Tetralogy of Fallot- heart valve replacement is necessary?!


Question:

Tetralogy of Fallot- heart valve replacement is necessary?

I'm 25, according to what my pediatric-cardiac doctor suggests, she thought i might have another open-heart surgery to replace my old mechanical heart valve (which has been using for 20 years since my first surgery when i was 3). Does anyone here have same condition? having an artificial heart valve and need to replace it after decades of using?

Additional Details

5 days ago
btw, i also have some syptoms that cardiologist can't explain or ignore, such as i can't swallow very well as usual (easily get choking). you people with malfunctional heart valves have what symptons? let's share. i live in Taipei, taiwan. my hospital is good at CHD surgery, it could be the best or -next-to-best in Asia. After you opinons, i think i have to be serious about my condition.


Answers:

Vongirl,

I don't blame you for asking questions on that one. Open heart surgery is a major surgery.

I googled mechanical heart valve but did not find anything related to your case. Some said a mechanical valve was designed to last forever, but face it 20 years is a long time for a mechanical device that cannot repair itself and the data was probably related to mechanical valves being put into old farts like me. At an average pulse rate of 75, 20 years would be 788,400,000 operations- 788 million. That's' a lot of flapping.

You are dealing with something that has both high cost and high consequences. What going to happen if the valve fails? If it failed would you be in good enough condition to or live long enough to replace it? Is it the valve proper size for you now? ......

I suggest that you tell your cardiologist that you would like to get a second opinion. I'm sure he'll understand and will likely appreciate it. You will need some of your records to take to the next guy.

Good Luck.




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