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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Third heart surgery
Answered by
Cleveland - OH
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.
Third heart surgery
by juliek321, Oct 17, 2005 12:00AM
Around 1970, at the age of 35, my father had a mitral valve repair at Cleveland Clinic (the damage was due to rheumatic fever as a child). Around 1988, he had bypass surgery. Up until two months ago, he was very active physically -- golfing on a regular basis, bowling, walking, gardening. Then he started having symptoms of weakness. Several weeks ago, he suffered a
stroke.
The stroke was due to a clot from his heart, and caused loss of speech (or rather, vocabulary). Within a few days, his speech was almost back to normal.
The echocardiogram after the stroke indicates that he needs a mitral valve replacement due to stenosis. He also has atrial fibrillation. An angiogram last week indicated that his bypass grafts were "wide open", but confirmed the problems with the mitral valve.
We have been informed that the risks associated with a third heart surgery are significantly higher. The chance that he might not survive surgery was stated as 4 out of 10.
I should also note that he tends to make more scar tissue than normal (adhesions from a gall bladder surgery caused a bowel obstruction at one point which still periodically affects him).
Is there a chance a minimally invasive valve replacement could be performed in a case like his, and if so, would it decrease the associated risks or have other potential benefits?
Thank you in advance for any information you can provide.
Regards,
Julia
stroke.
The stroke was due to a clot from his heart, and caused loss of speech (or rather, vocabulary). Within a few days, his speech was almost back to normal.
The echocardiogram after the stroke indicates that he needs a mitral valve replacement due to stenosis. He also has atrial fibrillation. An angiogram last week indicated that his bypass grafts were "wide open", but confirmed the problems with the mitral valve.
We have been informed that the risks associated with a third heart surgery are significantly higher. The chance that he might not survive surgery was stated as 4 out of 10.
I should also note that he tends to make more scar tissue than normal (adhesions from a gall bladder surgery caused a bowel obstruction at one point which still periodically affects him).
Is there a chance a minimally invasive valve replacement could be performed in a case like his, and if so, would it decrease the associated risks or have other potential benefits?
Thank you in advance for any information you can provide.
Regards,
Julia
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, Oct 17, 2005 12:00AM
, Oct 17, 2005 12:00AM
Julia,
If your father needs a third open heart surgery, it would be highly unlikely that it could be accomplished on a minimally invasive basis. I know that 'minimally invasive' sounds like a safer term but although technology is changing, it still is reserved for fairly staightforward cases.
To have the safest procedure I would also strongly advise that you seek evaluation for his 3rd surgery back at the clinic or at another high volume center specializing in high risk and complex procedures.
good luck
If your father needs a third open heart surgery, it would be highly unlikely that it could be accomplished on a minimally invasive basis. I know that 'minimally invasive' sounds like a safer term but although technology is changing, it still is reserved for fairly staightforward cases.
To have the safest procedure I would also strongly advise that you seek evaluation for his 3rd surgery back at the clinic or at another high volume center specializing in high risk and complex procedures.
good luck
Member Comments (2)
by EchoTech, Oct 26, 2005 12:00AM
The short answer is no. There is too much scar tissue and too many other factors that would make it impossible for today's technology.
