Aortic value replacement any feed back please

[Covonia]

I need a Aortic valve replacement, anyone had this and any advice please.

[Taviterry]

TAVI or SAVI? I'm a couple of years older than you and though I was very fit (I did a six-hour walk a week before surgery!) I was deemed frail enough to have the former last August, with the new valve being inserted near my groin and wriggled to my heart. The day after the op I walked for 70 minutes (in five or six stages) around the hospital. SAVI, the alternative, involves far more surgery. The most worrying aspect is working out what side effects the post-op pills (notably the anti-coagulant) may be having on me. The same with what food and drink best to eat and to avoid.

[Rhinos67]

Best advice... Join UK Aortic and Heart Defects Pre and Post surgery Facebook group. A couple of hundred of us have had the surgery and a few dozen waiting.Lots of support and reassurance.

If not then please ask anything that you need to know.

You may have a TAVI rather than open heart surgery.

A lot of hospitals have dedicated Valve nurses, mine does, so definitely worth asking. Mine helped me so much and acted as the go between to my Surgeon and Cardiologist

Joanne

😊

[Hanibil]

Hi I would suggest you go for a mechanical valve I’ve had mine 20 years now, and according to a recent check up is working fine. Tissue valves last around ten years so my doctors tell me, I was 48 when I had mine and no way did I ever want to go through the operation again. As for taking warfarin nothing to it, don’t believe some of the stories you may hear. Am 68 now and still ski and mountain bike.

[Mitchum in reply to Hanibil]

Absolutely correct Hanibil. The myths surrounding warfarin are numerous and even more qualified people than us seem to almost encourage fear. Once one knows and understands how and why it works it is just another drug but, in our case, a wonder drug!

[Hanibil in reply to Mitchum]

Thankyou

[Sweetmelody in reply to Mitchum]

Mitchum,

“Warfarin induces calcification of the aortic valve.” Pub Med, April, 2023. That’s a direct quote, and that’s what happened to my husband after a decade on warfarin.

Calcification of the aortic valve = aortic stenosis = valve replacement.

It occurs because warfarin is a vitamin K antagonist.

On another note regarding valve replacement:

The FDA requires a contraindication (a warning against use) saying that those with an aortic valve replacement NOT take DOAC’s. You can find information about this online—or even on the patient information sheets that come with a bottle of Pradaxa or Eliquis.

Given my experience with my husband‘s situation, anyone getting an aortic valve replacement should be familiar with this information and the studies that halted the use of DOAC’s post TAVR.

[Mitchum in reply to Sweetmelody]

I don't know what you are trying to tell me to be honest. I am just sharing my experience regarding warfarin. Mechanical MITRAL valves require life long use of warfarin.

[Sweetmelody in reply to Mitchum]

I’m sorry if my reply was too different from what you were saying. Yes, warfarin is a wonder drug and saves many lives. But warfarin was implicated in a chain of events that led to the death of my husband, so when I see casual praise of warfarin, I just want to stick in that warfarin, like almost any drug, can have adverse side effects, and in the case of warfarin, possibly risky if not fatal side effects, as in my husband’s case.

I did not wish to offend and hope I have not. I will admit I’m a little touchy about warfarin. That’s my problem, certainly not yours. (-:

[Mitchum in reply to Sweetmelody]

I'm sorry for your loss but you must understand that without warfarin I, and millions like me, would die! That is just a fact. I am totally aware of side effects but I have no other options than to take it. I live as normally as I can within reason and am totally conscious of all risks but, I re-iterate, I have no alternative! All the best.

[Covonia in reply to Mitchum]

Morning everyone, I have had All the tests, ECGs, 24 hour monitor and die test. Went to Cambridge to see the TAVI surgeon and it was him who said open heart surgery would be best for me. Will see the open heart surgeon on the 18th of April, that’s the reason I was trying to find out if anyone has had a cow or pig replacement valve? Thank all for your replies 👍

[Mitchum in reply to Covonia]

Morning. I actually have a friend who had a bovine aortic valve just before covid. She is 74 and is doing fantastic. Fitter than ever! The very best of luck!

[Covonia in reply to Hanibil]

Thank you Hanibil, I was told by a surgeon open heart surgery was the best option. For longevity.. and cow or pig value was better than a mechanical one, but you have done very well buddy ,may it continue 👍 thanks for your reply.

[Mitchum in reply to Covonia]

Your age doesn't necessitate a mechanical valve. the "cut off" age is usually around 65, after which it's the norm to have organic.

[Covonia in reply to Mitchum]

Thanks Mitch, I just don’t know what is best buddy, I was hopeful someone who had organic value replacement might answer this as well.❤️👍

[Mitchum in reply to Covonia]

There's little difference health wise but given your age an organic valve will last you ok! No need to worry about warfarin because an organic valve doesn't need it! I'd be astonished if they offer a choice.

