Adam's Heart Valve Surgery Blog
Double Heart Valve Surgery Patient, Adam Pick, Blogs About
Heart Valve Replacement and Heart Valve Repair Surgery

Describe A Heart Valve Replacement Surgery For My Mom… Please!

September 16th, 2008

Kelly’s mother was recently diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis and is preparing for aortic valve replacement surgery. Kelly writes to me, “Adam: I’m doing my best to help mom understand what is involved in aortic valve surgery. The problem is… I don’t know what happens during the operation. Can you please describe the aortic valve replacement surgery for me?!”

Heart Valve Replacement Description - Aortic, Mitral, Pulmonary, Tricuspid Valves

I have to admit… Kelly raises a GREAT but very BIG question. It would take several hours for me to describe all the patient details of an aortic valve replacement or a mitral valve replacement. Plus, every patient case is unique and there are different types of valve replacement procedures to describe – including open heart, minimally invasive, robotic and transcatheter procedures.

However, I want to help Kelly, her mom and perhaps you… So…

I have posted a series of clickable links below that describe certain elements of a heart valve replacement surgery from the patient perspective:

I hope this helps describe the aortic valve replacement and mitral valve replacement surgery. If you have any questions, please continue to search this blog, read my book or email me.

Keep on tickin!

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 clinical research with the personal experiences of 135 former patients to help future patients and their caregivers better understand the problems, the opportunities and the realities of heart valve surgery. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.

3 Comments... Click here to add one.


Julia Hightower says on September 19th, 2008 at 10:15 am

Hi Adam,
I’m back from Miami, FL after having the Aortic Valve replacement minimally invasive surgery performed by Dr. Joseph Lamelas at Baptist Hospital of Miami. You can’t believe the difference between the sternotomy and the “mini” version. I’m now almost 5 weeks post op and was back at work in 4 weeks post op. The incision, almost healed completely, is 2″ long just above the right breast. I’ll be more than happy to email any of your folks about the procedure if anyone is interested and has questions. The surgery was a breeze and the only problem I have now is getting my energy back. But that will come, I’m sure. Thanks, Julia Hightower, Winston-Salem, NC.

 


Rene M says on April 12th, 2009 at 6:02 pm

Im going to see Dr. Lamelas at the end of May. How was the whole process with him?

 


Stephanie Fetterman says on October 20th, 2010 at 3:54 pm

Thank goodness i found this, My father had a quad. bypass and a valve replaced…it was very scary, im only 18 but i understand everything that went on, finally being able to see what really happened and from your pictures i can see what it looked like. This kind of heart desease runs in our family, im most likely going to get, seeing my father and his three siblings and mother had the same surgery. Im glad i found this! very helpful!

 

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