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Homograft Video: Aortic Valve Replacement Dr. Kevin Accola

By Adam Pick on August 5, 2008

One of the most, highly regarded cardiothoracic surgeons I know is Dr. Kevin Accola from Florida.

Lucky for us, I just found a video that features Dr. Accola as he works on a patient requiring aortic valve replacement due to a congenital, bicuspid aortic valve. As you can see in this story Dr. Accola uses a homograft valve to replacement the patient’s defective valve.

Keep on tickin!
Adam

Written by Adam Pick
- Patient & Website Founder

Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

Jim Hayden says on August 6th, 2008 at 5:07 pm

I found this video interesting. If I have been paying attention the information I used in determining what replacement aortic valve was used
in my surgeries was as follows, (in orderof the length of time I could expect my new valve to last):(1) mechanical,(2) bovine,(3)porcine, (4) Homograft.
Because of the coumadin problems I chose what was recomended as the next best: bovine. I was told it would last 15 years (approx), it lasted 7 and one half. I replaced it with a new and improved bovine valve. I am under the impression that it will last for 20 years.
In this video Dr Accola states that the homograft will last 18 years. Can someone confirm this? Can someone tell me the life expectancy of a bovine aortic valve? Can someone tell me the proper care and feeding of a bovine aortic valve? I need this information to get the longest possible life expectancy for me and my valve. Thank you,
Jim Hayden

LOU OTTMER says on July 6th, 2010 at 3:02 pm

THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPERTUNITY. I TOO WILL BE CHOOSING AN AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT QUITE SOON. AM INTERESTED IN A VALVE THAT WILL NOT BE REQUIRING BLOOD THINNERS SUCH AS CUMIDIN. I LIVE IN GUATEMALA ON MY SAIL BOAT AND MEDICAL LABS ARE NOWHERE NEER MY RESIDENCE. IS BOVINE BETTER THAN OTHER CHOICES?? THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, LOU

6 JULY 2010

David Gowing says on September 12th, 2010 at 11:59 am

Hi;

I have a Edwards Parimont bovine bioprosthetic aortic valve for 2.75 years now. I am 53.75 years old. The double angio gram I had 3 years ago showed my bicuspid aortic valve had gone fibrotic (not calcified) but my arteries where not only open, they were smooth. I credit the smooth arteries to taking a vitamin B complex plus an extra folic acid for 20 years. (knocks the homocystein levels down and nothing plates out in the walls of the arteries,nor inside the arteries.

Question: is serrapeptase contra indicated for my bovine valve?
My Mitral value has one cuspid thickened slightly and the serrapeptase will help eat away non- living tissue (fibrotic tissue).

Thanks;
David G. Gowing

dee says on December 1st, 2011 at 8:27 am

I had my Aortic Valve replaced at the age of 31, 2 & 1/2 years after having my first baby.
I had congenital heart disease which had got to a life threatening stage – I had the homograft on the advice of my surgeon at the John Radcliffe in Oxford (UK)
That was 20 years ago I had another baby 3 years later (part of the reason they suggested the homograft) and am still going strong. I was back at work within 3 months and have continued to work full time ever since having just 5 months maternity leave with my second child.