as part of my hemi arch.
... Read more