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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
3 days to aortic valve replacement--any last-minute advice?
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
3 days to aortic valve replacement--any last-minute advice?
by Susan-M, Feb 21, 1999 12:00AM
Hi, everyone! Just three days to go--will be having a St. Judes valve installed on Wednesday! Anyone have any last minute tips or advice? All contributions greatfully received. One question, I understand I will hve breathing exercises with a little blow-pump like thing. Is breathing especially difficult after the surgery--like short-breathed or feelings of suffocation? Or is this just to help get over any effects of the heart-lung machine, not necessarily related to difficulty drawing breath?
I feel blessed to have this surgery during Lent as by Easter I will be a whole new (somewhat bionic--ha ha) me!
Thanks mucho for any advice or tips anyone can think of!
Susan
Doctor's Answer
by CCF Cardio MD - MTR, Feb 21, 1999 12:00AM
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Dear Susan, thank you for your question. The three responses to your question give good advice: practice good dental hygiene, watch your anticoagulation with coumadin closely after surgery, use the incentive spirometer (blow pump) vigorously after surgery and your risk of pneumonia and respiratory difficulties will be much less, gradually resume exercise, don't drive a car for 4-6 weeks to allow your sternum to heal, keep a close watch for signs of infection, and keep a good positive attitude. Most of these recommendations will be detailed to you during your hospital stay. The breathing difficulties are related mainly to the ventilator which is used during the surgery to breathe for you and to pain in the chest which prevents deep inspirations.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions. Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart
Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
