Bonzo Dog
Well-known member
Hello fellow zip chests.
A little about myself
I'm a 54 year old English bloke, who is a bit of a cardiac veteran.
Started visiting cardiologists aged 6 (me not the cardiologist ), after a murmur was picked up by the school nurse. Aortic stenosis diagnosed. Mechanical valve went in 15 years ago in 1992 when I was 38. Hiss was nicked during surgery, so a pacemaker as well.
A pacemaker replacement five years later went wrong, the replacement of the replacement also failed. Five months and five pacemakers later there was little surprise when the endocarditis kicked in. My surgeon, for whom I have the greatest respect, has a direct, tell it as it is bedside manner summed up thus;-
" I've looked at the scans, an interesting collection of little cabbages growing in there. Quite a mess. Dig deep Simon, there's a 20% mortality rate on this one"
Homograph root and valve saved the day That was 1997.
Now in 2007 the homograph is leaking. Another valve redo is under discussion. This would be valve number 3. Surgery may not be an option. The surgeons seek a clear picture of the valve. The pacemaker prevents an MRI scan. I'm waiting for a high definition CT scan.
Based on the echo, and low def CT, but awaiting high def CT, I asked my forthright surgeon for the survival odds if he proceeded. "No better than 50/50", was the honest reply.
So, contributions to make and questions to ask. Very glad Google threw you up
A little about myself
I'm a 54 year old English bloke, who is a bit of a cardiac veteran.
Started visiting cardiologists aged 6 (me not the cardiologist ), after a murmur was picked up by the school nurse. Aortic stenosis diagnosed. Mechanical valve went in 15 years ago in 1992 when I was 38. Hiss was nicked during surgery, so a pacemaker as well.
A pacemaker replacement five years later went wrong, the replacement of the replacement also failed. Five months and five pacemakers later there was little surprise when the endocarditis kicked in. My surgeon, for whom I have the greatest respect, has a direct, tell it as it is bedside manner summed up thus;-
" I've looked at the scans, an interesting collection of little cabbages growing in there. Quite a mess. Dig deep Simon, there's a 20% mortality rate on this one"
Homograph root and valve saved the day That was 1997.
Now in 2007 the homograph is leaking. Another valve redo is under discussion. This would be valve number 3. Surgery may not be an option. The surgeons seek a clear picture of the valve. The pacemaker prevents an MRI scan. I'm waiting for a high definition CT scan.
Based on the echo, and low def CT, but awaiting high def CT, I asked my forthright surgeon for the survival odds if he proceeded. "No better than 50/50", was the honest reply.
So, contributions to make and questions to ask. Very glad Google threw you up