Edwards Inspiris Resilia tissue valve- People's experiences with this?

[FaithHopeLove2]

Hi All! I'm aware that there's only limited number of people who have this valve, as from what I gather it isn't offered at many hospitals as a treatment option. But is there anyone here who has had a Edwards Inspiris Resilia tissue valve replacement? I'm due to see my cadiac surgeon very soon to discuss options, and I want to be able to ask them about this valve. They're saying mechanical valve is best but I want to be able to say about this valve, as I really really don't want a mechanical valve.

[Taviterry]

My impression is that whether a patient has a tissue or mechanical valve depends on clinical need. At 78, though generally healthy (apart from aortic stenosis), I was judged frail enough for a tissue valve. If you're having an NHS op, I suspect that cost may be a factor.

A mechanical valve is likely to last a lifetime, whereas a tissue valve may last ten years. (I was not impressed when, after my op, my surgeon said mine would last five years.)

No doubt you've Googled (as I've just done, briefly) and it seems that a life of 20 to 25 years can be expected with an Edwards Inspiris Resilia.

[Hanibil]

Hi I had a mechanical valve in 2005 at age 48, I would highly recommend one. For one thing it should last a life time. If I had chosen a tissue valve I would probably be expecting to be having a third operation around 2025, no thanks. There was a member on here a couple of weeks ago facing exactly that. Yes you will probably have to take Warfarin but I can honestly say it has caused absolutely no problem whatsoever. As for life with a mechanical valve I do what I want when I want to. 20 years on at 68 I still mountain bike and ski. Hope this helps the very best of luck to you.

[Hythe123]

After quite a bit of research I had an Edwards Inspiris Resilia valve in June this year. I had to ask my surgeon and he had to ask and get back to me. Claim is it will last 20-25 years but ir is more expensive than other tissue valve so I believe it is not generally offered.

[FaithHopeLove2 in reply to Hythe123]

How are you feeling now with the valve?😊 Was that in London you had the surgery? Hope you dont mind me asking questions, did your surgeon mention about the possibility of in the future about TAVI surgery if it were to need replacing etc?

Thank you!

[Hythe123 in reply to FaithHopeLove2]

Hi, ten weeks post surgery valve is working perfectly, I had it done in Southampton, should it need replacing then yes it should be possible to do a TAVI. The medics really don’t give you much info so you do need to do your we research, I got a lot of info from people on the Facebook page UK Aortic Valve Replacement. Good luck

[FaithHopeLove2 in reply to Hythe123]

Thank you! How is your recovery going so far since your operation? 🙏😊I totally hear you there about them not giving you much info! I literally hardly know nothing about the options or mechinical valves, which they want to replace my current tissue one with. They just try and sell it to me by sayng it will last longer, but know nothing of the repercussions with it, only through my own research I know! Did your surgeon try and convince you to go with mechanical, or did they suggest tissue valve for you?

[Hythe123 in reply to FaithHopeLove2]

Cardiologist said because of my age 66 I would have mechanical, no discussion. Then by the time I saw the surgeon, day before op, I knew I wanted Edwards Inspiris Resilia, I told him this but he had to go and verify and get back to me later that day. Recovery is going ok, ten weeks now and hope to go back to work in two more weeks.

[Freshorangejuice]

Hello, yes I have the EIR valve. I'm nearly 66 but was told that it is extremely resilient and currently state of the art. My wife has a mechanical valve. They're are pros and cons for each but I'm very happy with the performance of my EIR. I was told that it should last anything between 20-25 years and if it needed replacing it was a relatively simple procedure to place a replacement valve on top.

Whatever decision you make will be the right one for you.

[FaithHopeLove2 in reply to Freshorangejuice]

Thank you for your advice! Was that in London you had your replacement done?Hope you dont mind me asking, how has your wife found the mechanical valve and all that comes with it, the ticking noise, diet changes, warfarin etc? The cardiologist is pushing me towards the mechanical one which I'm really worried about as I'm only 29 and I don't really want a lifetime of constant worry/restrictions. Plus I haven't had children yet and feel I will never be able to now 😪

[Freshorangejuice in reply to FaithHopeLove2]

No it was at one of the UKs leading cardiology hospitals, the Freeman's in Newcastle.

