On-X valve becoming the only mechanical heart valve approved for low-dose anticoagula

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Lynlw said:
that's really great, and it was interesting and encouraging to read about the studies in africa, lyn
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I think you meant Atlanta, Lyn?

And, I would hate to be in any of the three control groups, but I am glad they are doing the trials!
 
Mary said:
I think you meant Atlanta, Lyn?

And, I would hate to be in any of the three control groups, but I am glad they are doing the trials!
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nope, meant Africa, well south africa lol

Other Non-Randomized Reduced Anticoagulation Trials in Progress

In South Africa, 438 On-X valve patients have been followed (95 percent) for five years. The patients are documented to have varying amounts of anticoagulation. Approximately 14 percent of On-X patients were categorized as having ?unsatisfactory? or anticoagulation below 1.5 INR. Another 29 percent had ?no? or ?unknown? anticoagulation, which was attributed to poor patient compliance to established protocols. The remarkable aspect of the study is that among aortic, mitral and double valve replacement patients, only one (0.2 percent) of the patients have experienced thrombosis in five years despite 41 percent non-compliance to INR protocol.
 
Lynlw said:
nope, meant Africa, well south africa lol

Other Non-Randomized Reduced Anticoagulation Trials in Progress

In South Africa, 438 On-X valve patients have been followed (95 percent) for five years. The patients are documented to have varying amounts of anticoagulation. Approximately 14 percent of On-X patients were categorized as having ?unsatisfactory? or anticoagulation below 1.5 INR. Another 29 percent had ?no? or ?unknown? anticoagulation, which was attributed to poor patient compliance to established protocols. The remarkable aspect of the study is that among aortic, mitral and double valve replacement patients, only one (0.2 percent) of the patients have experienced thrombosis in five years despite 41 percent non-compliance to INR protocol.
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Now how did I miss that????:confused: :eek: :p :p

I can't believe there was 41% non-compliance to INR protocol; I thought according to past discussions, there was very little variance in user parameters. :confused: :confused:
 
I'm assuming that is mostly in some of the luckier countries that have much more, heck for 40 cents a day in africa you can get your aids meds but most can't even afford that, so I can see how things can happen
 
F:

This is why I chose the On-X. Google Dr. Laks at UCLA and you might find him quoting his preference for the On-X. He told me I night not need coumadin in a couple of years if things pan out. In Africa they can't monitor the coumadin useage, many don't have it or can't afford it.

Read MOUNTAINS BEYOND MOUNTAINS by tracy kidder, pulitzer prize, and you'll get an idea of how hard it is to deliver and administer drugs in poor countries where fresh water is a priviledge. Anyway, good luck!

They'll probably come out with an even better valve soon.

t
 
That's great! At the time I had my surgery (2003) the Heat Institute here in Ottawa was only using the On-x valve. I'm not sure if that is still the case, but my surgeon told me they were using only on-x valves so that they could gather a good amount of clinical data on them.

I see my cardio Friday, I'll have to ask him about reducing my INR range! Right now, they're keeping my around 3.5 for an aortic valve.
 
This makes me so happy:D And same here Dr.Laks recommended the On-X valve to me because I am only 30 and the chance of being off of warfarin in the next couple of years. I hope the studies cont. to go well. Thanks for the info....
 
lilbit said:
This makes me so happy:D And same here Dr.Laks recommended the On-X valve to me because I am only 30 and the chance of being off of warfarin in the next couple of years. I hope the studies cont. to go well. Thanks for the info....
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Christine, It is good to see the smile. I’ll do a search to read about your experience/choice.


This report enticed me to really look into who would implement/use an On-X valve.
I spoke to the doctor I saw about a week ago at Colombia, and he said that he would use the X-ON even if I needed a portion of the aorta to be replaced.

He appeared to know about the studies in Europe and in Africa and the possibility that that the FDA might lower the anticoagulant in the future. He was very proactive; he called my cardiologist and discussed with him my condition and background before and after the visit.

Now I'm waiting on another doctor to tell me if he would use the On-X. He is in Morristown Memorial Hospital (MMH). His office informed me that he did not use On-X before. By I was told by the surgeon from Colombia, that externally as far as implanting the On-X, it would be the same as St. Jude. {DO YOU GUYS THING THERE IS A LEARNING CURVE IN IMPLANTING ONE (ST. JUDE) VALVE TO THE OTHER (On-X)????.

