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Congrats on his recovery! I was told that @10% of AVR get pericardial effusions as a complication. I fell in to that group! Fortunately I was not far from the hospital and @12 days after my surgery I was admitted for a "window" the next day. Walking, I felt like I was a 90 y/o man! The night...

I had the same experience with my one and only (I hope) surgery. Fortunately, waking up and finding myself in the same situation I kept myself calm. It took @1 hour before they suctioned me and extubated me. Coughing is what set me off to fighting the machine. It took a lot of will power to let...

I was fortunate to get a Marcaine pump for three days into my chest...less pain, ask. Learn to breath using your diaphragm not by expanding your chest. Walk as soon as you can. Get a stool softener as soon as possible! Drink plenty of water. If you wake up on a ventilator, don't panic, relax...

My 9 year anniversary with my Aorta bovine valve is coming up in July. I am an avid rollerblader and my valve is doing fine! I do get visual auras which are mostly under control with Topiramate. When I elected to have my surgery, TAVR was being developed and I told my surgeon to be sure to make...

I had my ascending Aorta done @4.7. My surgeon has been studying the shearing of the walls of the Aorta and he said there are no hard and fast rules regarding size and dissections. That and some symptoms I was starting to develop convinced me to get it sooner rather than later. My valve was to...

This thread should be mandatory reading for those awaiting their ops! 1- I was surprised how nervous and frightened I became when I got on the OR table and people began to touch me from head to toe (not to mention all that equipment in the room). Man, I was glad they put me to sleep when they...

I am three months out and feeling pretty good. I've been riding a bike and even skated a little. I had to have my pericardial effusion drained 12 days post op so they reopened and lengthened my scar at the bottom. The top part of my scar looks good but the lower part is thicker. I get some...

In discussions with my surgeon, I asked that my valve/aorta replacement be TAVI ready. I hope when it is time for my "re-op" this procedure will be available. See link for rationing discussion...

I know that my hospital is participating in the trial. When I planned on my procedure, one of the things I discussed with my surgeon was making sure that my root and aorta sizes was "TAVI" ready. Initially, I thought my aortic valve was going to be repaired but learned after that it was too...

Randomized trials are ongoing. Google "transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) trial"

I did not suffer from the affects of being on a pump for several hours. The first thing I did when I woke up nearly 20 hours later was ask the nurses what their names were and tested myself to see if I could remember their names - I did. The only side effect I had with being on a pump was...

I complained about my numbness in the hospital. I was put on Neurontin (Gabapentin) for the neuropathic pain. My arm has improved as far as functionality, but it still hurts. The pain meds give me some relief but I don't like to keep taking them. I guess I will have to wait it out!

Thank you all for the well wishes! My surgeon told me that the reason they use the subclavian artery is to avoid the real possibility of a stroke as opposed to using the aorta. He says this is his preferred method when the patient's heart is arrested for the repair work.

I had the full sternotomy and this was my first surgery. I am actually happy that my groin wasn't used (I was prepped there just in case). When I had my cardiac cath I specifically used a interventionalist who specialized in using the arm. I guess I'm mostly surprised at having the numbness...

I had a separate incision in my right shoulder for the heart/lung machine. It was also mentioned that the positioning of my arms may have also damaged the nerve.

When I woke up from the surgery my immediate complaint was numbness in my right arm. It felt like it fell asleep. I was told by the surgeon that they used my right subclavian artery to connect me to the heart/lung machine. This probably damaged my Ulnar nerve. It has gotten better but I...

I had my cath two weeks ago and I was told that my ramus intermedius is 80% narrowed. So now, I will have a replacement done in addition to replacing the ascending aorta and repair of my aortic valve. My surgery is scheduled for next month. I am also curious as to the recovery. I am hoping...

I'm going for dental work this month and I find it propitious that this thread is being discussed. I asked my cardiologist if I need prophylaxis and he agrees that I should be on either amoxilillin/penicillin.

Thanks all for the feedback! I have an aneurysm at the aortic root measuring 4.6 cm causing the Aortic Insufficiency. I guess it will be by the "numbers" for now. My cardiologist put me on Caduet (Lipitor and Norvasc). The Norvasc is supposed to have some protective effects pre and post operatively.

I did see Dr. Stelzer yesterday and he wasn't eager to operate until it is time. He defined the right time as when my cardiac reserve becomes affected. He feels the best way to measure cardiac reserve is with a nuclear stress test. In his opinion, There is a 6 month window when my numbers start...