AgilityDog
Well-known member
Put me on the calendar. AVR scheduled for August 5.
Dr. Ryan was real personable, and took lots of time with me. First thing he said, which really endeared him to me, was "Well, you've been through the wringer, haven't you?" Yup, he's read the file.
He says there is a possibility (not probable, but possible) that when they replaced my mitral valve a stitch might have gotten into my aortic valve. If so, and the damage isn't too bad, he'll fix the stitch, patch the valve with a piece of pericardium and not do a replacement. If it gets replaced it, it will be an on-x - my choice. He was like "Do you want a St. Jude?" I'm "Nope, and On-x, here's why." He likes it.
My last echo also shows an increased leak in my tricuspid, but we all know echos are not always accurate. He'll be doing a TEE during surgery and will inspect the tricuspid. If it looks leaky he'll put a ring around it. I'm trying to avoid having anyone go back in a THIRD TIME.
He thinks we'll be able to do a smaller incision, partial sternotomy using the same scar/incision line as before for future asthetic purposes. He doesn't think he'll have a problem with scar tissue. And he'll be very conscious of my arrhythmia issues.
Dr. Ryan was real personable, and took lots of time with me. First thing he said, which really endeared him to me, was "Well, you've been through the wringer, haven't you?" Yup, he's read the file.
He says there is a possibility (not probable, but possible) that when they replaced my mitral valve a stitch might have gotten into my aortic valve. If so, and the damage isn't too bad, he'll fix the stitch, patch the valve with a piece of pericardium and not do a replacement. If it gets replaced it, it will be an on-x - my choice. He was like "Do you want a St. Jude?" I'm "Nope, and On-x, here's why." He likes it.
My last echo also shows an increased leak in my tricuspid, but we all know echos are not always accurate. He'll be doing a TEE during surgery and will inspect the tricuspid. If it looks leaky he'll put a ring around it. I'm trying to avoid having anyone go back in a THIRD TIME.
He thinks we'll be able to do a smaller incision, partial sternotomy using the same scar/incision line as before for future asthetic purposes. He doesn't think he'll have a problem with scar tissue. And he'll be very conscious of my arrhythmia issues.