Aortic Valve Replacement / TAVR Procedure? Anybody?

[hotajax 253]

Have any of you fine sailors had the minimally invasive procedure known as TAVR?  Was wondering about the recovery tiime, and how you feel now that it's over.

 

[midpack 1,129]

I had my aortic arch replaced completely about a week and a half ago. Everything seems to be going very well with the recovery. I know it's not the same and everyone is different but it's better than the alternative 

[hotajax 253]

You had the arch replaced along with the valve?  Holy cow.  That's some undertaking.  Did they open you up for that?  Yep, the alternative is certainly not appealing.

Edited Saturday at 01:56 PM by hotajax

[midpack 1,129]

One of the difficulties i had was from scar tissue from a previous surgery to repair an aortic root dilation. I have a really bad aorta i guess

[Razorback 1,227]

My father was the 9th in Tulsa, OK to have the TAVR procedure done. He was 85 at the time, passed away in Oct 2022 at the ripe age of 95-1/2. So, that gave him 10+ more years of life. He was going downhill fast, got moved up the list, and spent two weeks in the hospital getting prepped for the TAVR. I remember seeing him in recovery as soon as we could and it was literally like they had flipped the switch back ON on the Energizer Bunny. He was only in the hospital for a couple of days after the procedure. You can hear my dad speak for himself....

https://oklahomaheart.com/patients-and-visitors/resources/tavr-patient-perspectives-john-white/

 

I hope your results are like my dad's!!!

Edited Saturday at 03:06 PM by Razorback

[hotajax 253]

Thanks, bud.  Much appreciated.  I'm 73

[hotajax 253]

1 hour ago, Razorback said:

My father was the 9th in Tulsa, OK to have the TAVR procedure done. He was 85 at the time, passed away in Oct 2022 at the ripe age of 95-1/2. So, that gave him 10+ more years of life. He was going downhill fast, got moved up the list, and spent two weeks in the hospital getting prepped for the TAVR. I remember seeing him in recovery as soon as we could and it was literally like they had flipped the switch back ON on the Energizer Bunny. He was only in the hospital for a couple of days after the procedure. You can hear my dad speak for himself....

https://oklahomaheart.com/patients-and-visitors/resources/tavr-patient-perspectives-john-white/

 

I hope your results are like my dad's!!!

Working on keeping in shape for the surgery.

[dcrage 634]

FWIW — I had my mitral and aortic valves replaced 28 years ago. My surgery was NOT “minimally invasive”; 6-8 inch opening in my chest which was wired back together (makes for really impressive chest x-rays). I would not be here now without that surgery; in my case my left ventricle was to the point of losing pumping efficiency due to enlargement (leaking mitral valve). I was only 46 at the time and feeling fine but on restricted activity; took 2-3 months of recovery which didn’t feel good; several trips back to the hospital for some know postoperative issues (chest congestion). My layman’s understanding was that the open thoracic surgery was a major factor in my extended recovery. Your minimally invasive procedure should lessen those. 

 

Get the valve replaced!! I went from restricted activity pre-surgery to being told by my heart doctor to get off my butt and do whatever I wanted (back to playing basketball for me). 

[hotajax 253]

12 hours ago, dcrage said:

FWIW — I had my mitral and aortic valves replaced 28 years ago. My surgery was NOT “minimally invasive”; 6-8 inch opening in my chest which was wired back together (makes for really impressive chest x-rays). I would not be here now without that surgery; in my case my left ventricle was to the point of losing pumping efficiency due to enlargement (leaking mitral valve). I was only 46 at the time and feeling fine but on restricted activity; took 2-3 months of recovery which didn’t feel good; several trips back to the hospital for some know postoperative issues (chest congestion). My layman’s understanding was that the open thoracic surgery was a major factor in my extended recovery. Your minimally invasive procedure should lessen those. 

 

Get the valve replaced!! I went from restricted activity pre-surgery to being told by my heart doctor to get off my butt and do whatever I wanted (back to playing basketball for me). 

Rage:  Yeah, thanks for the info.  My cardiologist told me to keep exercising ( obviously not to the point of exertion ).  So I'm trying to keep moving.  The guy doing my valve pioneered this procedure, and he did over 200 of those aortic valve replacements last year.