It was in 2005, five years after he started cycling, Pete started having problems during hill climbs. When the damage of the aortic valve is too severe, replacement surgery becomes very important. Aortic valve replacement is a surgical procedure that involves removing a diseased or defective aortic valve and replacing it with another one. Late follow-up information was obtained through postal questionnaire or telephone interview between July 1, 1998, and November 1, 1999. Conditions that may require this procedure include aortic stenosis and aortic insufficiency. I have been informed that I need a Aortic (bicuspid) valve replacement next month. Table 2. Mechanical valves are carbon, metal, or plastic. Thanks. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a way to replace the aortic valve without open-heart surgery. Currently I am a fit club cyclist averaging 150M per week and have shown no signs that I had a problem. The doctors told me to avoid biking or weightlifting for 30 days–not because of my valve, but because the incision in my artery needed to heal properly. Valve repair or replacement is generally safe. Hi all. Good luck with the comeback. Your aortic valve opens and closes to let blood flow from your heart. Aortic complications after aortic valve replacement in patients with dilated ascending aorta and aortic regurgitation. All other patients had no or mild aortic insufficiency. AFTER THE SURGICAL HEART VALVE REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. Depending on the results, the doctor will monitor the situation or choose the surgery to replace the aortic valve. Log in or register to join the conversation. In some patients replacement of more than valve is needed. Aortic Valve Replacement. When you're taken off the ventilator, a mask will be placed over your mouth and nose to supply oxygen for you to breathe. Before going home, you'll be given advice about caring for your wound and any activities you need to avoid until you have recovered. aortic valve replacement (AVR) since recommendation date. Back on the Court with his On-X Heart Valve After going through one heart valve surgery and facing another, Mike Aronson wondered if he might be done playing tennis for good. Objective Surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) remains the gold standard therapy for severe aortic stenosis. When your aortic valve does not open or close as it should, the amount of blood that your heart can pump to your body decreases. after my week in the hospital I was able to do stairs with little to no discomfort. They last long but boost your chances of having blood clots. After an aortic valve replacement, you will be taken to an intensive care unit (ICU). Your doctor or surgeon can give you specific advice about when you can return to your normal activities, but generally speaking: While at home, you may experience some temporary side effects that should start to improve as you recover. Something about the phrase 'congenital heart defect' makes them think you should be lying in bed not banging in the miles! Following the surgery, you'll spend some time in the ICU, where you will be closely monitored to make sure there are no complications. You'll usually need to stay in hospital for about a week after an aortic valve replacement, although it may be 2 to 3 months before you fully recover. Our objective was to provide a detailed contemporary benchmark of long-term survival following AVR among elderly patients (≥65 years) in the UK. Recovering in ‘stages’ after aortic valve replacement “Life can be good again,” says Ruth, a critical care nurse who learned about the far-reaching impact of heart surgery, first-hand. This eMedTV site discusses how lung problems after aortic valve replacement may occur more frequently in people with existing lung disease. Your breastbone will usually heal in about 6 to 8 weeks, but it may be 2 to 3 months before you feel your normal self again. It is 7 weeks since surgery and life is returning to normal. I would be interested to hear how your recovery went and if there were any impacts on your cycling following the procedure. We have previously found a low physical work capacity in patients with aortic regurgitation 6 months after aortic valve replacement (AVR). Additional complications of aortic valve replacement may include heart attack, stroke, or failure of the new valve. Currently I am a fit club cyclist averaging 150M per week and have shown no signs that I had a problem. trevorb Posts: 49. Recovering from an aortic valve replacement. Speak to your GP or cardiac nurse for advice if you're struggling to cope with the after effects of your operation or they don't seem to be improving. Close menu. Hi all. The aortic valve must open fully and close fully with each heartbeat so the heart can pump enough blood around the body.If either function I will probably start with a couple of weeks of steady turbo rides before venturing out on the road. Mind you sometimes i'm inclined to agree with them when i'm slogging up some of these Yorkshire hills. After … Here, the activity of your heart, lungs