Management of warfarin can be a bit difficult but there's no guarantee you won't be on some sort of anti coagulation with a tissue valve. The ticking is not a problem for her - you get used to it and after a certain time you don't even notice it.

Your don't alter your diet, you "dose the diet". My wife has found it is a fruitless task trying to diet the dose. The key thing is consistency. A regular diet of whatever you eat but switching from one thing to another will play havoc with your INR values.

I can't comment on your ability to have children but I've never seen any advice that would prevent you having children with a valve replacement.

Good luck!

[Ageingfast]

Dear Faith

I have the Edwards Resilia fitted in 2020. It has been faultless.

My Surgeon suggested its lifespan could be about 20 years. I believe later versions have an option to replace by TAVi although this was not mentioned to me.

Due to the lock down, I had the op done privately which quite unfairly meant I got the best surgeons and best valves available. I had been told previously that the valve alone cost just under £30,000 but that was not true. Its actual cost was £6,000.

Whatever, you and I have jolly good valves. And I don’t expect to need a replacement anytime soon.

Whatever your problems might be, I don’t think there is any worry about your tissue valve wearing out. you have the best possible option.

Best wishes

Sooty

[FaithHopeLove2 in reply to Ageingfast]

Thank you Sooty for your advice! Can I ask was that in London you had your replacement done?/ how was the recovery for you?

I haven't actually had my valve replaced yet, still in the process of deciding what to choose which is the most weighty decision I've had to face like the weight of the world is on my shoulders!

The cardiologist is pushing me towards the mechanical valve which I'm really worried about and really don't want as I'm only 29 and I don't really want a lifetime of constant worry/restrictions, ticking nouse, diet changes. Plus I haven't had children yet and feel I will never be able to now 😪

So I'm hoping to bring to them the option of the Edwards Resilia valve to see if they would do that. But I know this will only last 20 years. My current valve has only lasted me just under 10, so anything more than that is a bonus. But the thought of having to go through my 5th open heart surgery soon and then possibly more in the future if I choose tissue is so heartbreaking and overwhelming...

[Ageingfast in reply to FaithHopeLove2]

Dear Faith

Yes I travelled to London for the op. It was the height of covid and it was the only hospital still operating. I was due to go to Basildon then London then harefield and all three closed. just the Crompton stayed open and that’s where I went.

One thing mentioned was that the medical profession want six years of history before fully accepting recommended heart valves etc.

I can see their point of view, so I was clear that it was my choice of valve.thus no come back on the surgeons.

I think it’s relevant that the latest valves will accept a TAVi if needs be. You might like to check up on that. Only a surgeon can really advise on that score.

Pricing of the valves is a bit naughty. I think the NHS might get charged a lot more than I got charged. But perhaps you don’t need to be concerned about the charges made to the NHS. I ploughed through the mass of old paperwork that showed what I was charged and the exact name of the Edwards valve but couldn’t find the key invoice. I know the whole procedure was £43,000 and that excluded rehab.

I do take a blood thinner, Clopidogrel, every day along with another four tablets. But I am ancient and it will be different for a youngster.

I had only weeks to live so 15 years sounded ok! I had two surgeons to advise me and I veered happily to the tissue valve and OHS. I did not want to know details, so I trusted in the surgeons and it worked perfectly for me. I am now back with NHS as I am not mega rich. Also my op was observed for training purposes so I had several senior medics telling me about the op. I asked not to be told gory details.

At the time I did worry about the thought that the valve would need replacing. But with hindsight I was really worried about going back to the discomfort I had had before the op. Right now all is perfect with my heart.

Very best wishes

Sooty

[Taviterry in reply to Ageingfast]

On the matter of costs and fees, Ageingfast says "I know the whole procedure was £43,000 and that excluded rehab."

