New Advancements

[Hank]

There are so many new advancements in technology coming from all different directions. So many of them bring us hope for the future. I am convinced that "anticoaguants" will seem like an antique form of maintaining those with mechanical valves. And mechanical valves will be gone some day also. You need a valve? Well step right up and give us a blood sample and we'll clone an exact copy of your original! Unless of course your original was flawed, then we'll tweak your dna strand and repair the problems for you new valve.

It's all coming...

If you catch wind of anything new and promising, this is the place to share it.

 

[Chris Green]

I wonder?

I wonder?

I wonder if this holds out any promise?

It seems aimed at heart muscle, could it be applied to valves?
have a look at this page

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1468000/1468260.stm

 

[ticktock]

new advancement

new advancement

I suppose I AM a new enhancement, advancement, etc. I needed a 4th aortic valve replacement, and didnt have many options. Dr. Denton Cooley in Houston, did my surgery using a new and innovative technique. I dont want to bore anyone with details, so if you are interested, let me know. Im very new here, and do not know what is appropriate!! I cannot believe there is a site for VALVE patients!! For the longest time I thought I was alone "out there".
mindy at the gulf coast:

 

[BillC]

Hi Mindy

Hi Mindy

Welcome, Mindy ...
Glad you found our group. I'm in Houston and also had my AVR done at the Texas Heart Institute/St. Luke's. My surgeon, David Ott, is on Denton Cooley's team -- and as you know, they're all TOPS.

We would be very interested to hear about Dr. Cooley's new and innovative technique if you're comfortable sharing it with us. Otherwise, please feel free to email me at [email protected].

Look forward to hearing from you. There are 6 members of our group who live in the Houston area. Do you ever get up here? Would love to meet you some time.

Take care, and again ... welcome ~

 

[ticktock]

Wow, what a surprise!! Sundays must be slow for everyone. I should be in BED! Janie, what a surprise, i looked at your profile and your surgery was the day AFTER mine in 1999!! Were you at the Texas Heart Institute? Mine was 10/6/99. What was your procedure?? And Bill? I failed to look at yours. Im still getting used to the boards and how they work. Will explain my procedure another day soon. Im so sleepy Im about to fall outta this chair, and my INR is about 3. Better not!! Thanks for responding so quickly. Thanks for making me feel so welcome!

 

[ticktock]

Whew!

Whew!

Janie
Wow, what a deal. Where did you have your surgery, and who did it? Or do you feel like sharing that information? You were very fortunate, and sounds like your surgery was totally successful. What kind of valve do you have? At least you didnt have to worry about it for weeks!!
mindy

 

[ticktock]

Janie
The weather guy said it was 95 degrees, thought I would swear it was 190!!!! It seems hotter by the day, or am I just getting old?

 

[srwieland]

Welcome, ticktock, to this wonderful group of heart buddies who are the only ones who truly understand what we've been\are going through.

After you get enough rest, we surely do want to hear your story, and especially about your most recent procedure. I agree with Janie that you probably own the record here, although Nancy's Joe might be close. If I've forgotten anyone else, someone please remind us.

We've also have a lot of heart buddies here who had their surgeries in Houston, the most recent of which (in my pumphead memory ) was Mike and Beverley. Have we heard from them lately? (For that matter, has anyone heard from me lately, before this?). It's hard to stay current with all the communication and info on this site, but it sure is worth it when we do. Thanks all and thank you again, ticktock, for joining us.

 

[ticktock]

Steve in Florida

Im not sure about that "record holding" business. IS that a good thing? Heart surgery sometimes seems a way of life for me, gee, I prefer it to a root canal.

I will try and post "my story" this weekend. Im moving on Tuesday, so things will be hectic for a while. I have been packing over the past 3 weeks, taking it slow. It is so good to be here. Thank your for your interest in my story.

 

[Karen3108]

weight lifted off me

weight lifted off me

I have just joined your forum from the UK. Some of you may have to be a little patient with me as I expect I will ask alot of questions as some of the brands etc are baffling for me. I have ahad a replacement valve for 14 yrs and only just found you all a little late but better than never.

