Last week, I had AVR via TAVR/TAVI. While it was nothing compared to OHS, it was not a pain-free experience (although I have a low pain tolerance threshold). For others that may have TAVR, here are notes about my experience.
I am about 25 years younger than the typical TAVR patient. Stenosis of the aorta and other related issues, most likely due to radiation for Hodgkins made OHS a high risk for me, thus the recommendation for TAVR, going in through the right femoral artery.
I checked into the hospital on a Monday afternoon. After going through admissions, I went to a private pre-surgery room. I had a chest X-ray, EKG, blood work and pre-op IVs placed. Since they wanted to be ready in case they had to open the chest in an emergency, I was also prepped for that, which included being shaved from the neck to mid-thigh. That evening, I was asked to take a scrub wash, which consisted of special sponges with soap that I soaked in a basin of water and then “rinsed” with wash cloths.
Early Tuesday morning, I was awakened and asked to take a second scrub wash. I was told they would do a third in the operating room. I’m guessing it was about 6:00AM when they wheeled me in there. I remember being asked to move from the transport bed to the operating table and commenting that will all the TV/monitors in the room that it looked like a sports bar. The next thing I remember is waking up in ICU.
During surgery, they had tubes/IVs in
- right groin. Main cath for heart valve insertion
- Foley cath
- left groin. 2nd cath used to help position valve
- down throat - breathing tube
- down throat - TEE/echocardiagram to help positioning
- right side neck - big tube as "emergency" port in case they needed to get drugs/etc into system fast
- right hand - IV to insert drugs, etc
- right hand - IV to insert drugs, etc (not sure why they needed another one)
- nose - oxygen tube
After surgery, all came out except Foley, neck, hand IVs and oxygen. They also added a five-lead mini-EKG monitor that stayed connected until I was released.
Tuesday afternoon, I was up and took a short walk down the hall and back.
On Wednesday, they removed the Foley cath and the A-line in the neck. I was asked to walk three laps around ward, three times that day, which I did.
On Thursday, they removed the dressings from where the various cath lines and IVs were. At least three more sets of laps was needed. While I felt like I could be released, they wanted to keep me until Friday.
On Friday morning, I was released. I feel good, but weak and sore in a couple places where the caths were.
I am about 25 years younger than the typical TAVR patient. Stenosis of the aorta and other related issues, most likely due to radiation for Hodgkins made OHS a high risk for me, thus the recommendation for TAVR, going in through the right femoral artery.
I checked into the hospital on a Monday afternoon. After going through admissions, I went to a private pre-surgery room. I had a chest X-ray, EKG, blood work and pre-op IVs placed. Since they wanted to be ready in case they had to open the chest in an emergency, I was also prepped for that, which included being shaved from the neck to mid-thigh. That evening, I was asked to take a scrub wash, which consisted of special sponges with soap that I soaked in a basin of water and then “rinsed” with wash cloths.
Early Tuesday morning, I was awakened and asked to take a second scrub wash. I was told they would do a third in the operating room. I’m guessing it was about 6:00AM when they wheeled me in there. I remember being asked to move from the transport bed to the operating table and commenting that will all the TV/monitors in the room that it looked like a sports bar. The next thing I remember is waking up in ICU.
During surgery, they had tubes/IVs in
- right groin. Main cath for heart valve insertion
- Foley cath
- left groin. 2nd cath used to help position valve
- down throat - breathing tube
- down throat - TEE/echocardiagram to help positioning
- right side neck - big tube as "emergency" port in case they needed to get drugs/etc into system fast
- right hand - IV to insert drugs, etc
- right hand - IV to insert drugs, etc (not sure why they needed another one)
- nose - oxygen tube
After surgery, all came out except Foley, neck, hand IVs and oxygen. They also added a five-lead mini-EKG monitor that stayed connected until I was released.
Tuesday afternoon, I was up and took a short walk down the hall and back.
On Wednesday, they removed the Foley cath and the A-line in the neck. I was asked to walk three laps around ward, three times that day, which I did.
On Thursday, they removed the dressings from where the various cath lines and IVs were. At least three more sets of laps was needed. While I felt like I could be released, they wanted to keep me until Friday.
On Friday morning, I was released. I feel good, but weak and sore in a couple places where the caths were.