Bill,
Has your doctor confirmed that you will need an arterial graft and a valve replacement? If so, you may want to have them both done at the same time to minimize the trauma that surgery imposes on your body.
When I had my AVR, there was a question about whether or not my aorta was dilated and would need to be replaced The Xray and Echo can't really tell in some cases, it takes physical observation to be sure. Turns out, when Dr. Douthit got in there, he examined the aorta and decided that it would hold up without a graft No additional surgical procedure and the valve replacement proceeded without incident.
I know you are exploring all of your options. I thougth that a stent is used in Coronary Arteries to open them in hopes that bypass is not needed. I have never heard of stents used in connection with aortic aneurysm . . . but I could have missed that. The doctors decided to bypass two of my arteries while they were in there. Made sense to me, since bypass is supposed to be longer lasting than stents. . .
Since you asked again about a surgeon, I would suggest that if you haven't looked into these guys, you might want to consider them . . .
They both are smart, personable and will help you make the decisions that will guide your selection of procedures and valves to minimize the impact of your condition and let you get on with living your life.
Mark B. Douthit, M.D.
Dr. Douthit is a cardiothoracic (heart & lung) surgeon who has been practicing in Boulder since 1994. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.
Dr. Douthit earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, in 1981. He completed residencies in general surgery and thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at Baylor. He was also awarded a fellowship in infectious disease at Ben Taub Hospital in Houston.
Dr. Douthit was in private practice as a cardiothoracic surgeon in Dallas, Texas, from 1989 to 1994. There he helped establish an emerging heart transplant program and participated in more than 20 heart transplants within a two-year period. He also established a successful heart surgery program at a private suburban hospital. He has taught video assisted thoracic surgery and given seminars throughout the US.
Dr. Douthit is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the Michael E. Debakey International Society and the American College of Chest Physicians.
Thomas Matthew, M.D.
Dr. Matthew, a cardiothoracic (heart & lung) surgeon, grew up in New York City, where he attended the Bronx High School of Science. He earned his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He received his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. Dr. Matthew then earned a master’s degree in surgical research at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
He completed his internship, general surgery residency and thoracic-cardiovascular surgery residency at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center. He served as chief resident during both residencies.
Dr. Matthew has been practicing in the Boulder area since 2003. Before that, he practiced in Louisville, Kentucky, for nine years. While in Louisville, Dr. Matthew served as president of the medical staff and medical director of the open heart unit at Audubon Hospital. He also served on the board of directors for Louisville’s American Heart Association and the Jewish Hospital Heart and Lung Institute.
Dr. Matthew is board certified in two subspecialties. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. He is an active member of numerous medical societies, including the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Surgeons, the National Medical Association, the Association of Black Cardiologists and the American Medical Association.
In addition, Dr. Matthew has received many fellowships and awards, including a National Science Foundation Research Fellowship sponsored by The Ford Foundation.
Dr. Matthew is married to Dayna Matthew, a University of Colorado law professor, and has three children. His hobbies include amateur radio, computer science, tennis, running, biking, and rowing.
The other element aside from the surgeon, is the hospital and its support staff. I have attached a link to BCH as I think that it is one of the finest, and best staffed hospital cardiac units in the region. . .
http://www.bch.org/cardiac-care/default-cardiac-care.aspx
Finally the St Jude mechanical that I had implanted is working just fine, I can't hear it, and the Coumadin has settled down for me. This is not nearly the PITA that I thought it might be.
Good luck. . .
