Inspiris Club anyone???

[Alison1960]

I’m just sitting here wondering how many of us have the new(ish) Inspiris valve? I’m 7 months post op and feeling really good but as it’s a fairly new valve though it might be interesting to keep in touch with people who have the same one. It was thanks to this fabulous forum that I chose this particular valve in the first place!

What do you think?

Alison

[Nic25]

Me! And ditto. In my case my surgeon chose it but if he hadn't I would have suggested it thanks to this forum too.

Nic x

[SerenK]

Is this a tissue valve ? I am having AVR and Aneurysm graft, and need some more information. At the moment I think I am coming down on the side of tissue valve.

[Nic25 in reply to SerenK]

Hi SerenK. It is indeed. It is so new there is no clinical data yet on it (or these wasn't when I had my AVR done in December) but it apparently is coated in a special anti-calcification substance that "should" mean it lasts as long as 20-25 years, or so they say.

If you want any advice or guidance on the tortuous process of deciding tissue vs valve there are lots of posts/advice on here (I have posted about it myself a few times) - was in your position almost exactly a year ago.

Basically there is no "right" answer; there are pros and cons to each option and it is a very personal choice. I went tissue because a) I wasn't that keen on the Warfarin issue, b) I was happy (relatively speaking) to take a gamble on 10-15 years Warfarin-free (hopefully more if the Inspiris lives up to its billing) and then see how technology around valves and/or anti-coagulants has developed and c) my surgeon made the point that, whichever valve you have - mechanical or tissue - you can never guarantee you will never need another operation at a later point, even though with the mechanical valve there is a possibility that that's it, you're done for life.

My wife also made the good point that when you do choose, just go with it, don't do "what ifs", whatever the outcome or you'll just eat yourself up mentally. But as I say there's no right or wrong answer - the choice you make will be the right one for you, because it was the choice you made!

Hope that helps, and good luck!

Nic

x

[SerenK in reply to Nic25]

I need to ask surgeons, if this valve is available at New Cross hospital, Wolverhampton.

[Purpled in reply to SerenK]

Wish you luck Seren, just starting my journey at new cross, been for ctangiogram this morning.

[SerenK in reply to Purpled]

Hi Purpled, had all the tests etc, when I was hospitalised for a week. Have seen the consultant once, and have my pre ops on Wednesday.

[Purpled in reply to SerenK]

Good luck, which consultant you have?

[Nic25 in reply to SerenK]

Good plan, though bear in mind you can these days choose your surgeon if you so wish, for eg if perhaps it's not offered there?

I was at St Thomas' as had been there for my cardiology when I lived in London and then - as I knew it was a centre of excellence - simply kept it in the same place when I moved out of the capital, as I travel there a lot anyway so going for regular check-ups wasn't a huge deal.

Before I went through this process, I wasn't aware you could make that sort of choice but it is now a "right" apparently even though, for me, it wasn't an issue anyway.

Hope that helps

Nic x