HEART VALVE REPLACEMENT: BIOLOGICAL VS. MECHANICAL VALVE | SECOND OPINION WITH JOAN LUNDEN |

Bob Carson was in need of a heart valve replacement and was given the choice between a mechanical valve or a biological valve that came from an animal. How do patients like Bob weigh their options? Dr. Mustafa Ahmed from the University of Alabama at Birmingham explains the medical and personal reasons behind such an important decision.
#heartdisease #heartvalvereplacement #SecondOpinionwithJoanLunden #PBS
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[@civildk9077]

Well. I have a had 'mechanical' valve installed 2 years ago when I was only 58 years old. I LOVE IT! Don't mind taking the blood thinners or watching for ANY type of infection(s). It will last me till I die (an inside joke). Unlike the 'bovine' valve which has it's one issues to watch out for, the mechanical valve HARDLY EVER fails in comparison. I'll be 60 years old next month and don't mind watching my diet and water intake either. Thanks to Sentara Heart Hospital in Norfolk VA and ALL the 'lovely' care they gave me! I spent ALMOST a 'month' in the hospital (like 28 days) cause of the 'fluid' I had to get rid of and they had to reinstall the drain for it in my chest, but it was an amazing experience. My 5 yr old son (my last child) got really scared when he and his mom came to pick me up and removed the last drain tube. It started to 'leak' fluid, just before we went to get in the car. He thought I was bleeding to death. Poor kid. But, it happened while we were still in the hospital room and we handled it quickly. A good learning experience for him I'd say. Just cause we're bleeding, doesn't mean we're gonna die. 'Good times'! I wish you all the best and hope my experience helps you decide which version of the valve you wanna get. You can message me with any questions you may have and we can discuss my experience here on KZbin if you'd like. I'm an open book! Cheers!

[@ManjitSingh-go6dp]

I'm from India Best of luck for your future I'm happy to see you happy after replacing mechanical valve 😊 My wife 61 year age has aortic valve problem which we came to know just 1 months ago Now Doctors advised my wife to replace mechanical aortic valve So we are going for surgery to replace aortic mechanical valve I request you please guide me about this I want to know that this surgery is fully open chest surgery or 3 inch operation in chest ? Please guide me , I will be Thanks ful to you God Bless You

[@civildk9077]

@@ManjitSingh-go6dp I don't know how 'big' the opening is. I only know the scar on my chest is about 7 inches and I have 4 drain line scars. They had to put 1 of them back in after initially removing them too soon. I wasn't draining enough fluid off my heart fast enough I guess. I'm not a surgeon. Sorry I couldn't answer the question completely. I wish you and her the best my friend!

[@Mountianlions69]

I'm 54 now and I had my Aortic valve replaced, the Onyx, Pyrolytic Carbon mechanical valve or St Judes mechanical valve fitted in July last year. You have to take meds anyway so opted for the mechanical valve and daily doses of Warfarin. I'm healthier and stronger than I was before.

[@martycarmichael3885]

I was 51 and had my aortic valve replaced and chose a tissue valve. I didn't want to take blood thinners and I have a very active lifestyle. My surgeon told me by the time I need a new one it will probably be TVAR. Either way I'm fine. I recovered quickly after my surgery and was walking several miles 10 days after the surgery and in the gym 8 weeks later. I have a bovine valve and I get it checked every year.

[@davidpearlactorteacherbizman]

u rock bro

[@Defender_928]

Who much it cost?

[@martycarmichael3885]

@@Defender_928 insurance paid for it. I had the operation in November and my deductible was just about met. I did see the bill for just the operation and it was over $400k. That doesn’t include the hospital stay.

[@dennisperez4646]

Hello, I live in New Jersey, I am 51 years old and I have mitral valve prolapse. The doctor told me that I have 88% to repair the valve, but I needed to know in case that I would have to replace the valve, whichever one I wanted, whether mechanical or the pig one lol I think that The pig valve one is better since then I don't have to take blood thinners for life, the only thing that would mean having to undergo another surgery in 10 or 12 years to replace the valve again

[@dennisperez4646]

Thank you for sharing your experience, I feel calmer. Hello, I live in New Jersey, I am 51 years old and I have mitral valve prolapse. The doctor told me that I have 88% to repair the valve, but I needed to know in case the valve had to be replaced, whichever one I wanted, whether mechanical or the budgie one lol I think that The pork one is better since then I don't have to take antiquabulants for life, the only thing that would mean having to undergo another surgery in 10 or 12 years to replace the valve again

[@annebetteridge6880]

Im 46 had a mechanical valve fitted

[@MrAllad]

can they put in a valve through the leg?

[@chuckpierce5756]

Yes, it's called TVAR.

[@naturalbeauty2231]

​@@chuckpierce5756 TAVR

[@SeaPhil]

TAVR valves fail at a faster rate than surgically implanted tissue aortic valves. And each time you try to put another TAVR into a failed TAVR, you decrease the amount of bloodflow through the valve ( hemodynamics) because the orifice size is reduced. If you are under 70, go for a surgically implanted tissue valve. It can be done minimally invasive which decreases the size of the scar in the chest to a smaller incision and your hospital stay is reduced as well.

[@Daniel-uo8ee]

Please send me a text message on your support list for the Mechanical values.