Recent content by OldManEmu

The link is to an abstract published in the AHA journal "Circulation". It makes interesting reading. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circ.144.suppl_1.10712

I am in Melbourne and have had 2 AVRs the second included an Aortic repair. Both my surgeries were performed by Associate Professor George Matalanis He does a lot of the more complex cases here is his profile. Associate Professor George Matalanis | Hope For Hearts The other surgeon that I am...

Very sad news, especially at this time of year. Bob was a very active contributor of well researched information in my early years on this site. He will be missed.

You may recall that I commented on you thread when you had the initial endocarditis. Having been the cause of my original AVR 16 years ago I have asked my cardio a lot of questions over the years about the chance of a reinfection. Once you have had endocarditis you are more likely to get it...

I was given a hand written card after both my surgeries. The card looked like it came with the valve because it had the manufacturers name and valve model printed on it and the surgeon filled the details (his name, my name, date etc) on the day. A few weeks later I was mailed a permanent card...

The best source I have found on the Virus is the YouTube channel Peak Prosperity. The guy that runs it has a PHD in the biomed field. He does an update most days. Some of the videos also cover financial implications of the virus. Peak Prosperity

Nicole I remember you from your previous active time at VR. You certainly have experienced run of bad luck over the years and it appears to have been compounded by some less than optimal medical treatment. I hope sharing your story has helped it can be hard when very few people have anyone they...

In 2004 I had an AVR with a 29mm Medtronic Mosiac Porcine Valve and I could feel a lot of what I would call pounding in the first 3-6 months after surgery but I put this down to my heart remodelling after having to work against a valve that was being destroyed for 8 months with endocarditis...

Cultures are next to useless if you have been on antibiotics. I had my first culture done months before the endocarditis was found and as I had been on antibiotics they came back negative. When the endocarditis was found it was after I was becoming sick again and cultures were done after being...

At my latest cardio visit this year when discussing my tissue valve life span she mentioned that TAVR now has less risk in placement than conventional AVR and was going to be used as the standard replacement option for all patients over 75 not just high risk patients. She sits on numerous...

I have had endocarditis and it is what caused my first AVR. Like you it was a strep infection however I had it for 8 months before it was identified. Once strep was isolated I was on penicillian 3 times a day in hospital then a PICC line was inserted and I was treated at home for a further 3...

I would be thinking about breaking the 50 points down to 3 categories, pre-surgery from the point that you are refered to a surgeon, surgery and the hospital stay, the first 6 weeks post hospital until you are cleared for normal activities such as weight lifting with in reason and no driving...

I had a 4.7cm aortic aneurysm at the time of my first surgery that couldn't be addressed then because of my poor state, only the AVR was done. It remained stable for close to 6 years with yearly CT scans until it went to 5.2cm triggering a 6 month follow up in which it had slightly increased...

That’s good news, moving her to a hospital that actually knows how to treat heart failure properly has paid off. If your mother had no mental issues before the VR you may want to ask the doctors if it is being caused by any of the medication she is on. A lot of heart related medications carry...

Congratulations Steve on the 8th birthday. I also had my redo March 2011 so my 8th birthday is also this month. I also received a Edwards Bovine Pericardial valve however mine is a 27mm. This year is 15 years for me since my first AVR, the second AVR was far easier than the first.