and other systems will be closely monitored for the first 24 to 48 hours. That is a great question! Some of the most common complications of aortic valve replacement include infection, bleeding, and nausea. phase for mechanical aortic valve replacement patients. You'll be moved from the ICU to a surgical ward once the doctors treating you think you're ready. I have been told 6-8 weeks recovery but this will depend on the type of surgery (full brestbone cut or less invasive). Irregular heartbeat, reactions to anesthesia, and the development of blood clots may also occur as a result of this procedure. Your breastbone will usually heal in about 6 to 8 weeks, but it may be 2 to 3 months before you feel your normal self again. But sometimes a small cut is made in the … Possible lung problems after aortic valve replacement surgery include pneumonia, bleeding, and lung failure. I went on cardiacathletes.com for some time but packed it in after a year as I found that for psychological reasons its best to not label myself like that. The aim is to help you recover quickly and get back to living as full and active a life as you can, while preventing further heart problems. Hi Brent, I recently had my Aortic valve and root replaced on 2/24/2014. TAVR is often done through an incision (cut) in the groin. I am 8 months postop for a double heart valve replacement (mitral and aortic) and a bypass. Between January 1, 1993, and April 31, 1998, 133 patients >80 years old underwent AVR with or without concomitant procedures at Washington University. Mort asked me, “Adam, Will long distance bicycle riding – approximately 12 hours a week – prematurely wear out an aortic or mitral valve replacement made from porcine tissue?”. However, even mild exertion causes me to be short of breath--often extremely so. There are two main types. I discovered that I had a bicuspid in 2002 during a scan following a viral infection. I am looking forward to getting back on the bike and seeing how my heart, lungs and legs react after 2 months of inactivity. I have been informed that I need a Aortic (bicuspid) valve replacement next month. I wondered if anyone else here or maybe knows someone who has undergone this type of surgery? The time it takes to fully recover varies depending on factors like your age and overall health. August 2013 edited October 2013 in Training, fitness and health. Natsuaki M(1), Itoh T, Rikitake K, Okazaki Y, Naitoh K. Author information: (1)Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Saga Medical School, Japan. And it doesn’t discriminate, as even well known celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Barbara Walters have both had aortic valve replacement surgery. Now things are not so bad although the sternum wiring gives me trouble and may need tweaking a bit as its threatening to cut through the skin. You may have several tubes and monitors attached to you during the first few days of your stay. Glad to hear you are through the surgery. Remembering the symptoms as explained in the above paragraphs will be helpful for any individual to consult a specialist. Many thanks for the information and I will definitely take a look at those sites. Aortic stenosis refers to a condition where in which there is a narrowing of the aortic valve opening, usually due to calcium build-up. Aortic and mitral valve surgeries are more common likely due to greater pressures found on the left side of the heart. There are some amazing athletes on there. In the end surgery was more intensive than expected as I also needed an aortic graft on top of the aortic valve replacement. New York H… Follow-up was 98% complete. Senile Aortic Calcification, Bicuspid Aortic Valve, and other underlying diseases are responsible for aortic valve replacement. You'll need to take things easy at first. After an aortic valve replacement, you'll usually need to stay in hospital for about a week. Preoperative demographic information and perioperative events were retrieved from our computerized database. when you first get home, your wound will might be sore, swollen, and red. If it is not done on time, it can be fatal. Read more about the risks of an aortic valve replacement. The aorta is the large blood vessel that carries blood from your heart to your body. I am recovered from the surgery in the sense that my body feels fine, no pain, energy levels normal. Risks of Heart Valve Repair or Replacement. Luckily, for the second surgery, he chose an On-X Aortic … Your care team will focus on increasing your appetite and getting you back on your feet. Possible risks associated with treatment include: Bleeding during or after treatment or damage to the blood vessels; Blood clots that can cause heart attack, stroke, or lung problems Owing to low incidence, no statistically significant dif-ference was detected for thromboembolic event rates. I just received a great question form Mort about exercise, biking and heart valve durability. Pleased that it all went ok and that life is returning to normal, Boardman Road Comp - OK, I went to Halfords. 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