Mine cost £42K in Oxford, with no rehab. All I got was an email address to use if I had an issue (though TBF there might have been a telephone number), to contact a nurse. I did email the surgeon twice when my GP wanted me to take an antacid (Omeprazole -contraindicated with Clopidogrel! -and then Lansoprazole) and in both cases he replied that I didn't need to; I would have liked to have known why not.)

A neighbour had the same op on his private health insurance in Outer London - £60K. The consultant visiting the NHS hospital where I was diagnosed quoted £75K for a private op in a West London NHS hospital, which made me slightly sour - why an extra £33K for an hour-long op? This hospital offered its NHS patients remote monitoring post-op.

Not that I needed rehab - a week later I was able to comfortably walk for a couple of hours. (I was told that the new valve was "good to go" from its insertion, with care being needed with the groin "wounds" and not to overtax one's strength.)

[FaithHopeLove2 in reply to Ageingfast]

Thanks Sooty! That's so good to hear that everything is going well for you 🙏How did you find the recovery after open heart surgery for yourself?

One of the things I'm really conscious of is the Scar. Some people can have really beautiful little thin neat scars, and I really hope mine will look like that. I'm worried about the appearance of it I don't want to wake up and somethings gone wrong. Or I come out of the operating theatre with something I never had before, that's my one big fear, so so scared about that. Last time went into theatre okay, and then after operation I was completely numb across my chest and also down the side of my hand where they didn't move my arms during the op so it trapped my nerves. Still numb to this day 10 years later so that's permanent damage caused.

I'm also worried about my recovery period, as I'm very very unfit the most unhealthy I've been in my life so I'm worried I won't even pull through the op, or it will take ages to recover...

[Ageingfast in reply to FaithHopeLove2]

My recovery was wonderful. It did take three months but I am old and any younger patients will not take that long. After OHS I did need someone to look after me. If no one available then I would go to a care home for several weeks. I needed to concentrate on recovery and this happens steadily, a bit better every day. Walk whilst talking was the main recovery requirement, and sleep sitting up. Then just steadily do a little more each day. Sowing seeds, catching up on paperwork then more and more activity. Truly wonderful. From deaths door to being on top of the world in three months.

I did get gout twice,which interfered with recovery. And was painful. But getting given my life back overwrote a bit of gout.

What you could do right now is a little exercise. A walk or just chair aerobics.

Oh dear, the girls and the scar. I know it’s important for the ladies but all I can say is that my scar quietly shrank away over a few months and now I can’t find it .! Leave it alone and it will heal. And all the males will love you with or without the scar. It’s a long straight scar and after a couple of weeks it’s fine to look at.

The medics will manipulate your arms so that they can get at your heart. Yes it will probably mean you have mild pain afterwards. But do the prescribed exercise and the pain will soon go.

As you already know, when you go for the op you go to sleep and don’t wake up for many many hours. It might well be mega frightening when you do come round. But the staff in ICU and HDU will look after you. Have faith…..you will come around in no time. Have faith….nothing will go wrong. The success rate for OHS is very very high. Better than 99%. My operation was observed, with my agreement, and the observers were almost skipping around my room waiting to tell me how fantastic the surgeons are. They were not youngsters. But quite senior doctors and nurses. I told them that I didn’t want any gory details thank you.

Just compare, your first valve lasted just ten years. Now they last twenty and thirty years. The medical advances are huge.

Please stop worrying ( I know we all worry for England) it will go well and in two or three months life will be fabulous.

Very best wishes

Sooty

[Lexi72]

