Understanding Heart Valve Replacement Choices: What you need to know 

Dr. Castro repaired my mitral valve in 2015. My wife and I are deeply grateful for his expertise and his team.

Thank you for the insight into choices..as I’m diagnosed with aortic stenosis..and I’m on Coumadin..👍🏻

Thank you Dr. Castro. I appreciate your clear and comprehensive summary of choices for replacement.

Thank you for the fantastic video with great, well-organized and calmly presented information. You are a great doctor!

Excellent presentation of the valve choices available. You reinforced my choice. Too far from Sequoia Medical, but we have excellent cardiovascular teams and incredible surgeons at the V.A. Medical Center in Dallas. Thank you for taking the time and effort to share your technical expertise and experience.

I am in my early 60s and had an Edwards Inspiris Resilia valve fitted one year ago. Mine was said to be a narrowing bi-cuspid aortic valve. My health is much worse post surgery than it has ever been prior to the procedure. Dr Castro is correct in not letting the doctor choose the valve. I was allowded no discussion with the surgeon and my ex-cardiologist said the the surgeon would choose the 'best option'. I was asymptomatic leading to the surgery and now I have acute fatigue, dizziness, chest pains , irregular pounding of my heart and I have nearly fainted in a hazardous situation . Surgery was the worst option for me. Nobody told me that the Edwards Inspiris Resilia was still in the trials phase and the trials will not be complete until 2027. I had been clear to the Cardiologist that I was only satisfied with a TAVR but I was co-coerced toward the bio-prosthetic option and (in my opinion) it has been a failure.🤕

Thank you so much for the expert information.

Thank you ...I am on deck and have to make a decision...

Very informative thanks

I'm 57 and on 2/20/24 I had a aortic aneurysm 6.4 removed replaced with a cow skin type imalso had tricuspid valve surgery replaced with the same thing hope it last until I'm 80 🙏🙏 at least surgery done at N.Y.U. LANGONE

Has there been any updates on the Edwards Inspiris Resilia bioprosthesis yet? I was talking with a thoracic surgeon in Jan. 2019 and he suggested a mechanical valve replacement. After doing some research about the pros and cons of both mechanical and bio prosthesis I am leaning more towards the bio prosthesis. I am mid 50's, male and otherwise healthy. I do not like the stats when it comes to SAVR though. As you know, advancements have been made in regards to TAVR and I am hoping to convince the surgeon on both counts. Would like to know which bioprosthesis is the best for valve in valve when it is time to consider it.

Brilliant.

Hi Dr Castro. I am 55 years old woman. I had a Ross Procedure done in 1998 (at age 37) to replace a congenital bicuspid aortic valve for aortic insufficiency. Things went fairly well for years. My energy returned and the out-of-breath problem was gone. In 2012 I suddenly was getting syncopes because of acute bradychardia and I recieved a St Jude Medical pacemaker. Now at age 55 (2016) I am getting out of breath on a single flight of stairs. Naturally, my cardiologist did a 2D echocardiogram and a TEE test and now I was told by the Cardiovascular surgeon that I need to have open heart surgery AGAIN. He wants to put in a porcine (pig) valve. I AM VERY UPSET. I would like to have a TAVR or at least a human autograft valve. As before, my aortic valve is regurgitating and my left ventricle is enlarged. My EF is only 45%. I have no swelling in my arms or ankles. I can walk the dog (slowly) but I CANNOT do a flight of stairs or run for the bus without getting dizzy and out-of-breath. What should I do?

Can someone get a tissue valve if the mechanical aortic valve fails in 20 years? Can a tissue valve replace a failed mechanical valve? Can a ross procedure be done if the mechanical valve fails in 20 years?

Hi when does a mechanical heart valve get infected ?

Hello Dr. Luis Castro I have questions I am 42 years old woman I did mechanical valves replacement I take blood tiner is my comedienne but I can pregnancy?

