My Experience with Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery

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Similar Symptoms!

Similar Symptoms!

Thank you for your posts and website. I was interested to read that while you could run 3 miles without a problem, going up a slight hill got you quite breathless - that is my story too (severe mitral and tricuspid regurg). I thought I was just 'out of shape' and worked harder and harder at getting 'fitter' to absolutely no avail - it had no effect on my SOB going up stairs or hiking hills. It's so strange that a slight incline can have such an impact.

I also have tons of energy - even the beta blockers and ace inhibitors don't seem to impact that - but I guess a major energy reduction will be the thing I will notice if/when my situation starts to deteriorate and surgery is deemed necessary.

I'll look forward to hearing how your recovery proceeds.
Suzanne
 
Dr Glower did my mitral valve replacement with a mechanical valve done in 2003. He is an excellent surgeon. He does have a terrific bedside manner. He made me feel very comfortable. Best of luck to you.

Alicia Streeter
:eek:
 
Alica,

I see you had an MV repair in 2001 and then Dr. Glower replaced it in 2003. Do you mind if I ask why the repair only lasted 2 years? Was it an isolated repair or were there associated issues?
Thanks alot,

Steve
My complete experience with minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.
http://www.myvalvesurgery.com
Diagnosis: Severe Mitral Regurgitation
Procedure: Mimimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair
Surgery Location: Duke Medical Center
Surgeon: Dr. Donald Glower
Surgery Date: 10/17/2008

alicia said:
Dr Glower did my mitral valve replacement with a mechanical valve done in 2003. He is an excellent surgeon. He does have a terrific bedside manner. He made me feel very comfortable. Best of luck to you.

Alicia Streeter
:eek:
Click to expand...
 
Hi Steve, great site, keep it going! Great news that you were back at a MA class 6 weeks after surgery! I had the open chest old school method so might be a little longer before I can trade any blows :p But im hoping to get myself on holiday after Christmas, its only 2 weeks post op for me, so your 6 week progress is inspiring!

Don't go crazy tho, get your rest too :)
 
Dan,
I saw your website. That's great you were able to go home after 4 days. Congratulations on being able to look at a brighter future. Best of luck to you in the coming weeks while your'e still healing.

Steve
My complete experience with minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.
http://www.myvalvesurgery.com
Severe Mitral Regurgitation
Mimimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair - 10/17/2008
Duke Medical Center
Dr. Donald Glower


danb1983 said:
Hi Steve, great site, keep it going! Great news that you were back at a MA class 6 weeks after surgery! I had the open chest old school method so might be a little longer before I can trade any blows :p But im hoping to get myself on holiday after Christmas, its only 2 weeks post op for me, so your 6 week progress is inspiring!

Don't go crazy tho, get your rest too :)
Click to expand...
 
Steve, interesting that your post comes today when I was just obsessing about having a repair, just to learn later that I must have a replacement. It seems there are so many on this site who have had the replacement within 10 years after the repair. I cannot find stats on this topic. Thanks again for the post. Jennifer
 
The outcome of repair versus the tissue valve is about the same? For the first or second surgery? Is he recommending those who have not had repair go directly for replacement and skip the repair surgery? I know sometimes re-repair is considered.
Was your minimally invasive repair open chest? Are you considering another surgeon or just getting the second opinion to know if you need the replacement at all? TEE will give the best info. Please keep us posted. Thanks for the reply. Jennifer
 
I am suprised to see alot of posters that have needed re-operation after repairs. That doen't mean that the majority of repairs don't last many years. I was told by Dr. Glower that mine should last a lifetime, based on his experience. I understand that the isolated repairs (no associated issues) and non-ischemic ones have a better success rate. I wonder if this is a common denominator in determining the life of the repair or replacement. I was told that repairs are better because they help retain the heart's normal geometry. Sorry to hear you'll need another surgery.

Steve
My complete experience with minimally invasive mitral valve surgery at
http://www.myvalvesurgery.com
Severe Mitral Regurgitation
Mimimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair - 10/17/2008
Duke Medical Center
Dr. Donald Glower

offwego said:
I need another repair or replacement 5 years after a minimally invasive repair..Dr. Galloway's (NYU Hospital) guess without the benefit of a TEE that I will need a replacement and placed the odds at 50-50..He said the outcome of a tissue valve replacement, compared to a repair are the same due to improvements in the tissue valves. he also said that the new tissue valves are expected to last 20 years, perhaps more.

He said he thought he would not do a minimally invasive surgery.

I am looking to get another opinion but am going to get a TEE first so that I have more information.

Hard to get data on how long repairs or replacements might last..
Click to expand...
 
ponytaila1a said:
Steve, interesting that your post comes today when I was just obsessing about having a repair, just to learn later that I must have a replacement. It seems there are so many on this site who have had the replacement within 10 years after the repair. I cannot find stats on this topic. Thanks again for the post. Jennifer
Click to expand...

I need another repair or replacement 5 years after a minimally invasive repair..Dr. Galloway's (NYU Hospital) guess without the benefit of a TEE that I will need a replacement and placed the odds at 50-50..He said the outcome of a tissue valve replacement, compared to a repair are the same due to improvements in the tissue valves. he also said that the new tissue valves are expected to last 20 years, perhaps more.

He said he thought he would not do a minimally invasive surgery.