[Hanibil in reply to Covonia]

Hi thank you for your reply, I would get a second and third opinion if I were you .

[maggie80]

Hi, I had a quadruple bypass and a replacement heart valve. Nov'21. Just let it come and go. Look after yourself after the operation. Don't be worrying.

[Taviterry]

The visiting consultant at my NHS hospital discussed the matter of which type of valve with colleagues at another NHS hospital where my TAVI was to have taken place. They agreed that a TAVI was the best for me. I switched to another hospital where a similar group also agreed.

The hospital where you are to have your new valve is almost certainly to have information on its website on the procedure. I looked at several hospitals' versions and some were better than others; some struck an optimistic note enthusing about the relatively new TAVI, others were more sober. And some trusts offered better post-op support than others, including rehabilitation services and advice on expert. Despite having a private op, I was offered very little, though I could contact the surgeon or hospital if need be.

[Wellington19]

Ihad mine replaced at st barts, well looked after, but took me about 6 months to recover fully , i was 72

[Covonia in reply to Wellington19]

Thank you, mine will be done at Cambridge.

[Thonglor]

I had a triple by-pass and Aortic valve replacement in December 2021, at age 82. Opted for tissue valve because I did not want warfarin, and also opted for the Edwards Inspiris Resilia valve (I live in Thailand where I must pay for medical treatment but that does result in being allowed options) which I am told has a life expectancy of up to 25 years. This reduces the previous major drawback of tissue valves that were only expected to last up to 10 years, but with a word of caution that the Resilia has only been in use since around 2016, so we are going on manufacturers expectations and tests for now.

The recovery process was extremely unpleasant but, after the first couple of days it was not really painful, more very uncomfortable, and I neither took nor needed pain killers. After about 3 days I was stumbling around the hospital corridors with the re-hab team, at first with a oxygen bottle but that was soon discontinued. Within 3 months I was largely back to normal except for continuing hesitancy in walking, and reluctance to undertake stiff climbs, but that disappeared after another month or two.

Best advice I was given was that the more effort you put into the recovery re-hab, the better and quicker the results will be. So in the early post-op, if they ask you to walk half-way around the corridor ask (if you feel up to it) if you may go the full length, and so on.

Hope this helps and good luck. I can assure you you will feel enormously better quite soon afterwards.

[Petitlady]

I am 67 and had open heart surgery last year to replace aortic valve. The surgery was in London. I was not suitable for a TAVI because there was a speck of calcium near the valve and I was told the TAVI was unlikely to fit well enough. It’s not commonly offered to younger patients in the UK in any event. I have a pig valve. Again this was what was recommended, based on my age (older than most mechanical valve patients) and on balance I did not want to take warfarin. The valve I have should last 10 to 15 years. OHS is a major operation and it takes time to recover. But I recovered well. Life has returned to normal for me, albeit with the daily medications lots of people on this site take. I agree that the more you can do to keep yourself fit and active after surgery the more you will benefit

[Snoogs]

I had an open procedure to repair a large aortic root aneurysm just before my 62nd birthday 4 yrs ago. In most of these cases the aortic valve goes with the program due to it being either bicuspid or damaged from the aneurysm. In my case my valve was a normal tri leaf, with almost no damage. Therefore a David V procedure was used where they removed my valve and sutured it into the composite aorta section. 10 hour procedure.

My heart was healthy and no blockage anywhere. First couple days was a mutha. My back and ribs felt like I was given a good beat down. Five days in the hospital then sent home with Tylenol and a limited amount of oxy (couldn’t wait to take it vs Tylenol that first week till the pain subsided, again mostly back and ribs) . I shacked up on the sofa for a week or two because it was easier to get up and down. Oh btw have your heart pillow handy if you gotta cough.

I was in great physical shape going into this having lifted weights and worked out most of my life. Four weeks in you feel much better. By twelve weeks I was lifting (light reps). After six months I wouldn’t know I had been operated on. No mental hang ups either. I will mention that I had a couple bouts of A-fib as a result of the surgery but kicked that too with an amiodarone IV load and pills for a month.

Now, how long does my valve last having been removed and implanted into a Dacron aorta ? I’m told it is better than a bio prosthetic having your own valve, but I question that is it essentially a tissue valve since it has been attached to the Dacron ?.

My only meds are a very small dose of metoprolol 12mg daily and a baby aspirin 81mg coated… My hope is I don’t want to have to do this ever again but would if given no other reliable choice. It’s a tough bit of road to hoe but beats the alternative. TAVR gets better each year and I would hope to be that alternative if I needed to in the future (maybe at 75 yrs old) I’d go with a bio prosthetic and would have at 62 also.

Keep it positive