BRUCE TAYLOR - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

132 days ago

I am looking at the Edwards Trans Catheter Repair System called PASCAL. Has anyone in this group had experience with this device. What doctors in Ohio are using ...Read more

I am looking at the Edwards Trans Catheter Repair System called PASCAL. Has anyone in this group had experience with this device. What doctors in Ohio are using this device.

BRUCE TAYLORposted an update

133 days ago

One surgeon thinks Edwards PASCAL device would be best for my Mitral Valve issues. Anybody have anything to say about this device?

J Alexander Lassally Hi - No have not heard about it - it looks newer, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. Key questi ... Read more

J Alexander Lassally Hi - No have not heard about it - it looks newer, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. Key question is the volume of patients the surgeon has had with this product and why he/she switched from Abbott Mitral Clip. Also, the success rate versus the Abbott product. Ask for specific documentation. Edwards is a leading company in the space.

BRUCE TAYLORposted a journal

138 days ago

I just got back from consulting with the Cardiac Surgeon, Dr. Jeff Lyons, at Riverside Hospital in Columbus, OH. He recommends that I undergo a Mitral Valve ...Read more

I just got back from consulting with the Cardiac Surgeon, Dr. Jeff Lyons, at Riverside Hospital in Columbus, OH. He recommends that I undergo a Mitral Valve Clip repair. I am now waiting for a report from the actual individual that does the clip insertion. Also I am waiting to get a 2nd opinion from Dr. Gillinov regarding clip insertion vs. repair via Robotic Surgery.

J Alexander Lassally The clip has failure risks - you are aware of the recent press about all of this?? I do not know you ... Read more

J Alexander Lassally The clip has failure risks - you are aware of the recent press about all of this?? I do not know your age, but if you are healthy and want to "go all in" I'd definitely look beyond the clip. At least weigh pros and cons heavily. The clip surgeons/interventionalists seem "less than" in my view... Just saying.

BRUCE TAYLOR Still looking/considering. I am 82 years old am diabetic and on peritoneal dialysis. Fairly high risk ... Read more

BRUCE TAYLOR Still looking/considering. I am 82 years old am diabetic and on peritoneal dialysis. Fairly high risk for open heart surgery.
I am not aware of recent press. You have a reference?

Richard Munson What a great age.

J Alexander Lassally Bruce - A very young 82 ! .... I can see where this is getting to a difficult risk / benefit for you, especially the diabetes and dialysis. My thought was that 70-75 was where this started. The good thing is that Cleveland Clinic (where I had mine) will clearly tell you their view on this and whether they think open surgery makes sense... I do think it is better if a cardiac surgeon tells you to go for a mitral clip versus a clip interventionist sell you on this being the only option.

A few weeks ago there was a sort of recall on the clip - where Abbott was requesting additional training... It was posted here in this website....

... Read more

BRUCE TAYLOR Okay, Alex. I will take this into consideration. Cleveland Clinic is reviewing my TTE and TEE and CT. ... Read more

BRUCE TAYLOR Okay, Alex. I will take this into consideration. Cleveland Clinic is reviewing my TTE and TEE and CT. I suppose I will talk with them next week.

BRUCE TAYLORposted an update

139 days ago

My anterior leaflet of the Mitral Valve has prolapsed (possibly due to an unattached chordae) with Mitral Regurgitation. All of the videos show repair of the ...Read more

My anterior leaflet of the Mitral Valve has prolapsed (possibly due to an unattached chordae) with Mitral Regurgitation. All of the videos show repair of the POSTERIOR leaflet. What repair techniques are available for the ANTERIOR leaflet?

Kathy Ozio Hi Bruce. I also had my anterior leaflet affected instead of the more common posterior. It was the ... Read more

Kathy Ozio Hi Bruce. I also had my anterior leaflet affected instead of the more common posterior. It was the same, I just believe the anterior is a little harder to get to than the posterior. Surgery is the same, from what I understand. I had mine done robotically.

BRUCE TAYLOR Thanks, Kathy. I am hoping for a robotic repair but I didn't see much on anterior leaflet. Dr. Gillin ... Read more

BRUCE TAYLOR Thanks, Kathy. I am hoping for a robotic repair but I didn't see much on anterior leaflet. Dr. Gillinbov's office (at Cleveland Clinic) is going to get back to me after they review the CT and echo images.

J Alexander Lassally I think resections are less common here, so it may be a chord repair (as I had).... One thing to know ... Read more

J Alexander Lassally I think resections are less common here, so it may be a chord repair (as I had).... One thing to know is that the thoracotomy approaches lean heavily on the chord approach, whereas sternotomy is definitely either resection or chord depending... So you will have to decide both dimensions. Surgeons will clearly tell you what they do vis a vis their surgical preference.

BRUCE TAYLOR Thanks, Alex. I am just in the collecting information stage now. Will make some decisions soon.