Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement Video… You Asked For It!
Awhile back, I asked you all a simple question, “How can I make this blog and website better?” I got some great feedback. One of the suggestions I received was to embed heart valve surgery video clips into the blog. I shared this idea with my programmer a few weeks ago. Earlier this morning, my programmer told me that I could now upload videos directly into my blog. 
That said, this is a video test blog! Since we have had some recent discussions about minimally invasive heart valve replacement (especially mini sternotomy), I have posted a YouTube video that tells the story of John Doss - 56 year-old a patient that had aortic valve replacement with a mini sternotomy.
I hope this works for you. Simply press the “play button” in the middle of the screen. And, please make sure to have your volume on and turned up to listen to the story.
Did it work? Click here to leave a comment and let me know. And, if you have any other thoughts to improve this website, I’m all ears!
Keep on tickin!
Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery, a unique book which integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of an actual heart valve surgery patient. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.
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September 27th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
The video worked great! I’m preparing for aortic root repair and possible valve replacement and I was impressed both with the quality of the video and that it did a good job of showing the procedure without it seeming gory. Thanks Adam!
September 27th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Hi Adam,
Thanks for all that you do… You consistently go above and beyond to help all of us - the patients and the caregivers.
That’s the best feedback I can offer. I really appreciated seeing this video about John Doss and his mini aortic valve replacement.
Best regards from Chicago,
Evelyn
(Severe Aortic Stenosis Patient)
September 28th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Hi Adam, The Video came through great, and I have just recently heard of this mini sternotomy. After seeing this video, I am very anxious to talk to my surgeon and see if my upcoming valve replacement could be done this way!
Thanks again,
Greg in Oregon
September 28th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Yes, it worked. I received a bovine tissue valve in 2000 when I was 55 and I am now 63 and will need another valve replacement in the near future and am contemplating a mechnical valve, so I won’t have to have 3 surgeries. I am interested in the success of the port hole/robotic surgery. Any technological advances you can provide me would be greatly appreciated. My recovery was quick. My 5 days in the hospital were rough with a lot of pain. I suffered most from post cardiac depression/anxiety.Would the anesthia cause thhis?
Don
September 30th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I am 58 years young and a candidate for aeortic valve replacement. I have been under the watchful eye of a well respected cadiologist at Massachusetts General now for several years 10+.
When it’s time for me to have my surgery, I would like to go with the most minimally invasive approach as possible. Can anyone recommend a Thorasic surgeon at Mass General that does this procedure regularly enough that I could feel comfortable putting myself in his/her hands? I will ask my Cardiologist as well but would like to hear from others on the forum.
Also… my Cardiologist refers to my stenosis as being on the “severe” side of “moderate”
My Cardiologist is what I think very conservative and prefers to put surgery off. Do you think it prudent to get it repaired more sooner than later knowing it’s going to have ot be done anyway? Are there any advantages to having my valve replaced before I go from “moderate” to “severe”? I’m in favor of putting the operation off for as long as I can considering the advances in treatment such as this minimally invasive procedure or a catheter approach. Just how much better do heart valve replacement patients feel after surgery vs. before? I want to move on with my life instead of having this loom over myt head… I think…
September 30th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Adam,
Thanks for this video. Only wish I’d known about this option before my July 22nd, 2008 surgery, in which I had the full sternotomy to replace my aortic valve, which like Donald Henry, the previous poster, was a bovine tissue one. If and when it needs to be replaced, I’ll definitely look into this option or other minimally invasive ones. Even though I came through with flying colors - no complications and ten weeks later, I’m back driving an 18 wheeler - it would have cut my recovery time down a lot. And as time is money….
Thanks for all you do to keep us informed!
Becca