Hi Faith HopeLove2 I read your earlier post and think you are incredibly brave to have gone through 3 heart operations already am so sorry you now need another one. I am scared and have not even had my first valve op yet.Usually a mechanical valve is recommended as reasonable for those under 60 and a tissue one for those over 65 and if you are between 60and 65 either is reasonable. The reason for having a mechanical is it should last for life so you should not need any more operations but you have to balance that against a lifetime of warfarin management. I am worried about the warfarin management like you (I don’t like injections and blood tests) and may choose tissue to avoid it(I am 63) even though my cardiologist recommended I consider mechanical but many members of the forum cope really well. If you do decide to stick with a tissue valve I would try and get one which lasts as long as possible to put off the date of the next operation. The Edward’s inspiris is supposed to be good and many members of the forum swear by it although they have only been around for 12 years or so so there is incomplete dataAt your age you are still likely to need more valve operations even with if a valve lasted 20 years and if you did choose mechanical it should avoid this. At your young age (female 29?) may need to think about if you want children as am not sure if this is possible with a mechanical (you need to ask) Some people also choose tissue if they are into competitive sports or if they are sound engineer s as they click or for other lifestyle reasonsI would try and write down everything you want to ask and talk to your cardiologist ansd surgeon (when you reach that stage) who can take you through all the issues and you can then make an informed decision which is best for you having considered their advice(no one on the forum is medically qualified). Whatever you choose best wishes for your operation and a speedy recovery Lexi

[FaithHopeLove2 in reply to Lexi72]

Thank you Lexi for your support and encouragement! Bless you, I know how you must be feeling in terms of feeling scared, so I can totally sympathise with you there! 🙏 Have you met with your cardiologist to discuss your surgery/options yet?

Yes well, the cardiologist is pushing me towards the mechanical valve which I'm really worried about and really don't want as I'm only 29 and I don't really want a lifetime of constant worry/restrictions, ticking noise, diet changes/excessive bleeding at the time of the month, which is already bad enough with a tissue valve. Plus I haven't had children yet and feel I will never be able to now 😪

So I'm hoping to bring to them the option of the Edwards Resilia valve to see if they would do that. But I know this will only last 20 years. My current valve has only lasted me just under 10, so anything more than that is a bonus. But the thought of having to go through what will now be my 5th open heart surgery soon and then possibly more in the future if I choose tissue is so heartbreaking and overwhelming...

[BicuspidBloke]

I opted for the EIR valve two years ago, at age 50. They wanted me to select a mechanical valve but I insisted on the tissue option. They were happy enough once I explained it to them - a) I'm a runner & believed the tissue option would offer a more natural recovery, b) I'd never been a patient before and didn't want to be on warfarin for thirty years, c) I'm quite clumsy (falling while running/cycling) so figured the warfarin could lead to serious internal bleeding when bruising.Rehab & recovery has been a breeze. I may regret it in the future when I have to go through it all again but it was the right decision at the time. I'm fully expecting 20 years (although have been warned the running may burn it out a little quicker).

It's not an easy decision to make but stand by it with the consultants (and yourself in 20 years). Good luck!

[FaithHopeLove2 in reply to BicuspidBloke]

Thank you for your advice!Glad rehab and recovery is going well for you 🙏😊

Yes well I'm still in the process of deciding what to choose which is the most weighty decision I've had to face like the weight of the world is on my shoulders!

The cardiologist is pushing me towards the mechanical valve which I'm really worried about and really don't want as I'm only 29 and I don't really want a lifetime of constant worry/restrictions, ticking noise, diet changes. Plus I haven't had children yet and feel I will never be able to now 😪

So I'm hoping to bring to them the option of the Edwards Resilia valve to see if they would do that. But I know this will only last 20 years maybe less. My current valve has only lasted me just under 10, so anything more than that is a bonus. But the thought of having to go through my 5th open heart surgery soon and then possibly more in the future if I choose tissue is so heartbreaking and overwhelming...

Is your Edwards Resilia valve a particular one? I've seen some others mention there may be newer ones again now

[BicuspidBloke in reply to FaithHopeLove2]

A particular kind? I don't know, maybe. I kind of stopped paying attention to everything once I had been discharged!! All I recall was it had some kind of special coating on it. My hope is 20 years(ish) and then TAVI or a new, even lees invasive procedure.

[Taviterry]

Very interesting. Makes me wonder why my surgeon used an Edwards Sapien valve - does the actual model that is recommended relate to a patient's particular needs? Googling the Sapien model led me a reassuring website: jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jcin... "Nominal SAPIEN 3 THVs demonstrated excellent durability, to an equivalent of 25-years wear. THV durability was similar to the comparator surgical valves tested. Non-nominal (overexpansion, underexpansion, and elliptical) THV deployments also had excellent durability to an equivalent of 5 years wear." Had I misunderstood the surgeon when he said five years, or was my "deployment" non-nominal?

