My 89-year-old French mother-in-law moved in with us about three years ago. Because she has aortic stenosis/ congestive heart failure, the cardiologist is recommending that she have transcatheter aortic valve replacement surgery (TAVR). He mentioned that they would have to use general anesthesia. She is legally blind and very hard of hearing; besides heart issues she doesn't have major health problems such as diabetes or kidney. She is a smoker though. My big concern is that MIL has moderate dementia and I fear that the procedure could make things worse on this front. As I mentioned in previous posts, she does not qualify for Medicare/Medicaid and we would have to pay for skilled nursing care if she needs it. It's not open heart, but it's still a delicate surgery with associated risks such as stroke and requiring a pacemaker. Do any of you have thoughts or experiences with surgery on elderly folks with dementia?
If he and she do decide to move forward please make sure that everything is in order regarding what to do in the event it goes south- DNR, Molst , or Advanced Directives so hubby is not caught unprepared to make those hard decisions quickly while under stress.
Keep us posted & good luck!
He said at her age of close to 90 he wouldn't push doing a valve replacement, especially with the combination of other health conditions (macular degeneration, dementia, near deafness). He said you have to look at the overall quality of life, and the procedure could make her other health issues worse.
Both my husband and MIL were so relieved to have this opinion - it made their decision to not proceed with the surgery feel comfortable and right, especially spoken from a family cardiologist who knows my MIL very well. Sometimes doing nothing is the best decision. My MIL was looking to my husband to make the decision for her, and it's been very stressful for him to have this weight of feeling his Mom's life is in his hands. And he as a good son wants to do everything in his power to help her.
When specialists such as a cardiologist tell us that a procedure can help us or prolong life, they often are focused on one specific organ, not the total health picture of an elderly person. And we put so much trust in them. I wish doctors would look more at the total elderly patient, ask the right questions, take into account the dementia patient's quality of life. These are complex decisions and patients, and i wish our current doctors were better equipped to help us.
This cardiologist in France said that eliminating salt and eating a healthy diet would be the best thing in the world for her to keep her going.