I'm hitting an information wall and hoping other members may be able to weigh in. I had OHS (ascending aortic aneurysm repair) at the Cleveland Clinic on October 21, 2010. I was discharged from the hospital on schedule and I've been grateful that recovery has been generally ok. I've struggled with some night sweats and standard incision pain, but the trajectory has been essentially positive (although as frustrating as one might expect).
I had my first echo 2 weeks post op and was advised of a small amount of perfusion (fluid) around the right side of my heart. This isn't too unexpected and I was advised by my local cardiologist and the Cleveland Clinic to do a repeat echo in two weeks. I had the second echo done today and the fluid is essentially unchanged. So it is to be treated with anti-inflammatories and is expected to be cleared up. I'll have a repeat echo in another 2 weeks. I think it's fair to think of this as Dressler's syndrome, although I've been fortunate not to suffer any symptoms beyond night sweats.
Separately, I was advised that my right ventricular function was a bit "sluggish". I'm told that the right side of the heart is more difficult to protect in surgery and that it's not uncommon for the right side to get agitated in some recovering patients. The term used for my function issue was "mild right ventricular hypokinesis". My cardio advised me that the right ventricular function had improved somewhat since the first echo (not that I knew it was an issue at that point), but was still not back to normal. When I asked whether it would return to normal, the response I got was "hopefully - it does in most cases, but time will tell". I asked another cardio his thoughts and he thought it was likely that the issue would resolve itself. I called the Cleveland Clinic and they assured me that this sort of issue is not uncommon and expected that all would be back to normal by the 3 month mark.
Strange thing is, I haven't found any postings on VR about this and when I google the term, it's generally not a good narrative - usually a condition associated with heart attacks. I'm having a hard time gauging this post-surgery complication and wondering if anyone has experience in this area?
Thanks in advance.
I had my first echo 2 weeks post op and was advised of a small amount of perfusion (fluid) around the right side of my heart. This isn't too unexpected and I was advised by my local cardiologist and the Cleveland Clinic to do a repeat echo in two weeks. I had the second echo done today and the fluid is essentially unchanged. So it is to be treated with anti-inflammatories and is expected to be cleared up. I'll have a repeat echo in another 2 weeks. I think it's fair to think of this as Dressler's syndrome, although I've been fortunate not to suffer any symptoms beyond night sweats.
Separately, I was advised that my right ventricular function was a bit "sluggish". I'm told that the right side of the heart is more difficult to protect in surgery and that it's not uncommon for the right side to get agitated in some recovering patients. The term used for my function issue was "mild right ventricular hypokinesis". My cardio advised me that the right ventricular function had improved somewhat since the first echo (not that I knew it was an issue at that point), but was still not back to normal. When I asked whether it would return to normal, the response I got was "hopefully - it does in most cases, but time will tell". I asked another cardio his thoughts and he thought it was likely that the issue would resolve itself. I called the Cleveland Clinic and they assured me that this sort of issue is not uncommon and expected that all would be back to normal by the 3 month mark.
Strange thing is, I haven't found any postings on VR about this and when I google the term, it's generally not a good narrative - usually a condition associated with heart attacks. I'm having a hard time gauging this post-surgery complication and wondering if anyone has experience in this area?
Thanks in advance.
I tried also to find more info on the mild hypokinesis that some folks go through after heart surgery but like you I drew a lot of blanks. My Surgeon , Dr. Gillinov, told me before my surgery that if it struck me again after this surgery ,not to worry about it as it does happen to some people after Surgery and it almost always resolves itself in a few months. I have heard nothing but good things about Dr.Svensson, he is without question one of the best Heart Surgeons in the Country, so I am sure he did an excellent job on you
