Fernando's Journal

Well, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018 Is my TAVR surgery date to replace a failing porcine aortic heart valve that was installed via open heart surgery 5 years ago. I'm supposed to be checked by the anesthesiologist prior to the operation, and then stay in the hospital for 1 or 2 nights depending on the TAVR outcome. We'll just have to wait and see what happens...if I had a choice, I'd rather be put under full anesthesia and not to watch the whole operation like I they made me do when they put a stent in me 3 weeks ago.

Well, I had my comprehensive pre-TAVR tests done and the results were not what were expected. It turns out that I have several blocked arteries again and after considerable debate, the cardio team decided to address the blockages first ahead of any decision to replace what was identified earlier as a failing 5-year old porcine tissue aortic valve. So they installed a single stent to clear the most serious blockage and postponed the planned TAVR operation to see if the stent would fix my shortness of breath problem. I can report that after a few days, I feel the stent did not do anything to relieve my discomfort. I am going back next week for post-stent evaluation and I will remind them that they told me my prosthetic aortic valve opening had constricted from 5 cm to 1 cm and I could die in 2 years if they did not replace it. They also told me my failing valve has a very high gradient. I hope they do not get the impression that clearing the arterial blockage was an alternative to TAVR. My results clearly convinced me that it did not do anything other than improve my chances for long term survival.

I had open heart surgery 5 years ago and had a porcine aortic heart valve installed, designated as a St. Joseph Model Model TF-23 which was supposed to last 20 years. I was dismayed to find out yesterday rhat the valve is not functioning well, that it has a very high gradient, and that I may need another surgery. I just turned 70 and I do not think I can stand the trauma of another open heart episode. Will TAVR work for me?