I was told Wed. that I need to have my aortic valve replaced. I was wondering if anyone could share their experience with this surgery good or bad. I am meeting with the surgeon on the 26th, and am very nervous. Any tips and or suggestions appreciated. I'm a 39 year old female.Thanks in advance
Hello Lisa, Aortic valve replacement is a cardiac surgery procedure in which a patient's aortic valve is replaced with a different one. The procedure itself is rather simple. Your chest will be opened, you will be placed on bypass, valves exchanged, and closed again. The risk with respect to the procedure is generally cited as being between 1 and 5 percent. My advice to you is to call ahead, and specifically request to meet the physicians who will be performing surgery; including the Senior Surgeon, and Anaesthesiologist. In some cases, hospitals will provide a general doctor for questions; but it is important to meet all of those who will be operating, both for comfort and questions. When meeting with those who will be operating on you; ask them any questions you might have. They are there for you; to brief you on the procedure, ensure you are ready, and respond to any of your concerns. Dr. James Jeah MD
This is a routine, well established procedure. The incidence of major complications are less than 4%. There are two kinds of artificial Heart Valves. One is mechanical, and the other is tissue valve. The mechanical valve requires the person to be on life long anti-coagulation therapy. This also requires periodic check on the persons pro thrombin time. Based on this, the anti-coaglation dose will be adjusted. The problem with anti-coagulation is that it may lead to bleeding complications. The tissue valve is made from the tissues of a bovine or porcine heart. The tissue is denatured to ensure that the valve is not rejected as a foreign tissue. (This is not a problem with mechanical valves.) Being made of tissue, these valves do not allow clots to form, which means that anti-coagulation after a short initial period is not required. This is a major advantage, especially for women, who may have some earlier bleeding problems. Then why are mechanical valves used at all? Being made from non-living denatured tissue, tissue valves cannot repair themselves. They also tend to get calcified in younger people with more calcium activity. They also have a shorter life than mechanical valves. Surgeons tend to favour mechanical valves for younger people (whose life expectancy is higher), and the tissue valve for the older, as such people may already have some bleeding problems, the valve's durability is not critical and the patient has lower calcium activity. These are general considerations. Only a surgeon armed with the full test results, and a knowledge of the patient history, who can advise the patient on what is the best option in each case. To reiterate, AVR (Aortic Valve Replacement, not my initials) is a routine procedure and recovery tends to be uneventful. Wish you all the best, and as uneventful a recovery as possible.
Lisa Sorry to hear that you have to have this done . I will put you in my prayer's , Haven't heard from you in some time if you feel like chatting send me a e-mail . Hope all goes well and Merry Christmas
if you have a tissue valve you will not need to be on coumadin the blood thinner but will need to have surgery repeated later on in life. if you have a mechanical valve placed then you will need to be on coumadin and typically it takes about a week to get your blood theraputic, then you will need to probably need to have you blood drawn weekly a few times immediately after. then it tapers down to once a month checks generally. goofd luck to you.
Two years ago I had a murmer followed by an echocardiogram {of poor quality) and was told to prepare for AVR. I read all I could find on aortic stenosis and criteria for surgery. MY valve area was .8 cm. No data on jet velocity, peak and mean gradients (poor echo). I asaked for a repeat echo. Dr said he didnt need it. I changed cardiologists. Got a go0od echo. Was told surgery not imanent. Jet 3.5. Peak gradient 50. Mean 33. Repeat echos every 6 months show my stenosis stable at moderate to severe.. I am 80 . Neale :L.
