I have a prolapsed mitral valve and a bicuspid aortic valve. Both valves have severe regurgitation, and my treatment option is a mitral valve repair and aortic valve replacement.
As I am in my late forties, I have been told that I will most likely require 2/3 rounds of open heart surgery in my lifetime. My appointed surgeon is experienced in mitral valves (including repairs).
Now I am at the stage where I have to elect to have surgery. However I am not totally confident, I worry that my case has only been reviewed by the seven surgeons in my hospital. From the start my surgeon has told me that due to my age and with the valves being in such close proximity, my case is complex. I have asked about the possibility of a double valve repair, but the surgeon seemed hesitant.
I have this constant 'nagging feeling' there may be a surgeon in the UK who has seen a cases like mine and may be better suited to me.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Written by
Marco_
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I’m sorry to hear that you need surgery on two of your valves. I am having surgery this coming Sunday at Harefield. This is for mitral valve repair, tricuspid valve repair, left atrial appendage resectioning, repair of a hole in the heart and ablation. I am older than you at 63 and am hoping this surgery will ‘see me out’ as my mother would say.
It sounds as if you are in quite a quandary regarding surgery and the information and advice you have been given. My advice is to do lots of research, I researched surgeons from the whole of the country before settling on my choice. I am no expert but you maybe able to have minimally invasive surgery rather than a sternotomy. You are entitled to a second opinion, I would go to a different health authority for this if I were you.
I’m sure you will hear from other members of this wonderful forum.
My word your surgery sounds complex, and there was me thinking what I need is complicated!
I am currently using scts.org to research surgeons. It's a great resource but I wish there was an easier way to filter by surgeons specialisms (e.g. MVR) rather than having to manually look at each surgeon one at a time.
Thank you so much for your reply, just hearing that you were able to find the best surgeon for you, has spurred me on, especially as over the past few days I was feeling quite down and despondent. I will take a look at the surgeons at Harefield later on today.
I wish you all the very best for Sunday, and look forward to hearing how everything went post surgery!
I’m so pleased that you are researching surgeons, even though it is time consuming it is worth it. I can’t name names on this forum but if you are researching Harefield my surgeon specialises in minimally invasive mitral repair among other things. Hope this helps. I don’t know where abouts you live or how far you are prepared to travel but another surgeon to research is at Liverpool Hospital, if you goggle minimally invasive mitral valve repair on the BBC One Show you will see a feature following a patient’s surgery. Since that was recorded this particular surgeon specialises in robotic surgery too.
Thank you for your best wishes for my surgery, I can’t wait to get on with it now. I will post updates as and when I can so you and others can follow my progress.
Hi Marco, l had all my valves repaired due to sepsis and infective endocaritis in an emergency operation on New Years day and made a good recovery until 5 weeks later then had to have a second open heart surgery redo, they installed a medical mesh tube into my heart with a mechanical AVR inside and a pacemaker in my stomach. My Consultant surgeon is evidently the best in Britain, l cannot print his full name but l will try and give you a clue. Mr B****, at Bristol Royal Infirmary, he is wonderful and saved my life twice!!! He came into the hospital on 01/2017 from home on his day off to save me which shows true dedication. The heart foundation within the hospital also has a certificate of excellence, so l hope this helps you. Good luck with your journey. Take care, Sue.
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