Fahther's 3rd OHS

[Chris1972]

Hello, My father will be undergoing his thir heart surgery next month.  He had surgery for an aortic anuerysm and replace his aortic valve in 1993;  this was follwed by another surgery to replace the then leaking aortiv valve in 2002.  This valve is leaking again and may be casing his mitral valve to be leaking also.  He is currently 80 years old and in (relatively) good health (eats well/exercises).  Can you please provide information on the risks associated w/ this 2nd re-op and any suggestions?  Thank you.

[Chris1972]

Thank you for your answer.  I think you may have misinterpreted my question, though.  I was looking for comments not on a CABG re-op but rather on my father's 3rd valve surgery and associated risks.  Would your answer be relevant for valve re-ops on the elderly?  Also, what is the mortality rate at the Cleveland Clinic for a second aortic valve re-op on an elderly pateint who is a NY Class II-III (is on 50mg lasix/day but no real issues w. tiredness/breathless when walking short distances and climbing a couple flights of stairs).

Thank you.

[Cleveland Clinic]

I would have expected the surgeon to have gone over this but if he has not, there is a n increased risk with re operation, given all of the fibrosis which occurs after the initial two surgeries. They will usually get a CT scan to make sure the LIMA, if used, does not get disrupted during the initial portion of the surgery.  There are always the associated risks of the bypass, and cross clamping of the aorta, which include stroke, distal embolism, kidney damage, etc, and although these are higher in 80 years old they should not be any higher in the re operation versus the first surgery.