I’ve been struggling after my open heart surgery to get straight answers from my Doctors. I had my Aortic valve replaced & mitral valve repaired on 2/20/23. ...Read more
I’ve been struggling after my open heart surgery to get straight answers from my Doctors. I had my Aortic valve replaced & mitral valve repaired on 2/20/23. I haven’t used this site at all till today. But the little that I’ve read it seems as though I didn’t have to have open heart surgery. That there are some less severe surgeries I could have had. Am I correct in saying this?
Richard Munson Not sure how anyone besides a doctor that has your records can really answer that question. Folks on ... Read more
Richard Munson Not sure how anyone besides a doctor that has your records can really answer that question. Folks on this site always recommend a second or third opinion before having surgery. You already had it but it sounds like you still need a second opinion to get straight answers.
Robert Miller I don't think we can answer this with very little information. But no matter what, you can't make it ... Read more
Robert Miller I don't think we can answer this with very little information. But no matter what, you can't make it unhappen. So I guess the question is, are there any particular issues you are facing? Health, financial, legal, etc?
Susan Lynn Welcome! I think you may be confusing open heart surgery with the entry to access the heart. I'm gu... Read more
Susan Lynn Welcome! I think you may be confusing open heart surgery with the entry to access the heart. I'm guessing you had your sternum cut and didn't know that other open heart surgery entries like the minimally-invasive mini-thoracotomy or robotic incisions were options. Your surgeon may not have offered them for any of the following reasons: 1. He/she doesn't do any of these entries. 2. Your specific procedural needs didn't make them good options. 3. You may not have had a clear path to facilitate bypass through your femoral artery to your heart. 4. You may have had blocked arteries requiring CABG. 5. You may have had other medical risks that warranted entry via the fastest surgical entry and repair.
These are just a few of the reasons, but as Richard mentioned, you always want to get multiple opinions.
If it's any consolation, the surgery itself is all the same and they're all serious. Recovery is also similar.
If you got a good repair, then you did quite well. That's the most important part of the process.
Yumiko Ishida It really depends on your situation. Based on my experience, if a doctor recommended OHS and your ins ... Read more
Yumiko Ishida It really depends on your situation. Based on my experience, if a doctor recommended OHS and your insurance approved it, you probably needed it. I had a procedure called valvuloplasty for my mitral valve stenosis, which sounded less scary so I went ahead with it without getting a second opinion, which was a mistake. It was done by an interventional cardiologist, not a surgeon, which meant quicker and cheaper, supposedly, for all involved, but it didn’t work out that way for me. So just because there are other options out there, it doesn’t mean it’s the right one for you.
Rita Savelis You had 2 valves worked on. OHS allows the surgeon to get a better look at what is going on. Your sit ... Read more
Rita Savelis You had 2 valves worked on. OHS allows the surgeon to get a better look at what is going on. Your situation, your body, your heart is singular. You can not compare yourself to other patients. I'm sorry that your doctors are not giving you straight answers. I had OHS 10 years ago and had 3 valves worked on, 2 replaced, one reinforced. Less invasive techniques can not always used and are not recommended in some cases. I am sorry that you are still thinking about your heart surgery. It's easy to think about what might have been. There is a lot of emotional healing to do, as well as physical. Take care.
J Alexander Lassally Hey ! I hear you on the memories of the surgery still near and dear to the mind! Like the others sa ... Read more
J Alexander Lassally Hey ! I hear you on the memories of the surgery still near and dear to the mind! Like the others said, it is hard to judge the surgery choices without knowing the specifics of your valves. But it is true that sometimes the best chances for a repair or replacement are from the hard core open surgery choices. The trans catheter approaches are more suited to older, high risk patients. If you are unhappy with your cardiologist - SWITCH ! I am on my third one since surgery. A lot of them are lackluster for young valve patients nuance. Best of luck !!!!
I am from: Las vegas, NV
Your surgeon may not have offered them for any of the following reasons:
1. He/she doesn't do any of these entries.
2. Your specific procedural needs didn't make them good options.
3. You may not have had a clear path to facilitate bypass through your femoral artery to your heart.
4. You may have had blocked arteries requiring CABG.
5. You may have had other medical risks that warranted entry via the fastest surgical entry and repair.
These are just a few of the reasons, but as Richard mentioned, you always want to get multiple opinions.
If it's any consolation, the surgery itself is all the same and they're all serious. Recovery is also similar.
If you got a good repair, then you did quite well. That's the most important part of the process.
If you are unhappy with your cardiologist - SWITCH ! I am on my third one since surgery. A lot of them are lackluster for young valve patients nuance. Best of luck !!!!