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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Re: Advances in Aortic Valve Replacenents
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Re: Advances in Aortic Valve Replacenents
by Eric-, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By Eric on May 06, 1999 at 11:57:05
I am 48 with progressive aortic stenosis (calcification)
My valve area has gone from 1.7 to 1.4 in 2 years.
I am asymptommatic as of yet and remain very active. When the time comes for a valve replacement, I would much prefer not to be chronically anticoagulated. I am very active and have 2 young children who like to play hard.
When is the "right" time to have a valve replaced?
Most importantly, are there any major advances in valves which would nor require chronic anticoagulation? I have read about a newer valve from medtronic.
What valve would you most commonly use in someone like me?
Thanx,
Eric
I am 48 with progressive aortic stenosis (calcification)
My valve area has gone from 1.7 to 1.4 in 2 years.
I am asymptommatic as of yet and remain very active. When the time comes for a valve replacement, I would much prefer not to be chronically anticoagulated. I am very active and have 2 young children who like to play hard.
When is the "right" time to have a valve replaced?
Most importantly, are there any major advances in valves which would nor require chronic anticoagulation? I have read about a newer valve from medtronic.
What valve would you most commonly use in someone like me?
Thanx,
Eric
Related discussions
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Re: valve choices and considerationsPosted By Ted Cottrell on April 18, 1999 at 13:56:41 I ...[more]
Dear Eric, thank you for your question. With an aortic valve area of 1.4 cm2, you are still a long way from needing an aortic valve replacement (AVR). Typically, the valve area needs to be 15 years)durability with homografts. Fourth, there is a unique form of AVR called the Ross Procedure that involves switching the native pulmonic valve to the aortic position and replacing the pulmonic valve with an aortic homograft. This surgery is very technically demanding and should only be done by a surgeon with good experience since there is a high rate of perioperative and postpoerative complications. The benefit of a successful procedure is, however, no need for coumadin and probably the most durable aortic valve prosthesis that doesn't require coumadin. There is a website for the Ross Procedure and the URL is http://www1.primenet.com/~carym/. Finally, AVR can be performed via a minimally invasive approach with a 4-5 inch incision and postoperative pain and recuperation are reduced. Our surgeons at Cleveland Clinic have pioneered minimally invasive valve replacement, so you may want to consider coming to Cleveland for an evaluation.
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.
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