I am looking to get another opinion but am going to get a TEE first so that I have more information.

Hard to get data on how long repairs or replacements might last..
 
I would get your echo records and send to Dr. Donald Glower in Durham, NC to have him evaluate them. He has done over 1100 port access procedures and currently is considered #1 in the world. He may be able to make an initial determination by looking at your echo and other records as to whether you could have another repair and if it could be done via port access. He might surprise you with his opinion on your case. Dr. Glower told me to expect only 10 years of a tissue valve and that if i needed replacement, he would recommend mechanical. Here is a link to his profile page at Duke hostpital:

http://www.dukehealth.org/physicians/72D4B4101FC90F4285256DFD006A9242
Good luck to you.

Steve
My complete experience with minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.
http://www.myvalvesurgery.com
Severe Mitral Regurgitation
Mimimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair - 10/17/2008
Duke Medical Center
Dr. Donald Glower

offwego said:
I need another repair or replacement 5 years after a minimally invasive repair..Dr. Galloway's (NYU Hospital) guess without the benefit of a TEE that I will need a replacement and placed the odds at 50-50..He said the outcome of a tissue valve replacement, compared to a repair are the same due to improvements in the tissue valves. he also said that the new tissue valves are expected to last 20 years, perhaps more.

He said he thought he would not do a minimally invasive surgery.

I am looking to get another opinion but am going to get a TEE first so that I have more information.

Hard to get data on how long repairs or replacements might last..
Click to expand...
 
ValveSurgerySurvivor said:
I would get your echo records and send to Dr. Donald Glower in Durham, NC to have him evaluate them. He has done over 1100 port access procedures and currently is considered #1 in the world. He may be able to make an initial determination by looking at your echo and other records as to whether you could have another repair and if it could be done via port access. He might surprise you with his opinion on your case. Dr. Glower told me to expect only 10 years of a tissue valve and that if i needed replacement, he would recommend mechanical. Here is a link to his profile page at Duke hostpital:

http://www.dukehealth.org/physicians/72D4B4101FC90F4285256DFD006A9242
Good luck to you.

Steve
My complete experience with minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.
http://www.myvalvesurgery.com
Severe Mitral Regurgitation
Mimimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair - 10/17/2008
Duke Medical Center
Dr. Donald Glower
Click to expand...


My surgeon said pretty much the same thing as yours Steve, about the longevity of tissue valves in younger people.
I guess no-one really knows the answer though, and in the end it is what the patient feels most comfortable with.
 
Perhaps the stats ON THIS FORUM of people needing a replacement a few years after a repair are innaccurate as if a few years on you don't need a replacement your probably much less likely to be hanging around on here...
 
danb1983 said:
Perhaps the stats ON THIS FORUM of people needing a replacement a few years after a repair are innaccurate as if a few years on you don't need a replacement your probably much less likely to be hanging around on here...
Click to expand...
I wondered about that also. Although many people hang around on here just to help others......much appreciated experience sharing. I would think there is some study concerning the length of time before replacement following repair and the # of repairs done without a replacement following.
 
ponytaila1a said:
The outcome of repair versus the tissue valve is about the same? For the first or second surgery? Is he recommending those who have not had repair go directly for replacement and skip the repair surgery? I know sometimes re-repair is considered.
Was your minimally invasive repair open chest? Are you considering another surgeon or just getting the second opinion to know if you need the replacement at all? TEE will give the best info. Please keep us posted. Thanks for the reply. Jennifer
Click to expand...

He made it clear he would repair in my case if possible rather than replace but he said if the repair were not possible that the newer tissue valves were as good as far as the result.

I am considering another surgeon after the TEE to just chat with to compare what my gut tells me. My first repair did not hold. My experience for the most part at NYU was bad. Dr Galloway told me all th improvements to the hospital in the last 5 years. From all that I have heard as far as operations and technology and most importantly, results that NYU is a world class hospital.

I also want another surgeon to determine if a minimally invasive approach will yield the same outcome.

My gut is telling me that Dr Galloway, inspite of what he is saying, is just leaning towards a replacement and a standard operation rather than minimally invasive.

I clearly am not sure and am not qualified to really speak intelligently on this as Dr Galloway is one of the pioneers in Mitral Valve repair.

We shall see.
 
Wow, great article. Thanks for posting the link. It looks like the 20 year outlook overall isn't bad - that 4 out of 5 people, even with bileaflet prolapse, were free from re-operation after 25 years.

I was also wondering if there were simply more occurrences of reoperation by the people that frequented the heart forums vs. the one's that don't. I.E. why do people need to be here if they're not having problems?

Steve
My complete experience with minimally invasive mitral valve surgery at
http://www.myvalvesurgery.com
Severe Mitral Regurgitation
Mimimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair - 10/17/2008
Duke Medical Center
Dr. Donald Glower

Adrienne said:
Here is an article that might sort of answer the question about re-ops for the mitral valve:

http://www.mitralvalverepair.org/content/view/74/
Click to expand...
 
i agree great articles and thank god people do hang around to share there experiences its been such a great support to read and read some more and ask questions to real people who have been there and going or been through it, it is totally priceless thanks to everyone who shares on here.
 
Thanks for the articles. Helps my peace of mind. Sure thankful you all hang around here to help us all. Jennifer
 
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