EireCara

[EireCara]

Hi there, My GP told me yesterday that there is a 5% mortality rate with OH valve surgery...scary......is this true?? From what Iv read..so far..i get the feeling it depends on what condition the heart is in when having the surgery done !! Also, it seems that dental care is important when theres a heart valve problem. I had a root canal filling about 2 years ago but an infection developed last August, actually 2 days after I started taking Amiadrone for irr heart beats.(Also the point when my throat problems began). It is a VERY powerful drug and played havock with my body.Of course It could all be coincidence but I dont think so. Iv had 5 antibiotics since then. The infection will not clear completely and my dentist does not want to do a 2nd root canal treatment. On x-ray there is always a 'gathering' there, it flares up every week and it has made an exit site on my gum just above my tooth line. I usually 'pop' it and gargle with salted water. Again and again im reading stuff about dental infections etc. Is it dangerous to have this ongoing. Im having problems with my throat (swallow) so iv been avoiding going to a root canal specialist because of how long I will be in the chair with major stuff going on in my mouth.

 

[pipersmith]

I am sure that people with more knowledge than i will be along to answer better, but....
the statistics that I have read are better than that (perhaps just 1 or 2%) AND the mortality rate without the OHS is certainly closer to 100%Certainly we would all chose not to roll these particular dice - but thankfully modern medicine offers us a choice - a second chance. This site if FULL of successful replacements and repairs - the odds are certainly in our favor!
and....
I would be shocked if a cardio or surgeon did not want some resolution for the situation in your mouth BEFORE proceeding with any major work. My surgeon asked me to have any ad all work done prior to discussing a date. I personally would not want to enter a compromising cardiac and immunologica situation with an infection going on - just my 2cents.
I wish you luck with your situation truly. I know that OHS sounds scary - but it is less scary than the alternative - we really are lucky for the option!!

 

[Karlynn]

I would be shocked if a cardio or surgeon did not want some resolution for the situation in your mouth BEFORE proceeding with any major work.

I agree. Unless your valve is in an emergency situation, you are going to want to get that infection taken care of before surgery. It sounds like you need to be referred to an infection specialist to get this taken care of.

5% is higher than what we generally say here. But 5% is still pretty low. Check out the mortality rates of more common-place surgeries and I'll think you'll be a bit surprised at the mortality rate. Just the risk of general anesthetic contributes to that #.

Best wishes!

 

[sue943]

You do need to get your tooth situation sorted out, with an extraction if they cannot get rid of the infection any other way. If you have a problem with your heart valves you are already at risk of getting endocarditis from a tooth absess - you must get it sorted out and fast. Does your cardiologist know that you have a tooth infection?

This is all a bit confusing with both your threads with the same title.

 

[EireCara]

Sue943

Sue943

oops....sorry, Im still getting used to this. Should I not have started a new thread?? Are the comments I can make limited in number ?? Sorry if Im confusing you. :/

 

[pipersmith]

oops....sorry, Im still getting used to this. Should I not have started a new thread?? Are the comments I can make limited in number ?? Sorry if Im confusing you. :/

No limit what so ever. I think that she is referring to your threads having the same name (your name). Try putting the subject of your question/ comment in the Title box - that way you will get more replies.

Everyone was new here at first. Today's technology allows strangers from all over the world to help each other Don't apologize; this group LOVES to offer advice. Just keep posting!!

 

[EireCara]

)))) Thank you Piper (((((

 

[pipersmith]

)))) Thank you Piper (((((

You are most welcome!!
May I ask about your user name - meaning?pronunciation? it is very beautiful - I have been curious since you posted

 

[Adrienne]

It also differs from surgeon to surgeon. Get the best surgeon!!!

 

[EireCara]

Reply to Piper....

Reply to Piper....

Hi Piper, Of course I dont mind sharing the meaning of my user name.....Eire is gaelic (gaelic being the language spoken in Ireland before English was introduced) for 'Ireland ' and Cara is gaelic for 'friend' so my user name translates to ''Irish friend''. Gaelic is a compulsary subject in schools, both primary and secondary, and there are some schools where no English is spoken at all. There are even areas of the country, such as the West of Ireland where no English is spoken. We also have a tv channel which is completely Gaelic. ( I hope I got the Title correct this time....eeek.

 

[EireCara]

reply re:EireCara

reply re:EireCara

I forgot to deal with the pronounciation ...... Eire is pronounced Air-a and Cara is pronouned Car-a. Not sure if thats any help!!!!

 

[Magic8Ball]

I was initially told 95% but the surgeon said more like 98% roughly a 2.5% mortality risk.

