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Had Valve Implanted, End Stage Heart Failure. Treatment?
On 10/31/2011, I had a St. Jude Epic pig s valve implanted. I am now in end stage heart failure and told that I should be put on a heart transplant list. I look like a beach walrus and am having severe difficulty walking and doing daily chores. This is no way to live. Please contact me at 215.493.8446. Thank you. Are these valves recalled? YYYY@YYYY
Fri, 25 Oct 2013
Dear patient,
Sorry about your current decline. These valves have not been recalled and usually behave well; however, in certain patients the degree of heart dysfunction prior to valve replacement is so advanced that heart failure continues to progress despite the new valve... because the problem is in the heart muscle itself already.
I would ask your doctors to see if you are a candidate for a left ventricular assist device or LVAD while you wait for transplant.
Yours truly,
Dr Brenes-Salazar MD
Cardiology
Mayo Clinic MN
Sorry about your current decline. These valves have not been recalled and usually behave well; however, in certain patients the degree of heart dysfunction prior to valve replacement is so advanced that heart failure continues to progress despite the new valve... because the problem is in the heart muscle itself already.
I would ask your doctors to see if you are a candidate for a left ventricular assist device or LVAD while you wait for transplant.
Yours truly,
Dr Brenes-Salazar MD
Cardiology
Mayo Clinic MN
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