TEE results

[Randy & Robyn]

Looks like I might as well go back to posting in the presurgery forum.

I had my TEE today. This was my third this year and the only one that did not leave me with a massive two-day sore throat. Small blessings.

Anyway, my cardiologist said that the spot he saw on the TEE three weeks ago near my aortic valve is still there and has not changed in size. All of my blood cultures are still negative and I've had no trace of fever for the past two weeks. He thinks it's a 50/50 chance whether the spot is endocarditis or just a remnant of the failed repair.

In his opinion, my best two options would be either a homograft or a mechanical valve with a conduit. Needless to say, I am leaning toward the mechanical valve at this point to avoid a third surgery.

I have done lots of research on valve replacement and have run across the term 'conduit' before but I'm not sure exactly what that is. Does it replace the native valve root? What material is it made of and can it be used with any mechanical valve?

Randy

[MarkRose]

I had endocarditis, and YES you would have a high fever, chills, night sweats ...
Sorry I don't know much about valves, I'm trying to decide on my 2nd one.
Good luck, and I'll keep you in my prayers.
Margaret

[Natanni]

Thanks for checking in Randy

Sorry to hear you didn't get other news, but at least you are on top of this!

Not sure about the conduit. I always thought it was the dacron root, but that is a pure guess, I have no idea.

Nathan did not develop the fever until 5 wks into endocarditis; He felt like crap about a week after his exposure, then he had little sweats which gradually increased to big night sweats. His vision started to get worse, he had roaming muscle pain. This was about one month into endocarditis. By the time he finally spiked a fever. They did 2 or 3 TEEs on Nathan, and never did see the vegatations, but they were there!!

Take care Randy...

[Ross]

Yes Randy it is Dacron. If you should get a St.Judes like mine, this will be what she looks like:

[kingpeta]

Randy - sorry to hear about this news. It must be semi-devastating to learn you may have to go through another surgery. I know I wouldn't want to but at least it sounds like your surgeon(s) are on top of it. I always thought a "conduit" was a tube or partial aorta replacement made of Dacron. I might be wrong of course. My own opinion is that you won't be dissapointed with a mechanical valve. That's what I got and it has been great. I don't feel any stress about needing to have surgery again, valve failure, etc. and taking warfarin is just another pill to me. How soon would you be facing surgery again? Maybe recovery would at least allow you to watch all the great Packer's games! Hang in there and try to stay positive.

[Ross]

Ross, the thing that looks like a hypodermic plunger -- is that some kind of insertion device, or what? I have the same type of St. Judes.
Nope, that's the valve itself. St. Jude CAVG-404. Mechanical aortic with graft sleeve.

http://www.downuri.com/catalog/SJM/AorticValvedGraft.pdf