My son has been offered a tissue valve but told it only lasts around 8 years and also the Ross procedure Which is the safest outcome ?

[G345]

Has anyone had a Ross procedure changing 2 valves

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

Please bear in mind that I am not medically qualified but am an amateur cardiologist and patient. Personally (and this is me NOT the BHF) I am not keen on the Ross Procedure as it involves two valves and in a number of cases one or other valve has caused issues after about a decade. If I am correct your son is about 30. I would suggest going for the best tissue valve available as when it starts facing he will be plenty young enough for further surgery. With advances in technology further treatment could be minimally invasive! Let us know what the two of you decide!

[G345 in reply to MichaelJH]

Thank you so much for the reply I am still trying to find the answers I need to help him make that decision , I spoke to a cardiac nurse on Friday and she spoke to me in detail about the benefits of using the right valve as it should last a long time but I'm still thinking surely it would be better to just change the one valve and was a bit confused when she said something like well as he gets older he might drink more and I asked drink more what and she said alcohol and said it's a big issue in the decision they make to what choice of operation but my son doesn't drink alcohol . It worries me that they don't seem to ask properly what the patient does recreationally , nutrition and work wise because all these things I'm thinking would have an effect on overall health , I could go on but I'd better get things done . Again thank you it's a lonely place when your worrying on a daily basis so it's lovely to have your opinion thank you have a nice day 🙂

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to G345]

Heavy drinking is bad for anyone let alone a heart patient. Drinking within the guidelines is usually fine if the GP/cardiologist allows it. A friend's brother resumed his fairly heavy drinking habit a few weeks after having his bypass. He did not survive the year.!

[G345 in reply to MichaelJH]

Hello Michael can I ask were do we find information on the best tissue valve and would we be offered anything different if we went to a private consultant