TAVR Implant Completed

Successful TAVR

by Julros - 2023-06-02 20:28:11

Congratulations! From my understanding, they use a pretty big catheter to place things. I can remember years ago at a cardiac conference asking a surgeon about TAVRs and he soundly dressed me down for suggesting such a thing. And now, they are routine. Medical research and development is amazing. 

I am wishing you a speedy and uneventful recooperation. 

TAVR implant procedure

by Gemita - 2023-06-03 02:42:41

So pleased the TAVR went well. I see you already feel better, can breath deeper and have more energy, so that sounds encouraging.  Hopefully Coreg will keep any Non Sustained VT episodes under good control while your heart is healing.  In any event you say you barely felt the short VT episode so that is a sign that you were able to tolerate the arrhythmia well.  Short bursts of 'non sustained' VT can be common for many of us, so try not to worry.

Yes groin pain following catheter incision can be quite unpleasant and any bruising can look horrific as it drains, but it seems you are having a fairly straightforward recovery.   I developed a pseudo aneurysm  following my femoral vein access a few years ago after an EP Study and Angiogram and the bruising was extensive I recall.

Continue to make good progress and please take us with you on your journey of recovery.  I send my best wishes to you for a successful outcome

TAVR pain/bruising

by AgentX86 - 2023-06-03 14:41:17

TAVR accesses the heart through the femoral artery, to the aorta. The ablations we're more familliar with use the femoral vein. The arteries, of course, are at a much higher pressure so it takes longer to close.  If there are leaks, it bleeds more so looks much worse.  Bruising can hurt, too.  I'm sure that's what you're feeling.

Bleeding and bruising

by USMC-Pacer - 2023-06-03 14:46:19

Yep, they said there would most likely be both and I should expect greens, purples, browns, etc possibly all the way down to my knee, ugh!

Thankfully, nothing yet and the pain has subsided for the most part. I just have to remember to take it easy as I really feel like getting out and doing something due to generally feeling MUCH better.

Thanks all for the responses!

Bruising

by AgentX86 - 2023-06-03 22:12:44

I had an angiogram (they were intending to stent) on my carotid.  Of course, the access what through the femoral artery.  I didn't have any bleeding but I was firced to lie on my back for five hours after the procedure.  My back and bladder had a competition to see who could screem more.

If anyone needs a cardiac cath, find a cardiologist who will do it through the radial (wrist) artery.  It's really simple because a simple wrist cuff can put direct pressure on the wound and off you go.

AgentxX86

by USMC-Pacer - 2023-06-03 22:34:25

True.. I had a cardiac cath via radial during the workup for the TAVR. Very simple as they just let pressure out gradually and viola you are left with a small hole. Piece of cake :) The worst part of this procedure was having to lay still for 6 hours. Tougher than it sounds as you know..

Yes femoral artery access

by Gemita - 2023-06-04 02:46:25

AgentX86/USMC-Pacer, I have just reviewed my notes from 2017 and I see for my combined Angiogram and EP Study they used various access sites during a 4 wire study, going through both the femoral vein and femoral artery.  An angioseal vascular closure device was placed in the right femoral artery. 

Following this painful procedure and development of extensive bruising, I attended A&E a few days later for assessment.  Ultrasound of the right groin confirmed a pseudo aneurysm arising from the “anterior aspect of the terminal common femoral artery close to the bifurcation which demonstrated some perfusion of the neck”.

I was kept in hospital for 4 days, taken off anticoagulant Edoxaban for three days to allow healing to take place.  I was then reviewed by a vascular surgeon, had a repeat ultrasound and was told I could restart anticoagulation.  

I feel this pseudo aneurysm could have been prevented by a more experienced operator.  I can recall he told me he would have to abort the procedure if I couldn’t tolerate the puncture!  He clearly didn’t give me sufficient pain relief or use the best technique?

I was told that a Pseudo aneurysm can occur when the femoral artery puncture is too low and that looking for the neck of the femur and puncturing by the ?Seldinger technique is an accepted method of preventing a Pseudo aneurysm.  I will take these notes with me for any future procedure involving the femoral artery.

Yes, lying still for hours after the procedure was painful, especially on the bladder!

Gemita

by USMC-Pacer - 2023-06-04 11:09:39

WOW, sorry you went through all that! 

If it's of any interest to anyone here, my closure device is from Vascade Vascular Closure System and you can read about it here: 

https://hospital.haemonetics.com/vascular-closure/vascade

So far, no bruising....but I'm sure it's coming :)

Thanks for the update

by Lavender - 2023-06-05 08:32:21

I'm glad you're now on the recovery side of the operation! Love your positive attitude !

Get a bit better each day, God bless!