"Did Robin Williams Have Open Heart Surgery Or Minimally Invasive Surgery?" Asks Marianna
Marianna just sent me an interesting question about Robin Williams and his recent, double heart valve surgery.
Her email reads, “Adam - I was recently diagnosed with a very narrow heart valve (severe aortic stenosis). I’m a 59-year old grandma that still has a lot of living - cooking and gardening in particular - to do. I’m researching the different types of surgery to replace my aortic valve. Thanks to your blog, I’ve been reading up on Robin Williams’ surgery and recovery. I was just curious… Did he have open heart surgery or minimally invasive surgery? Thanks Marianna”
As the old saying goes, “A picture is worth 1,000 words.” So, here is a picture of Robin Williams’ chest about eight weeks after surgery.
From the image above, you can see that a chest incision (median sternotomy) was used by Dr. Gillinov of The Cleveland Clinic to replace the comedian’s aortic valve and repair his mitral valve.
After my double valve replacement surgery, I learned that this type of scar is referred to as a “zipper”. So, if you have had open heart surgery, you’re part of the Zipper Club. 
Keep on tickin!
P.S. To leave a comment, please click here.
About The Author: Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. This unique book integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of 78 former valve surgery patients to help patients and caregivers better understand the opportunities and challenges of heart valve surgery. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.
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May 21st, 2009 at 2:55 pm
At age 54 I had open heart surgery to replace a valve. I too am a grandma with lots of living to do. I go to the gym and work-out 4-5 times a week, take dancing classes, work full time and still do the things I did previously but much better now. I was not told I needed open heart surgery until I was rushed to the hospital with a stomach problem and they found coarction of the aorta.
You will come through great and don’t think that just because you are having heart surgery your life will not be as full as it once was.
May 21st, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Right on Andi! At 52 I had my mitral valve repaired by Dr David Adams at Mount Sinai in NYC about 6 months ago and feel like I am 25 again! #1 is that I can breathe like everyone else again and it doesn’t feel like breathing thru a blanket. #2 is that I wake-up every morning AWAKE! #3 is I am not afraid anymore to bike and run and swim! Thank God. This brings an entire new meaning to “Born Again.” He even kept my scar low enough that I can wear most of my old shirts without it showing. I joined a gym and got a trainer because Dr Adams said I might have another 30 good years left. You can sooo do this. Just say positive and read the Adam Pick book. Every day I pray for all the zipper club and their doctors
May 22nd, 2009 at 7:56 am
Too Funny!!! Calling it a Zipper. As a matter of fact.. I wasn’t aware that it was referred to as that, but, I’ve said from the moment I saw my scar that I was going to have a “zipper” tatooed over it when the redness subsided. I’m currently using Mederma to lighted it up to the point I think it might need to be before I get it tatooed.
Is this risky and ill advised to do?
May 22nd, 2009 at 10:59 am
Hi Adam,
Before my procedure five weeks ago, I read your book and I felt I was well prepared for my surgery. My doctor, John M Brown III, chief thorasic surgeon at Morristown Memorial Hospital in Morristown, N J, also prepared me, at my visit, and through their website, Mid-Atlantic Surgical Associates. My severe aortic stenosis had no symptoms except my heart murmur. Since my cardiologist had scheduled echocardiograms to monitor my condition, and we discussed the need for my aortic valve replacement, I wanted to be in the best physical and mental conditions for the operation. Over one year I lost 35 pounds by going to the YMCA four to five days a week. I joined Weight Watchers to learn better eating habits, and my program at the Y was water exercises and swimming. After six months into both programs I discussed my reason for joining and everyone was extremely supportive. Saying out loud that I was preparing for heart surgery gave me confidence that I was doing everything posible for success.
To answer Marianna’s question about aortic valve replacement, first you have to have a catheterization to find out if you have any blockage in your arteries. You are awake during that outpatient procedure, (I was given a Benidril pill and Valium ) Everything is explained by the nurses. The only sensation felt was warmness and the Dr. talks to you during the procedure and tells you what he is doing and what to expect. After that procedure, you go back to a holding room for a few hours until you are stable, and then go home with instructions. My cardiologist informed me that my arteries were good. Next was seeing my surgeon, Dr. Brown, who informed me that he could do minimally invasive surgery, which is a four inch scar from the middle of my breast up. Dr. Brown also informed me that if anything happened to my valve ten years down the road, the procedure to replace the valve would be done through the groin. Adam discussed this procedure in his blog, and that it is being done in London. After five weeks I am cooking and doing some gardening, but no lifting yet. After surgery I was given a heart pillow by my doctor which I found most useful, holding it if you cough, putting it between the seatbelt while riding in the car, and I hug it every night in bed. Every day I am getting better and better.
Sylvia Woolworth, 73 years young
May 22nd, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Marianna, I am 7 weeks post op from minimally invasive. Both procedures are an open heart procedure, just a different approach. I personally did not want to have my breastbone split. My Dr. would have done it either way, it was my choice. I have a friend who had the same surgery as me, only he had breastbone split. I am not sure who is further ahead in recovery at this point, both of us seemed to experience same levels of pain,etc. I am still very happy I had the “non-zipper” approach….I do wear my scars with pride though!!!
May 27th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Just a little clarification on the “zipper”… Some hospitals/surgeons close the chest with a glue that holds the skin together, and some use staples. I had staples (at Duke), but the local hospital here in Greensboro, NC uses glue. I’ve seen patients here with the glue approach, and they look good. About the only difference is that 9 months post-op I can still make out (faintly) the staple holes. No big deal, though. I can tell you that I was very pleased with the staples. They were awesome! A very neat column of 31 chrome-colored metal staples going down my 8-inch incision (full sternotomy). It looked so much like a zipper I wanted to unzip it and peer in! Maybe the glued patients could form a SuperGlue Club.
May 27th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Great clarification Sean…
For more on this topic - glue or stapled incisions - click the following link:
http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2008/12/16/glue-incision-staples-stapled-incisions/
Fyi, I was super glued!
Keep on tickin!
Adam
June 4th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
HI, My mother has to have aortic value replaced. She has a lot of other conditions, which include, smoking, emphezema, copd, blockage in her right leg, and she is a diabetic. She is only 65 and the Surgeon said she had 95% recovery rate. She is bulkin about having the surgery. She will only have up to 2 years without it. She thinks the dr hasn’t taken those other ailments into consideration, but we did talk about at the appointment. Is it possible she is not getting enough oxygen to her brain and she can not make good choices or am I just trying to make her have her surgery for my own selfish reasons. I really have to try though. I want her to make the best decision and she is convinced she will end up like her mother, my grandmother, like a child mentally and all cut up. I don’t want that for her either. I am not sure how to help. Can anyone help me?
June 10th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
I am an 84 year old with a critical aortic valve, a mild leaky mitral valve, A fib and dilated right and left atrium. I am working and very active. My cardiolgist says if I go for the works it will take me 3 years to get back to where I am now which is not nice. any thoughts?
June 10th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Hi Morton,
Thanks for sharing your story.
To learn more about heart surgery recovery time, please click this link.
http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/06/02/recovery-time/
I am hopeful the information presented there will help you.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Let me know if you need anything else!
Keep on tickin!
Adam
August 31st, 2009 at 12:30 am
I am confused about the term “open heart” surgery. I had minimally invasive heart surgery between the ribs on the right side for mitral valve repair and atrial/septal aneurysm repair. I was told that this was “open heart” surgery. Is this not correct? The surgery lasted 7 hours and the heart was definitely opened. Comments please.