How many have had multiple OHS?

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Wade

Browsing through the forum, preparing for my surgery next week, I see several people who have had more than one open heart surgery.
Is it any easier the 2nd time 'round?
I can't imagine having to do this more than once!
 
I have and no it is not! It is more difficult and harder to recover from, plus your other organs take a good hit too. This is one of the many reasons I try to get the message across that you only want to do this one time if at all possible. Sometimes, it simply isn't possible.

Weigh the risks of accompanying risk of morbidity, risk of comorbidities, time consumed recuperating, worry to loved ones, increasing medical expenses, etc., to another surgery.
 
Ross said:
I have and no it is not! It is more difficult and harder to recover from, plus your other organs take a good hit too. This is one of the many reasons I try to get the message across that you only want to do this one time if at all possible. Sometimes, it simply isn't possible.
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Ditto that!!!!
 
It is hard to say for me. My son had complications after both his surgerys but he is young and after getting over the bumps he recovered remarlably well. After we came home from his second surgery he was running around and i was still feeling down from it all. Not very keen on these post. As we have to do it all again:(
 
I have had surgery twice so far (with more to come) and for me, if you don't take age into account, it was not harder. I felt like crap for about a week, but then I started feeling better each day and was up and doing the things I normally do pretty quickly.

Kim
 
I had two surgeries within four years and TOMORROW is my one year anniversary from my second.

My surgeon tried hard to repair my valve this time but he knew it was not going to be a good one and went with my Plan "B" which was tissue bovine valve.

My second surgery, while very hard beforehand and lots of anxiety and stress, was VERY much easier on me than my first. I was out of CICU in under 24 hours post op and had a half a sandwich and gingerale about16 hours post op. I then walked with my nurse and DH for half the length of the floor though I had four chest tubes hanging out of me.

I was very much less ill and knew the minute I first woke this second surgery was easier on me than the first.

Same hosptial, same cardio, same surgeon, many same nurses and support stafff, same patient.........


These surgeries are different for all of us and each is different on us individually, one surgery to the next for those of us who have multiples.
 
Like JKM said, everyone is different and from what I've seen you really won't know until the recovery is over how it will be for you. Justin had 5 OHS (plus 2 other heart related surgery/no bypass) the first 2 he was a baby/toddler and doesn't remember but the 2nd was awful, 6 months of hell. BUT THAT was because it was a MAJOR surgery where they basically rebuilt his heart and rerouted the blood flow, AND the doctors were still learning alot. The rest he remembers, his third he was 10 and was out of the hospital (and played drums in his school Christmas concert, he was sore but it was VERY important to him, so his docs OK'd it) in a week. When he was 17 he was home in about 4 days and pretty much back to normal in 6 weeks. When he was 19 he was home in 3days, but then readmited for an infection and had ER surgery 10 days post op, his main complaints from those surgeries was his thigh because they needed it use for bypass machine because of scar tissue from the previous times his chest was open and for the infection surgery they had to his pec muscle so that hurt, but all in all in 3 months he was pretty much doing everything he loved, snowboarding ect. He had minor or major complications from most of his surgeries, but the first thing he asked the doctors when he woke up from the infection surgery was this won't keep me from having more surgeries will it? (No it won't for those wonderring)

FWIW on the adult with CHD forums most of the people have had 2 -3 or more surgeries and those that had recent ones are surprised at how fast they feel better for the recent ones since when they had their older ones recovery times were MUCH longer. In the past 20 years there has been ALOT of progress in CHD surgery and many of the complex repairs are 2 or 3 stage surgeries, so surgeons (especially CHD surgeons) learned alot about MULTIPLE REDOS and what to look for and how to handle and and the heart surgery world in general has benefitted alot from what they learn from these brave babies and children, which IMO is one of the reasons why the stats are so much better these days for 2nd and 3rd surgeries (which is some of the reasons some of the major centers, especially ones that also specialize in treating children with CHD, are recomending tissue valves in people younger than 65 now) Would I or someone I love go to a local/small hospital for a 3rd or 4th surgery, probably not, but chances are IF you are a high risk case in the next 5 years or less, they will probably tell you to have the purcutaneous valve replacement.
 
Three OHS here & probably holding at that from now on. My first two happened when I was quite young (24) & able to spring back pretty quickly.

