Vincent Kohne - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

10 days ago

I have another question about the Ross procedure. Because I have a tissue valve in right now my heart is an open organ. When someone has the Ross procedure, ...Read more

I have another question about the Ross procedure. Because I have a tissue valve in right now my heart is an open organ. When someone has the Ross procedure, is there heart a closed organ?

Robert Miller I am not sure I understand the question. You having a tissue valve doesn't make the heart "open". The ... Read more

Robert Miller I am not sure I understand the question. You having a tissue valve doesn't make the heart "open". The valve still closes as it should (your old valve probably didn't close properly, which is why you got a replacement valve). And while I am not familiar with the Ross procedure, it is not going to "close your heart". It's just switching valve positions (taking the pulmonary valve, put it where your defective aortic valve is, and then adding a new pulmonary valve). But there is nothing being "closed" except for the leakage.

Vincent Kohne I'm sorry what we meant was, an open heart which means if you have a blood infection it will destroy ... Read more

Vincent Kohne I'm sorry what we meant was, an open heart which means if you have a blood infection it will destroy your heart. If you have a closed organ, a blood infection wouldn't hurt the heart

John Cook If you’re asking if you’ll still be at risk for endocarditis, the answer is ‘yes.’

Fidel Martínez Ruiz Agree with John, the answer is "yes", then we have to take care with infections, taking antibiotics b ... Read more

Fidel Martínez Ruiz Agree with John, the answer is "yes", then we have to take care with infections, taking antibiotics before dental procedures or other with possible bleeding.

Vincent Kohne John, Fidel thanks both of you guys for your answer

Grace Mason The valves used in a Ross procedure, the living pulmonary autograph and a homograph, are less suscept ... Read more

Grace Mason The valves used in a Ross procedure, the living pulmonary autograph and a homograph, are less susceptible to infection than prosthetic valves, but the risk is still there.
Good dental health is as important as taking antibiotics before dental procedures.

Vincent Kohne Grace, thank you for your reply

Robert Miller My cardiologist requested that I take antibiotics before dental procedures, even just for cleaning, d ... Read more

Robert Miller My cardiologist requested that I take antibiotics before dental procedures, even just for cleaning, despite the fact that I had a mitral valve repair (no replacement). Maybe it's not absolutely necessary but I have other heart issues so I suspect he just wants to be on the safe side.

Vincent Kohne Thank you everyone for a nice replies. Why heart valve surgery is scheduled for April 23rd. I will ha ... Read more

Vincent Kohne Thank you everyone for a nice replies. Why heart valve surgery is scheduled for April 23rd. I will have testing on 20th and 21st to see if I could have the Ross procedure. I don't think I will qualify because of my age 71. If not, I'll get another tissue valve through the chest removing the two valve tissue and tarv . I'm preparing for the worst. Hoping for the best.

Vincent Kohneposted a journal

20 days ago

Adam Pick, Vincent Kohne, Robert Miller reacted to this

I was wondering how many members/ patients have had the Ross procedure. And how has it worked out for you?

Adam Pick Hi Vincent, Great question. In my personal experience has worked out really well. 20 years after my R ... Read more

Adam Pick Hi Vincent, Great question. In my personal experience has worked out really well. 20 years after my Ross Procedure, I have not required any additional surgery and I am not on any medications. As quality-of-life, I have gone back to doing all the things that I love including Scuba, surfing, skiing, etc. I'll some links below to help you learn more about the Ross.

Adam Pick https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2023/08/22/scuba-dive-catalina-island/

17 Years After Heart Surgery, This Happened...

https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2023/08/22/scuba-dive-catalina-island/

Go on an underwater Scuba adventure with Adam Pick, heart surgery patient, seventeen years after his operation.

Adam Pick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9yyO2rs8Bs

Ross Procedure Patient Success Story: Andy Dial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9yyO2rs8Bs

https://www.Heart-Valve-Surgery.com - Facing open-heart surgery can be a life-changing experience, and for Andy Dial, the decision to undergo the Ross Proced...

Adam Pick https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/ross-procedure-aortic-disease

New Ross Procedure Patient Education Center

https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/ross-procedure-aortic-disease

Learn new medical insights, patient experiences, and durability research about the Ross Procedure for aortic valve patients.

Scott Mills I had a Ross / aneurism repair 10 month ago. Just ran 3 k as an afternoon workout, so all good. I’m ... Read more

Scott Mills I had a Ross / aneurism repair 10 month ago. Just ran 3 k as an afternoon workout, so all good. I’m looking forward to my 1 year check in. Happy to answer any questions.

Vincent Kohne It's great to hear that you're doing so good. Where did you have your surgery done at? How old are yo ... Read more

Vincent Kohne It's great to hear that you're doing so good. Where did you have your surgery done at? How old are you.

Adam Pick I had my surgery done at USC by Dr. Vaughn Starnes. I was 33 when I got the Ross. I'm now 54. https:/ ... Read more

Adam Pick I had my surgery done at USC by Dr. Vaughn Starnes. I was 33 when I got the Ross. I'm now 54. https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/surgeons/dr-Vaughn-Starnes-Los+Angeles-California.php

Dr. Vaughn Starnes - Heart Surgeon in Los Angeles, California

https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/surgeons/dr-Vaughn-Starnes-Los+Angeles-California.php

See patient reviews, physician biography, videos and contact information for Dr. Vaughn Starnes, heart surgeon, in Los Angeles, California.