The main differences between Colombia and MMH are the distance to my house AND that the surgeon at Columbia has used the On-X valve numerous times before.

My family said that they’d rent hotel rooms for a week or two where ever I go to stay with me.:D

(Notice I wrote X-On in the 1st para. I did not correct on purpose. I was talking to the doctor from Colombia and misspoke and said X-On, sounding like EXXON; and he said no that is a fuel company, you mean On-X. I did not want to correct him and explain that is probably a little dyslexia on my part LOL).
 
Well I guess there is always a first time for everything (MMH) But if it were me I would go with the more experienced doctor (Colombia). I also had a choice of 2 hospitals and I chose UCLA and Dr.Laks because he has done multiple surgeries already using the On-X valve. The other hospital is equally as good but had never done a surgery using the On-X valve. But you do what you feel is right for you and we will be here on the flip side to support your recovery and beyond:)
 
I too have an on-x- It's a long story but my cardiologist replaced my aortic valve with the on-x- I had asked for a St. Jude and had discounted the on-x orginally as I only saw "experimental" - I was in quite a shock when he told me and in addition he told me I was his first patient he had used the on-x with! I'm not much of a risk taker and would have never agreed however it is in there and the research I have done does look promising. One of the factors that could prevent a person from being considered for "asprin only" vs the coumadin is whether or not you have AF. If you have AF, the treatment is coumadin so you are in a no win situation. I check ocassionally at the on-x web site to try and be current on their research. You may already know this but simply do a search for on-x mechanical heart valve and you should be able to get information.
 
belajob said:
I too have an on-x- It's a long story but my cardiologist replaced my aortic valve with the on-x- I had asked for a St. Jude and had discounted the on-x orginally as I only saw "experimental" - I was in quite a shock when he told me and in addition he told me I was his first patient he had used the on-x with!
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OMG! Well I'm glad the On-x sounds great, but that was horrible for the surgeon to install a valve you did not ask for. Did you think of taking any legal action because of this? I'm glad you are doing, well, but I was just curious.
 
This is the reason why I did not panic when my INR momentarily dropped to 1.6 after food poisoning and bad dosis management. Granted I want it between 2.5 -3.5, but getting low for a short period may not put us at great risk when clinics fail to dose properly.
 
On X Valve study

On X Valve study

Hello, I am in the waiting room and read a lot of posts but don't often post myself :)

I have been invited by some surgeons to potentially participate in the On-X valve study and would hopefully be put into the "low risk" classification and be able to avoid coumadin as part of the study.

Is anyone else in valvereplacement.com part of the actual study? Of course, I would like to avoid coumadin if possible and wonder if this would be a good option for me. I was told that study participants do their own INR's at home and this would be great for me; y'know, us nurses don't mind a little blood...
- Sara C
 
Sarah, I live in Denver and am actually in a tough spot right now regarding the On-x valve. I'm very happy with my surgeon, but he only works with St Jude valves. I really would like to have the On-x valve for the obvious low/no coumadin factor, but since my surgeon doesn't use them, I'm not sure what to do! I need to have my aortic and mitral replaced. How did you come accross to be a potential?
 
belajob said:
I too have an on-x- It's a long story but my cardiologist replaced my aortic valve with the on-x- I had asked for a St. Jude and had discounted the on-x orginally as I only saw "experimental" - I was in quite a shock when he told me and in addition he told me I was his first patient he had used the on-x with! I'm not much of a risk taker and would have never agreed however it is in there and the research I have done does look promising. One of the factors that could prevent a person from being considered for "asprin only" vs the coumadin is whether or not you have AF. If you have AF, the treatment is coumadin so you are in a no win situation. I check ocassionally at the on-x web site to try and be current on their research. You may already know this but simply do a search for on-x mechanical heart valve and you should be able to get information.
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WOW ! That's quite a story. I KNOW how if feels to have the surgeon tell you he didn't implant the valve that was agreed upon. In my case there was a true medical reason which I understand.

SO, WHERE did you have your surgery? (Hospital, City)
WHO was your surgeon?

And finally, WHERE is Smith Station, Alabama?

'AL Capshaw'
 
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