Hi my name is Joe Madden, I underwent the PEARS procedure on the 7th June 2021.
Aged 63 the time of the operation.
I consider myself to be very lucky to have even heard about the ExoVasc PEARS procedure.
I was chatting to a gentleman (called John) who happened to be visiting Edinburgh where I live back in 2016 circa. Whilst we were chatting he mentioned something about doing some work for a company called Exstent and explained about the PEARS procedure. I found it interesting, but at the time my aneurysm was just over 40mm and was just a thing I went to get checked every year. It didn’t seem to be increasing much since it was accidentally discovered back in 2011 after a routine scan, therefore it was just something I never gave much attention to.
Fast forward to Nov 2019 and my aneurysm had ballooned to 58mm (an increase of about 10mm in 18 months). At this stage the cardiologist in Edinburgh advised that I would need surgery ASAP (the standard method of aortic root replacement was the only option offered to me). It also meant that my valve would have to be replaced and the options for a replacement valve were either one made from animal tissue (which only had a certain lifespan) or a mechanical one which would require me to be on medication thereafter. Neither option intrigued me.
Recalling the serendipitous conversation with the visitor to Edinburgh from years previously I went home and searched online and finally found the Exstent website. I asked the cardiologist in Edinburgh if I was eligible to have the PEARS procedure, but I was advised my aortic dilatation was too large by this stage.
Feeling a bit deflated with this news I took a chance and phoned Exstent and Tal Golesworthy phoned me back. He advised that it wasn’t just the size that determined suitability but other potential factors. But he also advised that there was no surgeon trained in Edinburgh that could carry out the procedure and that my best bet was to get assessed by a surgeon over on the West coast of Scotland (this gave me a bit of hope).
Within weeks I managed to get referred to a cardiac surgeon in the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank and after reading my notes and looking at the scans he agreed to put me on the list to have the PEARS operation with an intended date of early 2020. I remember asking the surgeon what advice he had for me whilst I awaited surgery and he said “don’t run for any buses”.
Unfortunately Covid came along and everything got kicked into the long grass.
Whilst waiting to hear when a date for the operation would be available, there was a further complication in that my valve was regurgitating blood and there was uncertainty if this was due to the valve being degenerative or to the valve being stretched by the aortic artery dilation.
After a further detailed scan of the valve a decision was made to proceed with the PEARS procedure to my great relief. However to mitigate the valve regurgitation they decided to trial reducing the size of the ExoVasc being wrapped around my aneurysm and thus hopefully reduce the gap in the leaking valve.
Finally I received a date for 7th June 2021.
Conal Austin (the surgeon) visited me the evening before surgery. He explained again that they would monitor the valve during the operation but if the valve didn’t behave after reducing the size of the aneurysm then he would have to revert to the standard method of aortic root replacement.
Thankfully (understatement) the operation was a total success. The reduction of the aneurysm size had resulted in the valve now functioning within a normal range and Conal Austin and his team were happy with the results (Although I know I was even happier, okay ecstatic.)
Now I just had to follow the great advice of the post operative team to get well enough to go home.
The first day I remained in the ICU and was then transferred to a standard ward. Similar to others who have had the procedure I had my ups and downs in the first few days, sickness and feeling poorly. But once the tubes are removed and I got my first shower things were so much better and I felt I had turned a corner. The nurses and doctors were excellent and soon I was feeling tender but comfortable enough to be up and walking about.
I was in the hospital for 6 days gradually getting back on my feet and then discharged back home.
It is naturally a slow process of recuperation after such invasive surgery, but I was content to follow all the necessary instructions to get better, confident that I could now get back on with life in due course.
I did not experience any major pain afterwards at home, other than discomfort.
To aid your sleeping I’d recommend (as others have already) getting some kind of pillow structure arranged prior to coming home in order that you can sleep at a raised position and gradually reducing the angle until you can sleep in a flat position.
I followed (to the letter) all the recommended stages of exercise on the road to recovery from very short walks initially then extending them every few days.
After about a few months I even felt well enough to “run for a bus”.
It is now over 3 years since my operation and I am back as physically active as I want to be. I go the gym, cycle and swim and feel just great (also don’t have to take any medication whatsoever).
I am an ardent advocate for the PEARS procedure and profess to its benefits at every appropriate occasion to spread the word so others are not in the dark.
I found the level of care at the Golden Jubilee Hospital to be excellent and would like to thank all of the team for their dedication.
I would also like to thank the surgeon Conal Austin and his team for their great work and taking the innovative steps in reducing the size of the aneurysm thus saving my existing valve.
A massive thank you to Tal for his amazing invention.
Finally to John for letting know about this incredible novel procedure.
Signed a grateful Joe
