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Aortic Stenosis & Valve Replacement
Heart & Blood Health | Last Active: Jul 8 6:34am | Replies (151)Comment receiving replies
Wherever you go make sure that your physician does lots of these procedures. I am not sure whether everyone who needs an aortic valve replaced is a candidate for TAVR or transcatheter valve replacement but you should certainly make sure that you are a good candidate and that the interventionalist you are seeing thinks that you would be a good candidate. Otherwise you may need to look at open heart valve replacement. I think it is always best to research your options for a few days at least and not just jump into anything unless it is immediately life threatening. Valve replacements are usually considered elective surgery so you should have a little time to find the best for your case.
Have you visited the website valvereplacement.com? They have a very active community over there and may be able to give you some good feedback.
Best of luck to you.
Replies to "Wherever you go make sure that your physician does lots of these procedures. I am not..."
All I hear is "you may not be a good candidate for TAVR" or "the government won't pay for it" WHY?? How can a less invasive solution be WORSE than cracking someones breastbone and cutting a 25cm long opening? PLEASE tell me - I am scheduled for open heart in 2 weeks and no one will consider TAVR! Just say government will not allow it!
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I am 62 years old, BUT also a 40 year survivor of terminally staged cancer, in which I was on a clinical trial and study for 3 years, from age 22 to 25. My ENTIRE a body was radiated from head-to-toe, 5 days per week, over a period of nearly one year. I've been in menopause for 40 years, with NO estrogen in my body. I have SEVERE osteoporosis. I also have no spleen. I would NEVER be able to have my fragile chest cavity sawed open. "Open Surgery," as you call it is NOT AN OPTION FOR ME. I would NEVER agree to that. The Dr who I'm considering for my TAVR procedure is the director of the TAVR Program, and has performed hundreds to thousands of TAVR procedures, AND has a prolific record of published medical articles. He is at the Nation's #1 hospital for cardiology AND TAVR. I bet you can guess the name and location of that hospital.