I also found a wide variation in quoted costs for the valve, but it does seem that it is noticeably more expensive than that for a mechanical one, and far more than the £6K noted by Ageingfast. (But the installation kit is also expensive and may or may not be included the various prices.

[Leonardo1]

I had one fitted 2 years ago and all is good . I had it because couldn’t have a mechanical one as I couldn’t take warfrin . I’m on a blood thinner which requires no routine blood testing so it’s all good .

My neighbour had hers 20 years ago and she just had a tavi procedure last week and she’s 89 and doing super well !

I was told 20-25 years but the latest valves may last longer.

[FaithHopeLove2 in reply to Leonardo1]

Thank you Leonardo for your encouragement! That's great to hear you're keeping well 🙏Can I ask did you have you replacement done in London?

Ah that's interesting about your blood thinner requiring no testing, what is the name of the medication?

Ah that's amazing news about your neighbour, bless her! 🙏

I'm just so worried, as I'm still in the process of deciding what vlave to choose which is the most weighty decision I've had to face, like the weight of the world is on my shoulders!

The cardiologist is pushing me towards the mechanical valve which I'm really worried about and really don't want as I'm only 29 and I don't really want a lifetime of constant worry/restrictions, ticking noise, diet changes. Plus I haven't had children yet and feel I will never be able to now 😪

So I'm hoping to bring to them the option of the Edwards Resilia valve to see if they would do that. But I know this will only last 20 years. My current valve has only lasted me just under 10, so anything more than that is a bonus. But the thought of having to go through my 5th open heart surgery soon and then possibly more in the future if I choose tissue is so heartbreaking and overwhelming...

[Leonardo1 in reply to FaithHopeLove2]

Hi - I had my valve at the royal Brompton hospital - they were amazing ! I love them !

I had real issues about a biological valve being a life long vegetarian it really worried me - but I also had Haydes syndrome and this meant I was bleeding internally and I had a rather scary reaction to aspirin so warfrin was just not going to work . So my hands were tied and I had to go biological . Everyone told me to get over it as the alternative was going much worse without the valve !!

I’m reconciled and every cow/ pig I see I say a silent thank you !!

I’m on edoxapan which is very much the blood thinner of choice for nhs now I believe as it’s one a day and no repeat blood testing and get no ill effects at all .

Be guided by your consultant they want to give you the best outcome valve wise the one that will last the longest for you - and as you know life after the valve is so much better so whatever one you have look to that future !! Good luck I wish you a super healthy hearty future x

[FaithHopeLove2 in reply to Leonardo1]

Thank you Leonardo! I hear you! So did you have the Edwards Inspiris Resilia valve fitted then?

How did you find your consultant and your surgeon /were they understanding/listened to you? I'm guessing you were able to meet your surgeon beforehand?

Hope you dont mind me asking all the questions by the way!

How has your recovery been and how were you after the surgery? 😊

[Leonardo1]

hi there - yes I have the Edwards valve and I had an echo cardiogram earlier this year and it’s all good . I feel so much healthier all round I’m on meds but once a day and that’s no inconvenience at all . And no side effects .

The consultants and the team kept me very well informed I was assigned a cardiac care nurse who called me and really was my point of contact before the op ; any questions she was able to answer or find out . Because of the Haydes syndrome my choice of valve was made for me - it’s tough because I didn’t want to be on warfrin and constantly having blood tests but actually for most people that’s not such an issue ., given the choice with hindsight I’d have gone mechanical . But my Edwards Resilia is going a great job for me so I’m very happy .

I believe I may have to have my mitral valve replaced in a few years but I’ll cross that bridge ! And if I do I know the procedure and I’ll not be as anxious because these operations are game changers !! 3 weeks post op I just couldn’t believe how good I felt !! 6 weeks incredible- evangelical!!

So what ever valve you go for look to the recovery the future when you quality of life will be so so much better !

Wishing you all the health and happiness

Ch