Michael's Journal

Hi gang, just a quick synopsis on my surgery. I am a Cardiothoracic PA at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Had mediastinal RT for Hodgkins when I was 17 (now 56). Been watching my AV and MV deteriorate over the past 15 years...living on Toprol XL/ASA/Zocar/Rythmol (for PAF). Yearly echoes showed a gradual deterioration. In Sept, I underwent an echo for increased SOB on exertion (I'm also a Professional Bowler in my "spare" time. MR was severe, AS very night, AI moderate, and now my EF was 50% from 68%! Time for surgery! on 12/2, underwent a AVR/MVR with On-X mech valves / BiAtrial MAZE/L Atrial Appendage Amputation. Surgery went well even though I have a 280 minutes CPB run. Lots of Calcification debridement to get a bigger valve in. I already had a DDD Pacemaker from 2006 for 2nd degree HB, so the two surgeons I work with, who did my surgery, decided to decalcify the annulus's as best they could. They got a #23 in the AV and 31/33 in the MV position. Post-op I had some Vertigo and Pericarditis. The vertigo was treated with Epley maneuvers and the pericarditis with steroids. While I required a re-hospitalization for the Dressler's syndrome, I recovered...losing 22 lbs of water on a Lasix drip / PICC / Bilat Thoracentesis and hefty doses of Prednisone (fortunately the Cardiologist who re-admitted me is world-renowned in Pericardial disease. His feeling is 50mg Prednisone /day X 7 days, followed by a 10mg decrease weekly till off, then 3 months of Colchicine will "melt the rind". I can tell you my most recent echo shows collapse of the ICV, no flow reversal in the liver, EF 61% (thats with a HR of 108-111), they are allowing my HR to stay up due to steroids/low hemoglobin and inflammation around the heart. I am currently in Cardiac Rehab, going back to work on 2/1 instead of 3/1