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davidfortune
Study results showing longevity with tissue valve under 50 years old = longevity with mech valve under 50 years old.
Tissue Valver Longevity
Tissue Valver Longevity
Karlynn said:296 were followed who had their surgery before the age of 50. Many of us know that "younger valve patients" can be a highly subjective label. When I see larger groups clustered together - such as "below 50", I would also like to see a further breakdown, such as 20-25, 25-35 etc. One patient could have received the valve at age 49 and another at 29 which we know is a big difference in the wear n' tear of a tissue. So the question I would have is: What is the mean age of this Below 50 group? We know that the younger you are the faster tissue valves are "chewed up" This Below 50 group would put my 21 year-old daughter and me (48) in the same group. I'm pretty certain a tissue valve would last much longer in me.
I do tend to agree with Rachel that anytime we see papers and studies such as this, they almost never discuss the "quality of life" after additional surgeries. We see it discussed with Coumadin usage, but I think it's equally as important to include the issue with redo's.
davidfortune said:Study results showing longevity with tissue valve under 50 years old = longevity with mech valve under 50 years old.
Tissue Valver Longevity
Karlynn said:I found it refreshing that the writer felt compelled to put this in ?The take home message of this study is meant to be hypothesis generating rather than constituting a definite recommendation.?
tobagotwo said:There are several factors that may affect the results of a study of this type in both directions. These are just considerations, and are not intended to bolster or detract from the study. Just more grist for the thought mill.
... (edited for content to save space)...
Again, just some thoughts you may or may not want to apply to qualify the results somewhat, to whatever degree you feel they may affect the outcome.
I'm delighted that you found this, Mr. Fortune. This is great reading for me. RCB knows how gratifying it is for me to see this type of result. However, I would be remiss if I said I felt it supplied the definitve answer. I look forward to more of this type of long-term study.
Best wishes,
Karlynn said:One thing that does seem to be remiss in most studies is the issue of quality of life after repeat surgeries. I think one of the reasons for this may be because of the subjectivity of the topic. What is one person's good quality (their ability or resignation to live with some limitations) may be poor quality of another (possibly someone who is an avid athlete having to step back on their activity.) I think it would be hard to quantify this to a point valid enough to include in any paper. Therefore it gets overlooked or remains unaddressed.
Karlynn, I've awas thought part of the reason there isn't alot of studies/data on QAL after repeat surgeries, was until pretty recently, there really wasn't a large population that had repeat surgeries (or at least more than 2) and for the most part they were probably older.
It will be intersting to see what studies are now being done since there were alot of imrovements in CHD surgery, now that there are thousands of kids who not only have had 3 or more surgeries,but completely rebuilt hearts and as you know from the kids who's parent post here, for the most part they have really good quality of life and are very active
Am I saying I won't be nervous when Justin needs his 5th OHS? heck no I'll be terified like I was for all the other ones, but I think alot of it also has to do with as more and more kids are having 3 or more heart surgeries more surgeons are getting very good at operating on heart who have had multiply surgeries and all the "fun" that goes along w/ them
Susan BAV said:I'm wondering what the ratio of men to women is regarding all of the earlier valve longevity data!
If the necessity of heart valve replacement for women was as sadly and ignorantly overlooked as diagnosing other heart conditions for women -- as it was as recently as a decade or more ago -- perhaps much of the valve data is primarily considering men.
What do you think?
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