I posted a week or so about Dad doing poorly.
This morning I learned he has Aortic Stenosis and things are serious. My sister in law will be calling me later today to give me an update.
Apparently there is a minimally invasive valve replacement option, but whether Dad is a candidate for it, I do not know. I expect my sister in law will gather all that information before she calls me.
I wanted to give a shout out to my sister in law, I know many here do not like the "in-laws", being part of discussions around our parents, but she is a valued member of the family. As a physician, she is able to explain complex medical conditions in understandable terms. She can liaise with Dad's doctors on the family's behalf.
My ex MIL had a minimally invasive valve replacement last year, at 92. She did fine. It was an outpatient procedure.
I am wondering if your Dad went ahead with this procedure? I used to work surgery and in my day this wasn't available. Albeit I worked non-surgical unit with surgeries taking place at our sister hospital.
Am curious if this was done and how it went for your Dad.
On the subject of gallbladder removal, though, when my mother had an infected gallbladder at age 92, the surgeon would not remove it because of the risk of surgery to her. So she lived with a gallbladder drain for the rest of her life (her pulling it out might have precipitated her death). Even though she did not have surgery and thus no anesthesia, she was never the same mentally after entering the hospital.
Ultimately it was her wish and the doctors decision to go through with this. He frankly asked her how long she wanted to live. Her reply was a long time referring to her father who made it to 98. She now has so many other ailments completely unrelated to this surgery. I imagine I will guilt myself after but I can't imagine 7 more years of visiting her in SN as compromised as she is with new ailments coming on and on.