Grace Mason Ross for me in '23.
Worked out great, I had an awesome team at Mt Sinai in NYC. I think it was th ... Read more

Grace Mason Ross for me in '23.
Worked out great, I had an awesome team at Mt Sinai in NYC. I think it was the best choice for me. I am as active now as before surgery.
I was mostly asymptomatic before surgery other than I had started noticing slight shortness of breath on stairs.

John Cook I’m 53 and 2 weeks away from being 10-months post-Ross. I was asymptomatic before and after recover ... Read more

John Cook I’m 53 and 2 weeks away from being 10-months post-Ross. I was asymptomatic before and after recovery. I’ve done two 5k runs on my treadmill since surgery but I’m 25% slower. I’m assuming it’s the work they did to reduce the dilation of my aortic root diameter and not the valve itself. My heart has a smaller hole to pump out of now and I need to re-strengthen the muscle.

Scott Mills Vincent I’m 53 and had it done in Kitchener, Canada. Like John my exercise performance is off, but ... Read more

Scott Mills Vincent I’m 53 and had it done in Kitchener, Canada. Like John my exercise performance is off, but I suspect it is the beta blockers in still on for a couple more months. They did a repair of my aortic aneurism while they were in there too :)

Vincent Kohne I put this in my journal but I probably should have put it here. Because I have a tissue valve. My he ... Read more

Vincent Kohne I put this in my journal but I probably should have put it here. Because I have a tissue valve. My heart is in open organ. When some has the Ross procedure is their heart a closed organ?

Vincent Kohneposted an update

30 days ago

My third aortic heart valve replacement is coming up 😞

Vincent Kohne I had my first aortic heart valve replaced the shy of my 58th birthday with a bovine tissue valve. It ... Read more

Vincent Kohne I had my first aortic heart valve replaced the shy of my 58th birthday with a bovine tissue valve. It lasted almost 5 years. My second valve replacement was a tavr it lasted over 8 years and now it's failing. I have a tee echo scheduled and two consultations after my my tee echo. Which is scheduled for May 5th. Looking for ideas. What should be my next option? I'm considering going out of state and using a different hospital and surgeon. Does anyone have any suggestions. This is my first posting. I hope I'm doing it right.

Robert Miller Those valves should last longer and you had this happen twice. Besides looking for another hospital/s ... Read more

Robert Miller Those valves should last longer and you had this happen twice. Besides looking for another hospital/surgeon, you probably should look for some other underlaying issues. At your age (71?) you might consider a tissue valve. And if it requires going out of state, for sure do it. You might have to stay at some local place for a while but it is well worth your health.

Valerie Allen Yes you should go to a hospital/surgeon who specializes in re-dos. Cleveland Clinic or Mayo could lik ... Read more

Valerie Allen Yes you should go to a hospital/surgeon who specializes in re-dos. Cleveland Clinic or Mayo could likely help you.

Vincent Kohne Robert, thank you for your reply. I am considering on-x valve Even though I would hate to be a blood ... Read more

Vincent Kohne Robert, thank you for your reply. I am considering on-x valve Even though I would hate to be a blood thinner for the rest of my life.

Vincent Kohne Valerie thank you so much for your reply. I am considering going to an out of state to a heart hospit ... Read more

Vincent Kohne Valerie thank you so much for your reply. I am considering going to an out of state to a heart hospital like you stated

Karen Warren I just had a TAVR ex plant 2 weeks ago via SAVR. It is a fast growing procedure and surgeons are lear ... Read more

Karen Warren I just had a TAVR ex plant 2 weeks ago via SAVR. It is a fast growing procedure and surgeons are learning more each day. I would definitely look for a surgeon who has performed explants. best Wishes.

Vincent Kohne I will be meeting with a tavr surgeon. At this point they do not know if they can do another tavr pro ... Read more

Vincent Kohne I will be meeting with a tavr surgeon. At this point they do not know if they can do another tavr procedure. It depends on what the other valve look like. Thanks for the reply

Karen Warren Unfortunately, I did not qualify for a tavr in tavr. My Tavr valve was a mess and small size was issu ... Read more

Karen Warren Unfortunately, I did not qualify for a tavr in tavr. My Tavr valve was a mess and small size was issue.

Vincent Kohne Karen, I'm sorry to hear that. I fear my valve will be the same.

Rose Madura If I was on my third valve replacement, I would most likely go to Cleveland Clinic as Valerie and Rob ... Read more

Rose Madura If I was on my third valve replacement, I would most likely go to Cleveland Clinic as Valerie and Robert mentioned. Please keep us posted.

Vincent Kohne I did. Just call the Cleveland heart clinic. I signed up for my chart and they will be getting in tou ... Read more

Vincent Kohne I did. Just call the Cleveland heart clinic. I signed up for my chart and they will be getting in touch with me within one or 2 days.

Karen Warren Glad you will be reviewed by Cleveland.

Vincent Kohne Karen, thanks

Vincent Kohne I just received my email from the Cleveland clinic. When I first called the person told me I would be ... Read more

Vincent Kohne I just received my email from the Cleveland clinic. When I first called the person told me I would be receiving an email and I believe a questionnaire. I either never received it or I deleted it. So I called the Cleveland clinic nurse left a message and she just called me back. She did just send me the emails which I was very happy to receive.

Vincent Kohne Finally got done with sending and receiving Cleveland heart clinic information. It took a while and I ... Read more

Vincent Kohne Finally got done with sending and receiving Cleveland heart clinic information. It took a while and I still have more to do upcoming. We've had a lot of snow in Wisconsin last night and early this morning going out to do snow shoveling and snow blowing.