Recent content by Simon Booker

Steve Welcome to the VR community and to a fellow Brit! My father had an AVR at the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford 24 months ago and this site was an enormous help. We went with a tissue (Edwards Perimount bovine) - Dad was 62 at the time but very active and continues now to work in...

Good luck with the procedure! Valve choice is always hard, and the choice must always be a personal one. We went through the same long decision process with my Dad, and of course it is possible that we might all have regrets in the future. But tissue or mechanical - there are pros and cons...

Congratulations! My Dad had an AVR and CAB done in 2009 in Oxford, UK, - surgeon was Ravi Pillai. He had a longer incision, but it was glued closed, not stitched. A few years down the line it is pretty much as invisable as yours!

Congratulations! Congratulations! Well done Dad When the AVR was done we relied on this site for daily information, updates, advice and support. Dad had a few complications post surgery, including a re-operation to address a pericardial effusion. But we received a lot of help from members...

Hi Eddie - what type of tissue valve do you currently have? The valve choice issue is notoriously complex and my experience is that no two people offer the same advice, although you do pick up common threads. I looked at the graphs and data that are summarised above in respect of my Dad's...

Thanks - the valve was an Edwards Perimount Bovine tissue 23mm - implanted in May 2009. I'm not sure what the immediate post-op gradients were, but it seems logical that things might settle down over time. Since posting my original question, I've got more information from the cardiologist -...

thanks very much - it is good to know that the gradient seems good! Kind regards Simon

Hi there My Dad is getting on very well after an AVR last summer in Oxford, UK. We had a twelve month check up recently and got some confused information back from the Consultant that I just don't recognise. I recall being told that the pressure gradient was absolutely fine but that the...

My Father was on Coudamin for 6 months post-AVR (CE Bovine Perimount) due to suspected Atrial Clot, but has now reverted to 100mg Aspirin once a day for life. We are told this is precautionary for tissue valvers. Kind regards Simon

Having a fever is always a concern because of acute endocarditis of your tissue valve. Make sure you get this checked specifically - although (I'm no expert) your tests so far look ok. A run of antibiotics would do no harm as a precaution. If you have physical symptoms concerning your valve...

Thanks - really helpful Thanks - really helpful Many thanks for your postings. This makes much more sense now - Dad has an appointment this afternoon with his cardialogist - and I think that the Amiodorone is a likely cuplrit of his dizzy spells. Hopefully he can come off this today, as he...

Laura - so glad to hear that you are home and hopefully looking forward to a straightforward recovery and the last of the summer... Kind regards Simon

Hello again My Dad (AlanB) had an AVR (tissue) seven weeks ago. However in the last week he has suffered from some dizzy spells, which seem to come on at times when he is not exercising (lying down or standing still/walking slowly) and mean that he has to sit down because he loses his balance...

Other trials in the UK Other trials in the UK I was also told that the Oxford Heart Centre in the UK is currently trialing Equine (horse) valves as part of its Valve Replacement Research programme.

I found this article and was quite impressed with the science. If it works, it might offer an alternative to OHS and valve replacement for many? I have duplicated the newpaper article below. It also has contact details for the European medical centre that seems to be offering this...