But thats more due to the anestetic, the open wounds, infections etc and not the surgery itself....from what i can gather AVR and ascending aorta work is fairly run of the mill these days.

But, if i wait until it rips then i have a 10-20% chance of survival and that does not take into account the other organ damage/failure that can occur if a tear happens.

 

[aussigal]

Hi...I love your user-name too ...

Once you have been around us for awhile and seen a few of the members go through surgery and come out the other side smiling it wont be so scary as it first is.

I didnt worry about percentages etc. I just wanted my problem gone so I put my trust in a wonderful surgeon and let him do the worrying.

 

[EireCara]

Aussiegal

Aussiegal

Hi there, wow I see you have been ''through the mill''...well done, Im glad you are out the other side. I also have a 15 year old son, and just recently hes been getting palpations chest pain and weakness. He has worn a holter monitor for 24 hours, which showed 2 runs of tachy at 140 btm, so we are waiting to see a cardiologist. You are very lucky that you have the option of choosing your surgeon. Unfortunately here in Ireland we dont have that choice. I think thats what makes me nervous, because having this medical problem, I feel, takes away my sense of control, and not being able to have a say in where I have it treated and by whom just adds to that. Of course wealthy people here can choose for themselves !! Unfortunately Im not in that position, been busy the last 10 years bringing my children up alone. I havent had a social life, dont drink or smoke.....and this is my reward. Guess life isnt always fair !!!

 

[Turkey Hunter]

I am not sure what the mortality rate in Ireland would eb, but here in the USA it is more around the 1.2 to 1.5%.
But you are correct, it does depend on the condition of the heart and the amount of work needing performed.

It's not as bad as you may think..... I promise.

 

[pipersmith]

Hi Piper, Of course I dont mind sharing the meaning of my user name.....Eire is gaelic (gaelic being the language spoken in Ireland before English was introduced) for 'Ireland ' and Cara is gaelic for 'friend' so my user name translates to ''Irish friend''. Gaelic is a compulsary subject in schools, both primary and secondary, and there are some schools where no English is spoken at all. There are even areas of the country, such as the West of Ireland where no English is spoken. We also have a tv channel which is completely Gaelic. ( I hope I got the Title correct this time....eeek.

I LOVE that!!! If I were having more kiddos - I think I would use that as a name. It is beautiful, and I just love unusual names (which that would be here ) I do not know Gaelic - but what I hear of it sounds beautiful. I love Enya - many of her songs contain other languages, in cluding Gaelic.
Thank you for sharing!!

 

[tobagotwo]

Welcome to the site, Irish Friend.

In most metropolitan US areas, the rate is 1% to 2% for an otherwise healthy person. Other, concurrent health factors, such as lung problems, can raise the risk, though.

Pipersmith is entirely correct to point out the alternative: 100% fatality.

Get thee to an oral surgeon and get that infection cleared up right away. No more half-measures. You are flirting heavily with endocarditis, which will destroy what's left of your damaged valve, your remaining valves, and do other, permanent damage to your heart as well. Then there may be a poor result for no reason. Please don't delay.

Your symptoms sound like you may be quite close to surgery. Is the valve issue the only problem, or are there other complications?

Best wishes,

 

[EireCara]

irr.heartbeat

irr.heartbeat

HI Bob, My only other problems are irregular heartbeats. Some days they are worse than others and I can see they are going to keep me up again tonight. Its not a rapid heart beat just constant jumping and a weird feeling in my heart and chest. I would get the arrythmia but for beta blockers which Iv taken for years. Its 1am here and I havent gone to bed yet because when I lie down it gets worse and other symptoms kick in. Up until recently I could change what position I lay in and it would relieve it somewhat, but these days nothing helps. This is the worst part of the day for me, when the kids are in bed and I sit here alone dreading the night, but praying I get through it ok, because I need to be here for my children. Thank you for replying.

 

[aussigal]

I have a feeling that you might be bothered by stress and thats what is adding to your night-time rhythm annoyances. I had the same thing. Maybe a word to your Cardio or Doctor about this would ease your mind and allow you to get some sleep. I took Valium a few times before my surgery to settle my anxiety and they also increased my beta-blocker to help control the odd beats I was having. Both these measures worked really well for me. I also found it a huge help to be able to whinge to these lovely people here about what was going on.

I hope all turns out well with your son. Raising a 15 year old son by yourself, I think you are a champion.

I used our private health insurance and paid to chose my own surgeon and Cardio. The "public" option would have meant spending ages on the waiting list and I was too nervous to do that. Actually the chief Cardio-Thoracic surgeon who works in our biggest Public hospital is fabulous and I bet your guy will be great too.