As you may be aware we have a National Health System in the UK that is supposed to fund our care. Its in chaos and causes more trauma for heart patients who do not have private medical insurance in place to cover procedures. In turn we are not as knowledgeable about the brands, types of valves etc and drugs used as most of you seem to be in the USA.

I have a homograph aortic valve from 1992 this is now failing I am 46 and had my first graft due to Rheumatic Fever fitted at 32yrs. I decided on this type as I take no medication and it has served me well. I am active and ride my 17hh horse which worries me if I were to have to take warfarin. Its a long way to fall!!!

I have just had an angiogram showing no problems with arteries etc only valve failure. I am now urgently requiring a new valve which in our system urgent for heart surgery is 4-6 months.

Now the decision comes my Dr of cardiology not the surgeon who i havent seen yet strongly advises on a mechanical valve as he thinks it will last forever.

I have doubts, at 46yrs i do not relish taking warfarin for the rest of my life. Also I have been told that the mechanical valve has a life expectancy of 30yrs taking me to 75yrs. If I was to have another graft or pigs valve my third opp would be expected at 60yrs which i feel would be a better age to have a third opp.

Well I have plenty of time to think 3-6 months anyway.

Now thats me and my introduction to you all any ideas would be appreciated and hope to be conversing again with you all real soon.

Ragards

Karen

Karen

 

[geebee]

Hi Karen and welcome.

You might want to try and repost in the Heart Talk Forum or the Valve Selection forum so more people will see. If you start a new thread, introducing yourself, you will get more responses.

I would agree about the warfarin worry if falling is a real possibility for you (for example, do you jump your horse, ride cross country, etc.)?

If you are merely a quiet rider out on weekend strolls, warfarin may not be an issue for you.

Mechanical valves do fail but not because they wear out. It is usually one's body reactions that cause the failures (sewing ring leaking, scar tissue buildup, etc.). There is a guarantee you will need another surgery with a bio but not necessarily with a mechanical if your body doesn't negatively react to it. Assuming your body is "okay" with the mechanical, it will "outlive" you.

Ask your questions and I am sure you will feel fine about your decision whatever it turns out to be.

 

[PJmomrunner]

Hi Karen:

Welcome. You might want to copy your post and re-post it as a new thread in the Valve Selection forum. Otherwise your question might not get the attention it deserves.

You will find that people here have some pretty strong opinions about valve choice. It is probably worthwhile to spend some time reading old threads in the Valve Selection forum, particularly: http://valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14330

I try to stay out of discussions about valve choice as I have yet to have a replacement myself and haven't arrived at a decision about which I'll have when the time comes. I will say that when considering the effect warfarin will have on one's life, I believe the single most important factor to consider is not so much the ramifications of the drug's effect on one's blood's coagulation as the misconceptions surrounding those ramifications that abound in the medical community. In other words, it may hold little importance that it is safe to have a colonoscopy while on warfarin if the doctor performing the procedure thinks it is unsafe and takes you off it for five days, putting you at serious risk for a stroke. If you decide to go mechanical and take warfarin you must be committed to regular administration of the drug, testing of its level in your blood and to advocating for yourself in the face of dosing relative to fluctuations and future procedures. The vast majority of warfarin users on this website are quite comfortable with this.

On the flip side of this coin, I wonder why you have been advised that you'll get only 14 years out of a tissue valve when you got 14 out of a homograph. As a general rule, one's body chemistry is harder on valves when one is younger. That, combined with the increased longevity that is expected from today's valves, would, I suspect, give you a better prognosis than 14 years. I admit I don't know much about homographs though.

 

[hensylee]

Welcome to VR. You will find that we have quite a number of members from UK. As the others said, we have several 'threads' (subjects) in Valve Replacement. Click (above) on ValveReplacement.com Forums and it will take you there. Then choose a title, click on it and re-post all your questions there.

 

[StretchL]

And mechanical valves will be gone some day also. You need a valve? Well step right up and give us a blood sample and we'll clone an exact copy of your original! Unless of course your original was flawed, then we'll tweak your dna strand and repair the problems for you new valve.

I agree completely. There's just no reason why, once stem cells are available and widely used in conjunction with recombitant DNA, the mapping of the human geome, etc., that a new valve, tailor made for the recipient, can't be grown.