Meet My New Valve (Graphic - Viewer Discretion Advised)
I just received these from Dr. Lamelas and wanted to post them ASAP; consequently, I've refrained from verbosely commenting about them. Perhaps Dr. Lamelas can chime in and clarify each photo for us.
Photo 1 - Meet My New Valve
Photo 2 - My Old Valve
1 - Part of my old aortic valve before Dr. Lamelas removed it. My guess is it's one of the two infirmed flaps.
2 - My aorta, which Dr. Lamelas cut open to gain access to my aortic valve.
3 - Dr. Lamelas' iPod.
Photo 3 - My New Valve
1 - The three flaps of the new valve, which is already in place.
2 - Dr. Lamelas' digital camera.
Photo 4 - New Valve, Wider Angle
1 - Rib retractor. As I recall, from Dr. Lamelas' video of a previous surgery, he created or worked closely with an instrument company in the design of this retractor specially for this type of procedure.
2 - View of my new valve through the incised aorta.
3 - Dr. Lamelas' electric shaver.
Photo 5 - Closing Up
1 - Pair of wires that stuck out a hole just beneath the incision (out of view to the right), the same hole through which the drainage tube came out. The wires were initially hooked up to a machine a little bigger than a paperback book. I assume the machine serves as some kind of external pacemaker. The day after surgery the nurse removed the wires from the machine, rolled them up and taped them to my chest. The doctor thar removed my drainage tube, gave the two little wires a tug and yanked them out. When he did that, I felt my heart flutter a little.
The plastic-bag-looking material around the wound seems to be a tape that helps keep the wound open during surgery. That, I guess, prevents having a bunch of fingers in there pulling the skin. Did you also notice in the other photos how sutures are used to hold fleshy flaps and stuff out of the way? Cool!
Photo 6 - All Done!
1 - 5 centimeter incision. That's it! I've had razor cuts bigger than that.
2 - Dr. Lamelas' hand, feeling around, making sure he didn't leave his iPod in there. I noticed he didn't have dirt under his fingernails.
3 - The surgical area was one of the coldest places I've been on this earth.
Willy,
I am impressed with your analysis of each of the pictures. They were very accurate. If you look at the picture of your new valve , you can see a blue suture. This is holding the Struts of the valve together to facilitate closing of the aorta. This is removed prior to the final closure and the valve expands. By the way, you have a 29mm valve in your heart. This is the biggest one on the market. In aortic valve surgery, if you have a big valve, it allows the heart to pump easier and in turn will help increase your exercise capacity.
Oh, I forgot to ask you, did you find my ipod and electric shaver?
Dr. Lamelas
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ES INCREIBE SEMEJANTE OPERACION, Y LA INCISION TAN PEQUEÑA ESE DOCTOR ES TODA ME ALEGO DE VERTE TAN BIEN.YO ESTUBE LLAMANDO A TIA PARA ESTAR AL TANTO DE TU SALUD.MIL BENDICIONES CAMPION!!!!!!!!!
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Willy,
Those pics are amazing! just like the Doctor as well as you.
If you start liking strange music...I would be looking for the I-Pod!
I will see you Saturday.
Love ya
Candy
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I always thought they had to crack you to change that valve. I'm glad to see how much better the surgery is now. What percentage of doctors do you think still do the old style?
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Don't know the percentage still doing the full sternotomy to replace aortic (or other) valves. Maybe Dr. Lamelas will chime in and let us know. My guess is that most valve replacements are still done the old fashion way.
When I was doing my research, I saw some, so called, minimally invasive procedures where they still cracked part of the sternum. Dr. Lamelas, according to an old video, does not consider those to be minimally invasive and I tend to agree with him.
You also have to take into account that not everyone is a candidate for a minimally invasive procedure. For example, let's say that my angiogram had turned out differently; that my coronary arteries were seriously occluded and I needed multiple bypasses. In that case, I assume Dr. Lamelas would have opened me up through the sternum.
Given the low amount of pain and the rapid recovery I've experienced, I hope that Dr. Lamelas' procedure becomes the standard method for aortic valve replacement. Doctors from all over the world come to see and learn Dr. Lamelas' procedure. By my request, my procedure was observed by doctors attending Dr. Lamelas' symposium.
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willie.
Quede impresionada con las fotos de la valvula vieja y la nueva y senti mucho q removieron el video de u tube 03/06/2009 pues me comentaron q el reportaje fue maravilloso.Que pena haberlo perdido.Yo fui operda de reemplazo de la valvula aorta en octubre de el 2008 por Dr Lamelas y le doy gracias a Dios todos los dias de haber tenido la oportunidad de que una eminencia como Dr Lamelas haya sido mi cirujano,pues he quedado muy bien y he podido reanudar mi vida normal a un 100%.A todos los q esten pasando por momentos dificiles antes de operarse altamente les recomiendo que con los ojos cerrados se pongan en manos de Dr Lamelas que estoy segura q no se arrepentiran es un gran Dr,con una larga carrera y experiencia y un gran ser humano.Yo particularmente le estare agradecida toda mi vida.Rosa Gonzalez.
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Hi Willi,I am 77 years old and I am going to have the same surgery within a month or so,Dr.Lamelas is going to perform the surgery,considering my age should I be worried or it is going to be a breeze,any comments that will encourage me will be appreciated,thank you.Daniel
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