Everybody,

I just wanted to say “Thank You!” on behalf of all the future patients and caregivers that will experience heart valve surgery.

Last week, I posted a blog requesting your help expanding the surgeon profiles in our very new and very free HeartValveSurgeons.com. A few minutes ago, I learned that over 45 new surgeon profiles were posted last week!

Great job everybody! Total surgeon listings in the database are now over 425 profiles! Amazing!

Again, thanks so much!

P.S. If you have had heart valve repair or heart valve replacement surgery and would like to add your surgeon profile to our growing directory, please click here.

P.P.S. Stay tuned. In the very near future, I will be sharing some very exciting news about the database!

There is nothing better than clicking my inbox and reading a patient success story from one of my readers! Thanks Bruce!

Hi Adam,

Just a note to give you a fast update.

Prior to my mitral valve repair on the 17th of August, we did a lot of endless research – including online information from The Cleveland Clinic, a few New York Hospitals, and, we read your book and subscribed to your blog.

Bruce Friedman – Heart Valve Repair Patient

I cannot speak highly enough of the staff and care in my own backyard, at the Sarver Heart Center, at the University Medical Center here in Tucson. I was indeed fortunate in having Dr. Jack Copeland as my surgeon.

He was able to do a mitral valve repair. The attention and patient care during my week’s stay at the hospital was absolutely “top of the line”.  Elsewhere, I think I may have felt like just another number, but at Sarver I had a distinct feeling of caring from everyone with whom I came in contact.

As a former East Coast resident until ten years ago, I have experienced hospitals in New Jersey and New York, and I can not speak highly enough of the cardiac medical and nursing care here in Tucson.

Dr. Jack Copeland – Bruce’s Surgeon

Following the surgery, I found a four-day stay in the Healthsouth Rehab Center really helped prepare me for the adjustments and transitions of my homecoming.

Also, I spoke to Dr. Copeland about the Incision Shield. He had never seen, or heard, of the product and had no objection to me trying it. I am seeing Dr. Copeland again on September 14. At that time, he wants to see the Incision Shield and hear my feedback on the product.

As a 76-year old patient, I feel that I am among your older readers. I want to compliment you on your book, which I suggest could be a “MUST” for all pre-Heart Valve Surgery patients.

Thanks for your role in making this letter possible.

Bruce D. Friedman,
Tucson, Arizona

In case you missed it, Research and Markets just published their “Top 25 Manufacturers of Heart Valve Repair And Heart Valve Replacement Devices” for 2009 (shown below).

Given my ongoing interest in this market, I was intrigued by the vast assortment of company names on this list. Some of these brands were new to me. And, given the ongoing consolidation of this industry, some of the brands referenced were very familiar.

Personally, I find the power of brands ab-sooooo-lutely fascinating. In business school, I attended many classes that focused on strategic brand management and its impact upon customers, the competition and success metrics. For example, I am always amazed when I review a valuation analysis of the world’s number one brand, Coca Cola. Did you know, in 2005, the Coke brand was valued at over $70 billion dollars? (The second most popular brand, Microsoft, was valued at $59 billion.)

Coke: The Number One Brand In The World

“Why is Adam writing about this in a blog about heart valve surgery?” you might be wondering.

Well…

Over the years, I have spoke with thousands of heart valve surgery patients about their valve replacement devices.  I find it very curious when I ask them a simple question, “Which brand of heart valve replacement do you have?”

Read the rest of this entry »

Hey everybody,

I could really use your help… I’m just finishing up the 2010 revision to my book, The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery.

As many of you know, one of the current chapters in the book is titled “The Best Piece Of Advice”. In this chapter, I feature thoughtful comments, tips, tactics, tricks and strategies from many former heart valve surgery patients.

Needless to say, it’s a great chapter with some valuable ideas. That said, I wanted to add some more quotes from those who have already had heart valve repair and heart valve replacement surgery.

So… What is your “Best Piece Of Advice” for future patients and caregivers? To answer that question, simply click here to leave a comment. (Or, you can scroll down to read 15+ responses from recent patients and caregivers.)

In advance, thanks for taking the time to help out!!! Who knows… Maybe your ideas will be featured in the new edition of the book?

Keep on tickin!

I just received a great, follow-up question about medical tests used to diagnose heart valve disease from Sophie.

Sophie writes, “Adam – Thanks for the recent blog about cardiac MRIs and echocardiograms. Unfortunately, my aortic regurgitation continues to become more severe. It looks like I’ll need surgery soon. To better diagnose it, I’ve been told I may need a transesophageal echocardiogram. Can you tell me what happens during a TEE? Is it painful? Thanks, Sophie”

To help Sophie better understand what happens during a transesophageal echocardiogram, I was super lucky to find an educational video that details this medical examination used to help diagnose heart valve disease.

If you have never heard the term before, a transesophageal echo uses an ultrasound transducer that is positioned on an endoscope and guided down the patient’s throat into the esophagus (the “food pipe” leading from the mouth into the stomach). The TEE test provides a close look at the heart’s valves and chambers, without interference from the ribs or lungs. TEE is often used when the results from standard echo tests are not sufficient, or when your doctor wants a closer look at your heart, according to The Cleveland Clinic.

I hope that helps Sophie (and perhaps you) learn a little more about transesophageal echocardiograms.

Keep on tickin!