The last one was 3 years ago & I thought for sure I was going to die. It took me almost a full year to recover from that one. Doctors don't think I'd survive a 4th one & I don't think I'm willing to find out! :eek: :(
 
When I had my 1st surgery(AVR) in 2000, I chose a homograft valve lifespan up to 20 yrs.During surgery the surgeon decide to take some calcium off mitral valve which was not apart of the plan and caused me to go into complete heart block and also made the mitral valve leak!! So unfortunately now I need 2nd surgery for Mitral and Tricuspid replacements. My homograft is perfect.So I guess even when your plan/intentions are in place you still never really know what the future can hold. It is a really hard call. I had a very hard recovery the first time, and am not looking forward to this nor had I ever in my wildest dreams before the 1st surgery thought I would need surgery on the OTHER VALVES and end up with pacemaker in CHB. You really are the only one who can make that decision.Many people do OK on coumadin & many do great with tissue valves. It also depends on what valveyou are replacing. I loved the fact I was on no meds til last year,now I am on asprin and atenelol. The homograft for me was a great chioce but did not expect all the rest. Best of luck.
 
I have never fully recovered from my third OHS. I am in constant a-fib directly related to multiple surgeries. I have incisional hernias that are annoying and painful but not enough to go through another surgery. I developed a massive infection under my incision after the third surgery due to sutures that I reacted to and had to be opened up again. The list goes on and on.

Yes, everyone is different but you still have to ask yourself if you are willing to take the chance that it will be "a piece of cake" for you.
 
Well a tissue valve isn't even an option for me really. I'm 35 and best case it might last until I'm 65 and that's not an age where I want to get opened up again.
I'm not even considering not getting a mechanical valve.

My surgeon and cardiologist are however debating putting in a conduit with the valve or no. Cardio says yes, surgeon says maybe.

At 1st I was thinking, the less junk in there the better, but now I'm thinking I'd hate to have to do the conduit later.

I have my pre-admission today.
 
Wade said:
Well a tissue valve isn't even an option for me really. I'm 35 and best case it might last until I'm 65 and that's not an age where I want to get opened up again.
I'm not even considering not getting a mechanical valve.

My surgeon and cardiologist are however debating putting in a conduit with the valve or no. Cardio says yes, surgeon says maybe.

At 1st I was thinking, the less junk in there the better, but now I'm thinking I'd hate to have to do the conduit later.

I have my pre-admission today.
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Do you have BAV? What did the surgeon say would play into his determination of wether a conduit or not?
 
Bina said:
My Hubby and I have considered the options if I should need a second OHS.....our first choice would be Bridge Jumping.
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Wow, do I know that feeling. :)

While I was waiting for my second surgery, which was a few weeks away, I had to visit my cardio's office. I was chatting with his nurse and secretary and when they asked how I was doing, I responded I was looking for a high bridge suitable for jumping. :eek:
They weren't sure if I was serious or not. For that matter, I wasn't sure either. ;)
 
Yeas BAV.
Surgeon (and cardio) say the aortic root is large, but still normal, although on the high side of normal.

Surgeon is thinking if we get the valve job done, and my abnormal heart rythym squared away, the aorta should be good, but he's got the conduit standing by in case he sees something he doesn't like while he's in there.

Cardio says: while he's in there, he should just do it. He thinks the aorta is going to continue to grow and no reason to chance having to do it later.

When my surgeon scheduled the surgery he said to the nurse: "Aortic replace, plus or minus conduit."
 
I would push them to do it if you can, get the conduit so you do not have to worry about an aneurysm growing. I am waiting myself right now with a bicuspid valve and an aneuryms to get it fixed. I'm 33 and I will tell you the stress of having to deal with the waiting is so much - yet I am thankful we found it.

From what I have read so far, people with a bicuspid valve are very prone to form aneurysm due to the weak and flawed genetic material in the valve and the aortic tissue next to it. If yours is growing at all, get it fixed now rather than having to face going back in later and fixing it. What is the measurement for the root and aorta?
 
I know this belongs in a differtn thread, (that I can't find right now) but have you heard anything about your thyroid tests?
 
Your cardio sounds like he has the right idea. Why set yourself up to have to possibly go through this more than once if you are not keen on a second surgery?

If it was me, I'd be telling the surgeon to do the whole job while he's in there, LOL.:)

Good luck, anyway

Bridgette
 
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