Recovery after valve repair

[marxxx]

Hello,

My father has been recommended to get a TAVI (or TAVR) procedure done. He is over 80 now and has a hard time getting around. He has kind of bad balance, weak legs and knees along with neuropathy in the hands and feet. We recently had him evaluated to see if he could stay in his home with a lot of stairs. The therapists said it was ok as long as he limited his trips up and down.
Right after their evaluation we received the recommendation for the valve repair. I have read this can be a long road to recovery, especially for the elderly.
I know this is a VERY individualized question, but what should expect as a window for recovery time? Are we looking at several months of being in a rehab? Also, is it likely he will be able to return home?

I am trying to convince my parents to move in with us (single floor dwelling) or we move to a duplex so we can better care for them. They are being very resistant, but if he is going to have difficulty on the stairs, now would be the time to make the move.

Please share your experiences with similar recovery. Like I said, my dad is kind of weak and has a a little difficulty getting around now. They want him to go to physical therapy to help him keep his mobility.

Thanks!

[Ger57]

Once the aortic valve is fixed, he probably will feel much better and then might have great benefit from the physical therapy.
All the best to you and your father.

[ed34]

fingers crossed for you, please keep us informed :)

[marxxx]

Thanks for the replies. Hopefully the recovery goes quickly for him.  

[ed34]

Having a catheter inserted valve usually means a fast recovery. Most patients are out of hospital within a week, but FULL recovery takes around 3 months. He will have some discomfort after the procedure but pain relief will obviously be given. One beauty of TAVI is no risk for infection such as endocarditis. It will be a tissue valve meaning no warfarin regime will be required however he may be prescribed aspirin for the rest of his life. I don't think his balance is anything to do with the valve and will require rehab.

[Ger57]

When all is running smoothly, recovery from a TAVI procedure takes only a couple of days while open-heart surgery can require a two- to three-month recovery period.

However, a TAVI procedure is considered only when a patient is deemed inoperable for open aortic valve replacement.
This means that TAVI is performed often in older, more vulnerable, less resilient persons where chances of complications are higher.
Complications can really slow the recovery process