Post op care heart valve replacement

[penfold5]

Hello,

My Father in Law is due to have a heart valve replacement soon. Please can you let me know what wrap around care is available for the elderly following the procedure ? He lives alone and only family live in NZ, so he is understandably concerned ( as are we) My husband plans on coming back once the operation has been done to help him recover, but just wondering if anyone has experience of what and who to access, and if anyone is ex police , is there anything that he can tap into to help him reduce the stress and aid him in recovery, as he won't ask , my husband has no idea and I left the NHS 21 years ago so out of the loop ?

Thanks you !

LP

[Ageingfast]

Dear Penfold

First question is whether he is having open heart surgery or TAVi.

Assuming OHS, then he needs care for several weeks. Nothing drastic, but needs someone to at least cook and clean for him.

He really will need to rest whilst taking some simple rehab.

Needs to discuss this with the staff on admission for his treatment. Or before admission.

How much care is provided by the NHS will vary from location to location.

If nothing is forthcoming, he could try asking the nurses on this site.

Best wishes

Sooty

[Tlyna]

Both of my parents and I have had to have aortic valve replacements. Theirs were between 28 and 30 years ago now so they had open heart. Dad had my brother stay with him for about 2 weeks after he was discharged and then a friend checked up on him every day for about a month. After that he stayed on his own but he had a tendency to heal quickly. My mom had a lot longer recovery as she was a heavy smoker and already had beginning emphysema. She also lived in a small town in a very rural area so had to have someone with her for about 2 months.

I had a TAVR in January this year. Was discharged the next day and was required to have someone with me for 24 hours in case of any unexpected bleeding. I was fine and my only restriction was not to lift over 10 pounds (4.5 kg) for 2 weeks. I am 72 and live alone. I've had no problems since and in fact felt 100% better the moment I woke up after the procedure, no more shortness of breath or exhaustion on the slightest exertion. The doctor was even able to cut my BP med dosage in half.

[andy110519]

Hi, I had OHS 5 years ago for a mechanical valve and was told I should have another adult in the house at all time for the first 2 weeks. It is 12 weeks for the sternum to heal enough to then be safe to vacuum, iron heavier lifting etc.Take care

Andy

[andy110519 in reply to andy110519]

I was 50 at the time and fairly fit and healthy prior to op.

[Taviterry]

Depends on the type of operation, health authority and any assessment of the patient on discharge. I had a TAVI in July 2023 and was able to stroll around the ward and hospital the next day for a total of 80 minutes in six or seven stages (after a nurse had encouraged me to go down to the shops inside the hospital entrance). I was given a link to a PDF leaflet that gave some advice, such as avoiding lifting and having someone staying with me with for a few days in case ... And that was it, with just an email and phone number as contact points. Three weeks later, I had a check-up with my surgeon.

A hospital where I was originally scheduled to have the op would have provided weekly remote monitoring (via an on-line form and a chat with a nurse) and other trusts appear to offer rehabilitation.

(One is not allowed to drive for four weeks after a TAVI.)