YD PFO Diver List

[Simon TW]

Originally Posted by Larry Hadley

Complications 1/100 operations are fatal.
Hope this helps
Give me a ring if you want to chat about it
Larry

Larry, 1% don't make it through the op? where did you get this from?

I'm booked in for the closure on 1 May and all of a sudden I find out that I've only a 99% chance of living over 13 days doesn't seem to good.

Is this documented anywhere?

[photek1000]

Originally Posted by redlin

nice one Mary, I've just been back to see Mark for my last check up, all is now sealed up and I can get back in the water. You're in good hands with Mark

What was the time line for this Redlin, I have an outpatients appointment with Mark Turner in May for a chest X-Ray as I move up the waiting list for a closure, fingers crossed for July.

It would be useful to put some numbers around time from op to check up to first dive.

Glad to hear yours is all sealed nicely though.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Andrea123

Hi Mark,
I see that you have recently undergone the PFO closure... just wandering how you are feeling about it now. I have just been confirmed as having a PFO and am gutted ! Thinking of having the closure... but scared stiff ! Worried about many things, like how long do they last ? how long do you have to "take it easy" afterwards ? what's the chances of complications etc etc.
So I'd appreciate your comments on how things have gone for you..
Regards, Andrea

Andrea, Sorry for the delay in responding as I was unaware of your question.

For me the repair was a 100% success story. In response to your questions I offer the following:
the repair is supposed to last forever. Once the occluder is inserted, the body swiftly builds an epithelial layer over both sides effectively making it invisible going forward. A dye test was conducted immediately post surgery and 30 days later, both demonstrated a successful closure.
I was told to not lift anything heavy for 48 hours then to resume life as normal thereafter. I was told not to dive for 30 days until they could recheck the repair (even though the cells typically grow over the occluder within 15 days)
I am not aware of any potential complications as it is effectively scar tissue now.
As a point of reference, before the surgery I had 3 different DCS episodes after dives that exceeded 100' for more than 90 minutes. Subsequent to the surgery I have enjoyed a number of dives at 275' with run times around 600 min. Clearly an improvement. I am blessed and grateful.

If you have additional questions, you are welcome to email me directly at MM@GUE.com.

Mark

[C Chris]

I had the PFO closure device inserted back in 2000 when it was just finishing its experimental stage - reason for closure was a stroke of unknown origin rather than DCS (although I may have been lucky during dives). The closure was performed at Miami Childrens Hospital by Dr. Evan Zahn. Went into the hospital on Sunday, was out on Tuesday. My recoup time and conditions were almost identical to MMM's - after a check-up 60 days later I was cleared for continuing both martial arts and diving. No events what-so-ever post implant. I too am grateful for modern medicine. - Chris

[photek1000]

Good Posts guys helps me out a load with time scales etc.

Could be hopefully moving closer to getting mine closed, the new round of benefits available to me from work include massivley discounted Bupa cover with all pre-exisiting conditions disregarded. So fingers crossed.

[Mary]

If you go private, can I queue jump into your NHS slot ?

[photek1000]

Originally Posted by Mary

If you go private, can I queue jump into your NHS slot ?

If only the NHS worked like that you never know though I may still need that slot, and I have nothing confirmed as of yet, all I have is an outpatients appointment for a chest x-ray at the moment to make sure nothing from an old surgery will effect the closure.

Fingers crossed for quick resolutions for anybody waiting.

[Ali]

Just to put peoples mind at rest. Larry got it a little wrong with the 1/100, that was when they used to do the closure open heart!
It's now 1 in just under a 1000, that's for fatality. Don't know about the other complications.

If I am still shunting in August and need another fitting, I'll be on for it.

Since closure I have had 3 migraines now 1st the week after, the 2nd 5 months after and the 3rd 12 days after the last one. The last one been the worst as I got the flashing lights as I was doing a buddy check at Stoney.

Still it wasn't a definate migraine cure, so no point in winging

Ali

[stuartr]

I don't normally get headaches but after a deep dive I get a pretty nasty one as I get out of my kit on the boat.
Someone mentioned tunnel vision...
I had this once when trying to keep up with a jet propelled buddy whilst finning against current in search of a wreck. pretty impressive it was too, but I put it down to CO2. Is it a PFO indicator?

I had an echcardiogram today as I get ectopic beats. I mentioned about the headaches being a PFO indicator and we had a good look on the ultrasound, but even with a valsalva nothing showed up. Just the expected slightly dodgy mitral valve.
Was your diagnosis by echocardiogram or was a more invasive method necessary?
PS
To reassure people waiting for the op. The odds of 0.1% fatalities given on this site are only raw figures and don't come with any medical referencing. They cannot give the odds for all individuals. It could well be that the fatalities are people with other conditions who are elderly and not in the best of nick anyway. Stats are often notoriously mis-represented and poorly understood by most people. (Myself included, alas.)
Stuart

[Mary]

Mine was diagnosed on transthoracic echo (the one were they have the probe on the outside of your chest not down your throat). However even though I have a v large PFO on a plain echo there was nothing to see, you need the bubble contrast to show it. Bubble echos can have false negatives for PFOs however no false positives.

The 1:100 mortality rate is just wrong - Sorry Larry. Even 1:1000 is pushing it. The most likely and troublesome side effect is palpitations. Having questioned the Doctor who is due to do mine out of about 400 cases they have had 4 with residual shunting, a couple with localised complications in the groin from the venous puncture and another with troublesome paroxysmal AF. The risks of the anaesthetic are about 1:10,000.