Melissa Delgado - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

1 day ago

What is the average length of time you've been told a TAVR valve lasts? I've heard from doctors 5 years, online 10 years, and I know some patients, while few, ...Read more

What is the average length of time you've been told a TAVR valve lasts? I've heard from doctors 5 years, online 10 years, and I know some patients, while few, who made it 15 years. I think on average 10 years is probably closer to the truth, and knowing everyone is different and different health can affect the valve differently. So just curious what you all out there were told. Thanks!

Rose Madura I didn't have a TAVR but my aunt did. She had her first SAVR 2002. In 2014, she had a TAVR. In 2023 ... Read more

Rose Madura I didn't have a TAVR but my aunt did. She had her first SAVR 2002. In 2014, she had a TAVR. In 2023, she had a 2nd TAVR but unfortunately, her cancer came back and she died. So the shoe answer for her is 9 years.

Melissa Delgadoposted an update

1 day ago

I'm in Wisconsin looking for an IR cardiologist who will perform TAVR on patients in their 50s. So far all I get is the hard sell on SAVR. My cardiologist told ...Read more

I'm in Wisconsin looking for an IR cardiologist who will perform TAVR on patients in their 50s. So far all I get is the hard sell on SAVR. My cardiologist told me I could have TAVR, but I can't find anyone to perform it. Any younger TAVR patients in Wisconsin who had TAVR?

J Alexander Lassally If you are in your 50s and relatively healthy that is quite young for TAVR. It will eventually fail - ... Read more

J Alexander Lassally If you are in your 50s and relatively healthy that is quite young for TAVR. It will eventually fail -- and you will then be confronted with needing another surgery... Cardiologists are not always right ! Surgeons can advise you better....

Melissa Delgado I understand SAVR is the "gold standard," but I also know of many patients having TAVR in their 50s. ... Read more

Melissa Delgado I understand SAVR is the "gold standard," but I also know of many patients having TAVR in their 50s. TAVR in TAVR is happening now, and I'm fine with the fact that I will need more surgery in the future. I cannot do the downtime required with a SAVR. I know if TAVR wasn't a thing, then I'd have no option other than do the SAVR. But knowing TAVR is a safe alternative, that's what I'm trying to do. Unfortunately, everyone I know in their 50s had it at hospitals that are too far from me, so I'm looking for somewhere closer. I appreciate your feedback though.

J Alexander Lassally Good luck in your search ! Can you do Mayo Clinic - hopefully not too far?

Melissa Delgado I'm closer to Chicago, so Mayo is far. I'm going to look at Rush and Northwestern next.

J Alexander Lassally Gotcha. NW is quite popular these days. it seems...

Yumiko Ishida I was told trans catheter replacement is the last resort for very old patients and for those that can ... Read more

Yumiko Ishida I was told trans catheter replacement is the last resort for very old patients and for those that cannot have sternotomy for whatever reason, either too weak or already had too many in the past? I suggest getting second or third opinions from cardiologists, not just surgeons. J Alexander is right that cardiologists aren’t always right, but surgeons tend to be very narrowly focused. It might be more helpful to ask what criteria they use to determine whether or not TVAR is the best procedure for a particular person? This is coming from a person that underwent a trans catheter procedure that went wrong, and had to get a sternotomy anyway.