Hello Looking for some good opinions not guarantees. My dad is 78 has been in great health until the Spring when he just wasn't feeling good. End up he went into the hospital in late September for a week with Congestive Heart Failure. They took 19 lbs worth of fluid out did all the imaginable heart tests and bottom line his heart is working at 25%. They sent him home and his hospital cardiologist said he would need to have an aortic heart valve replacement. He's stubborn and refused any surgery so they gave him meds to keep the fluids down but now a month later he is filling back up and has come to the conclusion that to have a chance to live normal again he must have the surgery. He's just scared of dying on the table. There are no other issues medically other than this problem. We've researched other good cardiologists for a second opinion and they all agree. I have found one of the best cardiothoracic surgeons in Florida to perform any procedure. All that said I have done a lot of research on the subject and found other than direct open heart surgery there are other less invasive procedures as well. We will find out from the surgeon which one he is a candidate for. Essentially we're all scared. I would like to hear from an experienced cardio physician or surgeon what he may be facing. Most of all since this is all new to us and we have talked to all those people who have an opinion "Oh it's just routine now he'll be fine" I'd like to hear a professional opinion about the risks of surgery what MOST prognosis's are in getting through the surgery (If you can use just basic percentages please) and what he can expect (In general) for the next 5 years or so it would be greatly appreciated. I know knee surgery can be risky...and I am not underestimating this of course. That said how successful is it in one making it off the table from what you have seen and two how will this surgery help him feel? I can tell you now from his heart being so damaged he is just tired all the time and it can't pump enough to keep the fluid out. Can we expect if all goes well that an 85% heart rate is feasible afterwards?
2014-11-10 11:13:49
Sorry but there aren't any experienced cardio physicians or surgeons posting on this board. This is a lay forum. However I have experienced aortic valve surgery as a patient. From what I have read the success rates for aortic valve replacement are about 95 - 98% when the operation is done at a center that has a program dedicated to aortic surgery and when there are no complications such as an aortic aneurysm. The success rates are somewhat lower (although I can't quote you exact numbers) for operations done at less specialized centers and on patients whose needs are more complicated. The prospects for your dad to experience a return to normal heart function after the surgery will depend largely on whether his valve problem has existed for a long enough period of time that permanent heart damage has occurred. The surgeon should be able to give an opinion about how well his heart can be expected to recover after the valve is replaced. In my own case I was in Class IV heart failure prior to my surgery and now I am in no kind of heart failure at all so my surgery was very successful. Best wishes to your father on his upcoming surgery
2014-11-10 11:14:33
