Bicuspid Aortic Valve Repair?

[westkane]

Site "Newbie" with recent BAV repair and low EF

Site "Newbie" with recent BAV repair and low EF

First day on the site - interesting content. On 9/24 I underwent surgery for severe aortic regurge at a top notch leading cardiac hospital. It was initially thought that I would need a David procedure but it turns out that a BAV repair Aortoplasty and resection of the ascending aorta was performed, no need for the David procedure. I was on bypass less than 1 hour. (At the time of surgery TEE showed good valve function with no leakage) A week later when I was discharged I was informed that my EF had dropped from a 60 to a 35. They told me I was a CHF patient and told me to get a cardiologist near home. (I find it odd that they did not assign a CHF specialist to follow up with me.) The cardiologist at discharge said he hoped it would get better but did not offer any explanation of why the EF dropped. Put me on Lisinopril, metoprolol, Lasix and aspirin. I located a cardiologist near home, explained the situation, he performed an echo and confirmed that my EF was low (37%) and the heart was not functioning as well as it should, plus the echo shows moderate leakage. GRanted it has only been 4 weeks since surgery, but simple tasks leave me out of breath or dizzy. I can walk well on flat ground but inclines are trouble. I am a W 46 year male, non smoker. Looking up all this stuff on CHF has me rather concerned, plus my limited capacity is frustrating. Any ideas/explanations/comments from you fine folks on my situation? I was rather active and now I am rather limited. The local cardiologist also is hoping that my EF will icrease with time and I will get somewhat more normal in activities, but I wish I could understand why I went in with severe AV leakage and now I have moderate leakage with Heart Failure,.... rather depressing. I welcome and comments, thoughts so I can become more knowledgeable about my condition. Thanks a bunch. I get to start Card Rehab next week

 

[WayneGM]

Welcome to the VR commuity. Glad you found us.

Sorry, I can't help you with your question as my situation was a relatively simple valve leak and repair. However, I suggest you start this as a separate thread, possibly in the Heart Talk forum, as it might get more attention that way.

Again, welcome and best wishes.

 

[sknydave]

I'm very surprised you weren't scheduled for valve replacement after their post op findings. I had an echo done a few days after my repair which showed leakage and my surgeon immediately told me I should get ready for valve replacement. Luckily it turned out to be a messed up echo, as the following tests showed everything was fine. If I were you I would definitely be asking why you were not rolled back into the operating room after those poor results?

 

[Boo I need a valve]

Recommendation

Recommendation

Hey all,

I understand Doc Miller over a t Stanford is one of the foremost experts in repair. I have not met him personally, but I understand he was recently at the Cleaveland Clinic teaching about this topic.

 

[Bonzo Dog]

Kanu wins Football Association cup

Kanu wins Football Association cup

Nigerian born footballer (soccer) Kanu scored the winning goal for Portsmouth, in todays English FA cup final in front of 90,000 fans.

I see he's mentioned on here in the past.

In 1996 he underwent an aortic valve repair at the Cleveland Clinic. To continue his top flight sporting career after that should be an inspiration to all valve patients.

Some of his £ millions are re-cycled into The Kanu Heart Foundation, providing heart care for African kids.

A routine medical was to reveal something so shocking, however, that the doctors carrying out the test initially suspected that their equipment was defective. Kanu had a potentially fatal weakness in his aortic heart valve and would need to undergo urgent open-heart surgery if he was to have any hope of playing again.

So it was that, in November 1996, he went under the knife at the Cleveland Medical Center in the USA, where an intricate repair-job was carried out, and it was while the youngster was unconscious that news broke that he had been voted African Footballer of the Year for the first time.

By April the following year, Kanu had been given the all-clear to return to action and, though Inter had decided in the meantime that paying 25 million euros for Ronaldo represented a better investment than gambling on the Nigerian making a successful recovery, Arsene Wenger proved more than happy to part with the £4.2 million it required to prise him from the San Siro.

A heart of gold
Success, silverware and two FIFA World Cup™ appearances followed during a memorable five-year stint in London, but this was now a player who had learned to judge such achievements in perspective.

"After that situation, I realised there was more to life than football," he recalls. "I knew I had to do something. If an adult could go through such pain, how much worse must it be for kids? The doctors told me that if people had the operation when they're young, they could go on and do whatever they love to do and fulfill their potential."

Filled by a new sense of purpose, the player quickly set about establishing the Kanu Heart Foundation, which was launched in August 2000 with the objective of alleviating the problem of heart-related diseases among children in Africa and establishing dozens of clinics in addition to five specialist hospitals throughout the continent.

 

[JCSydney]

Thanks Bonzo dog, I love reading these articles on what people have achieved after having valve replacement surgery, they are so inspirational.

Jeff.

 

[boomersooner]

I am 25 and had my aortic valve repaired in Dallas by Dr. William Ryan. He is amazing. I would not have used any other surgeon. I have a BAV and still have to take premeds before dental cleanings and all that jazz, but my valve doesn't leak! I was a 4+ on leakage before the procedure and now i am not even in the trace level. His results are 91% freedom from re-op at 12 years. You also have to remember these results are from people much older than 25 or even someone in their 40's. Dr. Ryan is an expert on the Ross and an expert on Aortic Valve's in general. Not many people are able to have a repair done because there are many things that can remove your candidacy form a repair procedure. Dr. Ryan also told me that he would not do the repair unless there is no doubt in his professional mind that this is the best procedure for you. We went over about 4 options when deciding what would be best. He said at best, obviously the repair would last me the rest of my life but realistically i will probably need another surgery to make it to my full life expectancy of 70 something. Anyway, G-d Bless and good luck!


Dr. William Ryan - Dallas, Texas

 

[CHDDoug]

Dr. Ryan did my surgery as well. I ended up going with the Ross, but Dr. Ryan was going to see if I was a candidate for repair first. I wasn't, so the Ross it was. I haven't regretted my decision one bit! Like BoomerSooner, I don't see myself using anyone else. He was amazing!!! The facility and care was top notch as well. You can't go wrong with him...especially since you live in Texas.

God Bless and good luck!