Thank you Dr. Luis. This 62 1/2 year old woman is having a hard choosing a valve. I know I need to it, but there are no good choices. Do you use the new Edward Intuity Valve? I am being told it lasts 15-20 years. What is your experience with this valve?

I need your help doc castro im from philippines..my mom needs a doctor like you but we cannot afford operation

How can I contact Dr. Luis Castro

Hi Doctor I am 43 years old male, I 'm under medication of bicuspid heart valve leaks I took medicine for 4 years now, but not improve, I have a chest pain. Please help what should I do?

Hi Dr Castro, I’m a 64 year old Canadian, and I’m hoping you can answer my question about my 30 year old severely calcified mechanical mitral valve. The last 2 scans over the course of 3 years, shows the annulus is severely calcified, and the clicking sounds are very irregular. Can this valve be replaced with either a pig or cow valve, or only another mechanical valve. I’d have to take Coumadin for life, regardless, as I have secondary APS to Systemic Lupus. P.S. Shockingly to the Doctors, the biopsy showed, I developed mitral valve disease very young from rheumatic disease! I’m hoping to feel better and maybe a new valve and the calcification removed. I’d love to feel better. I look forward to hear your expert thoughts on my situation. Thank you for your consideration on my question. Sincerely Holly Hannula. A 64 year old female, with a lot of life to still tackle and explore!

I had my open heart operation in 2014 ,on replacing Aortic valve (tissue), now my Mitral valve not functioning well. please give some advice what I do.

My daughter first operation they put tissue valve at age of 11 and then 2 and half years there is another operation the put now mechanical valve what you can advice me Doc to have my Daughter long life as a mother i have already truma and iam suffering now my deppression because of what happened to him my hope and interest that will okay is very low can you please advice the operation happened is month of feb 2021 just recently.

good morning sir, i am 33 years old. i have aortic valve problem. my doctor said heart condition grade 1 AR-1. So doctor suggested me blood pressure medicine and phenoxymethyl penicillin 250mg Everyday 2 time 2 tablets. And I want to know how can I change my life style. How can I go Long way. Plz suggest me. Thanks

how long will it be until technology allows for growing a full heart in a test tube-and why don't they fund this stuff?

Good day doc,im jonathan 33years and had my mechanical aortic and mitral valve replacement for 4years ago...just asking for your expertise if i need to continue benzathine penicilin injection?hoping for your positive reponse...thank you and godbless

Hello Dr. Luis, My name is Tamara I'm 52 years of age...and am facing open heart surgery, do to an oratic heart mummer...I terrified...I'm over weight...and have to have my gallbladder removed but don't want to do that till after heart surgery. what questions should I be asking? I have my catherization april 6th.

How long does a tissue valve last in a human body?

What can Cause an Infection in the Heart Valve, After Heart Valve Replacement Surgery? ( YEAR'S Later)

If someone has a Heart Attack, then Immediate Heart Valve(1) Replacement Surgery, making it through the Surgery, then immediately Dying, is there an Explanation for this?

What is done if the mechanical valve becomes stiff after 18 years? I am 73 years old. Are they replaced? Will it require open heart surgery again? I am not sure I could go through surgery again. It was tough and I had to go back to the hospital for another week due to blood pressure being too low. I was addressed as if I was the one that caused myself to become ill and returned. I followed what I was told to do. I am not sure what to do.

Not a choice, my husband went for a pre op examination and ended up by Ambulance 3 hours away in the Alfred hospital Melbourne Australia for replacement valve, luckily they found he needed one possibly wouldn't have been with us much longer. And thanks for our universal health system we didn't have to worry about the cost, now he's just waiting for the all clear so he can have his hip replaced . All taken care of by our Medicare . You don't always have symptoms.

Sir I’m Gaurav from Delhi India My Grand father(63 Old) undergone Valve Replacement Surgery before 48hr and still he is ICU on Ventilation. Is there hope to survive😢

Damn I'm 28 years old , need a valve replacement & I'm freaking knowing that pretty much I won't live that long smh