Re: aortic valve prosthetics pros / cons

Posted By CCF ARDIO MD - DLB on November 06, 1998 at 08:29:28:

In Reply to: aortic valve prosthetics pros / cons posted by Bob Chaney on November 05, 1998 at 12:14:42:






48 y/o white male with bicuspid aortic valve that is stenosed and has a cross sectional area of .75 cms.  pressure gradient of 80mmHg.
My question is where can I find information on what is the best option for valve replacement?  Mechanical, homgraf, porcine?
I am scheduled in 2 weeks for a procedure and will be meeting my surgeon in 1 week.  Would like to be knowledgable when I have my discussion with the Surgeon.
What are procedure options as well.  Are there any laser options coming down the pipe in the next few months?
Thanks
Dear Bob
The right type of valve is a tricky issue. You should discuss it with your surgeon. The mechanical valves tend to last indefinitely, and are often used in patients who have a projected lifespan of over 10 years; they do require lifelong blood thinning pills that increase your chances of bleeding from a fall or an accident. The porcine valves do not usually require blood thinners; they have a risk of failing after several years and are most appropriate in patients that are older. The homograft is a relatively newer option. For surgeons with experience in this technique, in patients that are candidates for the procedure, homografts have become very popular; however, there is not as much experience with their long-term durability.
There are no laser options. In addition to the standard incision, you could have the surgery done in a minimally invasive approach (if the surgeon has experience with this technique); this just means that the incision is a bit smaller.
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.
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.