TAVI OPERATIONP

[4138]

I am due to go into St Thomas’ hospital in London on -12 th February this year, apparently for a TAVI AORTIC. VALVE REPLACEMENT. HOWEVER, I have not been asked or told yet which type of replacement valve I shall be having!!I can’t imagine the surgeon makes a last minute decision or asks me to at the last minute?!

[JulianM]

I am a patient at St Thomas's, though possibly with a different team from yours.

I'm surprised you don't know: with TAVI procedures, I think there is quite a limited choice of options; the Edwards Resilia Aortic Valve is the one I've seen discussed the most. There is a consent process to go through, and I'd have thought the make and general performance of the valve would be one of the top things they'd discuss with you.

I've looked through the TAVI pages on the Guy's and St Thomas's Trust website, they do clearly explain the procedure and what you need to do to prepare for it. But I agree they don't make it immediately clear which valves are implanted in this operation.

However, there is a box on the right hand side of one of the pages which says: 'If you have any questions or concerns about your TAVI procedure, please contact your heart team. Phone: [phone]'

Hope that helps!

[4138 in reply to JulianM]

thanks for your prompt response! Have been trying to get the TAVI team on that no for a few days. No answer or answerphone !! Checked- they are NOT. on strike!! Will try again tomorrow !!

[JulianM in reply to 4138]

Agree that is mysterious, sorry the phone hasn't worked (so far), hope it's better next week. I would have hoped that with an operation due so soon, they would have given you a named contact on the team for any questions or issues that might be bugging you. I checked again on the Edwards Inspiris Resilia valve and I fear it's probably not a TAVI option. Good luck in getting answers to your questions - and very best wishes for whatever treatment you do get.

[4138 in reply to JulianM]

hi Julian. Thanks for your kind reply. I have finally managed to contact the team!! I gather with the TAVI op you don’t have the artificial valves. Not that it makes much difference but I have heard that the artificial ones often make a slight clicking noise !?

[JulianM in reply to 4138]

You're right about the noise - some people say it doesn't bother them, even is comforting, others do find it more of a problem. The bigger challenge with the mechanical valves is being on blood thinners, I think. But very glad you made the contact, and hope things go smoothly with excellent communications from here on in!

[4138 in reply to JulianM]

many thanks. Will post how it went after the event!!!

[Blackcatsooty]

welcome on board.

The main options for the type of operation for me were TAVi or OHS.

Forgive me if I am stating things you are familiar with, but OHS is open heart surgery.

The valves are either synthetic or metal.

I could have metal or synthetic by OHS but only synthetic by TAVI.

My surgeons talked through the options in some detail, so I knew mine would be synthetic, but I opted for OHS.

They have to acquire the valve before the op, mine was size 26. However, they did explain that there could be last minute findings, once you are asleep, and the surgeon would need to adjust. This late adjustment is unusual..

yes you should have been advised of your options, or at least have an explanation as to what option has been made for you. Sometimes it is not appropriate to have OHS but you should have had this explained. I was told that if I opted for TAVi I might find that the surgeons had , at the last minute, to change their intended operation and go for OHS.

Your age and build come in to the equation. Yes you really shouod have an explanation. Before they start the op.

You should also have a say in which valve is used.

To the surgeons this is a routine matter, but to you and me it is a big deal.

Hope this helps to get you started on your journey to a new valve.

Sooty

[4138 in reply to Blackcatsooty]

thanks so much for your helpful reply! I have been trying to phone the TAVI team for several days- no luck- will try again tomorrow !!

[Fish4Info]

My partner's dad (87) had an aortic valve replacement by open heart surgery (OHS) about 18 years ago. A few weeks ago he had a re-do by TAVI. Being so much older than he was, an OHS procedure would have been too risky. He had the TAVI in Wolverhampton and all went well. He was only in hospital a few days, and I took him for his first walk outside about a week after the procedure. Compared to his recovery from OHS, recovery from TAVI was much easier.

Hope your TAVI goes well.

Fish4Info

[Hidden in reply to Fish4Info]

I just love this short and joyful post.

[Cat04]

Best wishes for your TAVI- hope you got the answers to your questions and it all goes well x