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Hello everyone:
I am going to quickly update you!
My husband had a sucessfull tricuspid valve repair (annuloplasty) done on Wednesday, Feb. 14th. Surgery took about 6 hours. Yes, heart/lung was necessary.
His tricuspid valve has had a severe leak for around 5 years. He also had, 5 years ago, his aortic and mitral valves replaced with St. Jude mechanical valves. He was able to manage the tricuspid valve issues with medications. Took a load of diuretics, and was on a beta blocker as he also is in chronic a-fib. He developed bradycardia, (as well as the tachy from the a-fib), around three years ago, and has needed a pacemaker since then, which he put off. To make a long story short, his EP studies have been worsening, and the doctors felt he would do best with a pacemaker installed with the leads placed in the traditional position, via the tricuspid valve. So, he needed to have the tricuspid valve repaired, prior to pacemaker implantation.
His first step is completed. Came out of ICU late this afternoon. They were able to go through the sternum again, as the CAT scan showed they had the clearance necessary to go through there. He seems to be doing OK. His heart rate is running over 100 consistentaly, but I think this will calm down in the next couple of days, with the help of medications.
There is NO doubt in my mind, that he could have managed the tricuspid issues with meds for at least a few more years, if he did not need a pacemaker.
We await the pacemaker implant.
Marybeth
I am going to quickly update you!
My husband had a sucessfull tricuspid valve repair (annuloplasty) done on Wednesday, Feb. 14th. Surgery took about 6 hours. Yes, heart/lung was necessary.
His tricuspid valve has had a severe leak for around 5 years. He also had, 5 years ago, his aortic and mitral valves replaced with St. Jude mechanical valves. He was able to manage the tricuspid valve issues with medications. Took a load of diuretics, and was on a beta blocker as he also is in chronic a-fib. He developed bradycardia, (as well as the tachy from the a-fib), around three years ago, and has needed a pacemaker since then, which he put off. To make a long story short, his EP studies have been worsening, and the doctors felt he would do best with a pacemaker installed with the leads placed in the traditional position, via the tricuspid valve. So, he needed to have the tricuspid valve repaired, prior to pacemaker implantation.
His first step is completed. Came out of ICU late this afternoon. They were able to go through the sternum again, as the CAT scan showed they had the clearance necessary to go through there. He seems to be doing OK. His heart rate is running over 100 consistentaly, but I think this will calm down in the next couple of days, with the help of medications.
There is NO doubt in my mind, that he could have managed the tricuspid issues with meds for at least a few more years, if he did not need a pacemaker.
We await the pacemaker implant.
Marybeth
