Since starting this website four years ago, my primary objective was to help future patients and caregivers understand the challenges, opportunities and realities of heart valve surgery.

Today, I am very excited to share another objective for this work – helping children with heart problems. That said, earlier today, we made a $5,000 donation to the Gift of Life charity.

So you know… In 2008, I was introduced to Gift of Life when Shanna Andrews, a teenager desperately needing aortic valve replacement, emailed me asking for help.

Although I could not afford to pay for Shanna’s surgery (or travel from Trinidad), I immediately searched the Internet looking for assistance. I was lucky to meet Jim Frame, the Chair of Gift of Life Northeast Ohio and past Rotary International District Governor.

Shanna Andrews (right) With Her Mother (Sharon)

Shortly after I introduced Jim to Shanna, Gift of Life brought Shanna from Trinidad to New York City where she underwent aortic valve replacement surgery. Two years later, Shanna is back in Trinidad attending college!

Needless to say, I was inspired by the Gift of Life’s swift action to save Shanna from the perils of heart valve disease. I was so moved by this experience, I began asking myself, “How can I help raise donations to support Gift of Life?”

One of the immediate ways to raise money for Gift of Life was developing sponsorship opportunities for surgeons, cardiac care clinics and heart valve device manufacturers at this website. So, over the past twelve months, I began discussing charitable possibilities with several people within the heart valve surgery community.

The response to this idea was very positive and I actually began raising money to support Gift of Life. It is for this reason, I am able to send Gift of Life a check for $5,000 today.

You will notice that this post is titled, “Our $5,000 Donation Gift Of Life!”. I would like to emphasize the use of the word “Our” in the title. It is because of you – your comments in the blog, your surgeon profiles uploaded at the Heart Valve Surgeon Database, your posts at Heart Valve Journals and your purchases of my book – that we could attract the attention of our sponsors.

I am beyond thankful for you. Thanks to you, we are pursuing healthy hearts in children all over the world through the Gift of Life.

I feel blessed and honored to know you… Even if we have never met.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Keep on tickin!

As we have learned together, there are several strategies and tactics that patients can use to best prepare for their heart valve surgery. Specific to this point, I just received an insightful email from Sam Swerdlow about using guided imagery CDs prior to surgery. Here is what Sam wrote:

Sam Swerdlow, Heart Valve Replacement Patient, & Slater

Hi Adam,

I wanted to let you know of something very awesome that has happened to me. As I have emailed you before, I have been preparing for my aortic valve replacement by listening to meditation and guided imagery cds.

There are many goals of guided imagery. One goal is to learn deep relaxation techniques so the body can heal more rapidly. Another goal is to visualize surgery with no complications, minimal bleeding, and little (or no) discomfort after the procedure.

The listener learns how the patient can become an active participant in healing their body through surgery. During the last two weeks, I have been working with two programs – “Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster” by Peggy Huddleston and “Meditations to Promote Successful Surgery” by Belleruth Naparstek.

I have been focusing my energy on my heart and my aortic valve, visualizing both my body’s acceptance and the healing of a new tissue valve. Tonight, I suddenly realized that for the last four or five days I have not experienced any of the heart discomfort (arrhythmias and palpitations) that had been becoming more-and-more prevalent over that last three months.

Typically, that discomfort was most common during mild activity or when was I laying down at night. Now, my heart beats as it should and I am not experiencing any symptoms of my severe aortic stenosis.

What a bonus! And, what confirmation of the powerful roles we, as patients, play in our own successful surgeries and in our healing process.

I was so excited I just had to email you. Please let Anita know how valuable her blog was for me in preparing for surgery. I’m sure I’m not alone. There must be others that have benefited from Anita’s tips.

Keep up the great work Adam! Thanks again for your heart valve surgery book!

Sam Swerdlow,
Oregon

P.S. I recently received a post-op email from Sam. He writes, “I thought I’d send you an update on my successful aortic valve replacement procedure performed by Dr. Gillinov. It could not have gone smoother. It was awesome finally meeting Dr. Gillinov in person. He exceeded my expectations in every way.”

P.P.S. To leave a comment, please click here.

I just received a great question from Mary Anne about heart valve anatomy. Specifically, she is interested to learn more about valvular function within the heart.

Mary Anne writes, “Dear Adam – I was recently diagnosed with severe mitral regurgitation. As an active 67-year old grandmother, this has been a difficult time – especially since I’m asymptomatic. However, my heart is already dilated so I’m preparing for surgery. Quick question… If the surgeon can’t repair the valve, I’m thinking about a tissue valve replacement. Do you have any videos that show how tissue heart valves open-and-close? Thanks, Mary Anne”

So you know, I had this exact question prior to my aortic valve replacement surgery. I remember thinking, “How do heart valves replacements work? How do the heart valve leaflets seal?”

To answer those questions, I located three videos (shown below) which illustrate exactly how tissue valve replacements open-and-close. Here is a video of a tissue heart valve replacement made from the leaflets of a pig (also known as a porcine valve).

Here is a video of a valve replacement made from the pericardial tissue of a cow’s heart (Edwards Perimount):

Here is the video of the stentless valve replacement we discussed yesterday – the ATS 3f Aortic Bioprosthesis.

I hope this helps Mary Anne (and perhaps you) visually understand how the leaflets of tissue heart valve replacements open and close.

Keep on tickin!

Since 2000, the da Vinci robot has been used in cardiac operating rooms for mitral valve repair surgery. Lately, however, there appears to be an emerging trend toward aortic valve replacement using the da Vinci robot.

In case you missed it… ATS Medical just announced the second successful, robot-assisted aortic valve replacement. The procedure was performed by Dr. Husam H. Balkhy, M.D. – at the Wisconsin Heart Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin – and leveraged a unique, stentless valve known as the ATS 3f Aortic Bioprosthesis.

3f Aortic Valve Bioprothesis By ATS Medical

“The ATS 3f Aortic Bioprosthesis is uniquely suited for use in minimally invasive procedures, especially in robot-assisted aortic valve replacement. Using the da Vinci robot aides in exposure, adds accuracy, and minimizes the size of the incision. Our initial experience using the 3f valve and this approach was very positive, and we look forward to advancing the procedure further,” stated Dr. Husam Balkhy.

Dr. Husam Balkhy – Wisconsin Heart Hospital

According to ATS Medical, the ATS 3f Aortic Bioprosthesis is the first, truly stentless valve in the world with no rigid supporting material. As a result, the valve is completely pliable which allows it to be folded into a small diameter and introduced to the body through small ports using minimally invasive techniques.

Although this was the first robotic-assisted aortic valve replacement performed in the Midwest, you might recall that Dr. Allen Raczkowski, M.D., at Banner Baywood Health Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, performed a similar operation in November, 2009.

The da Vinci Surgical Robot

“ATS is proud to partner with leading robot experienced cardiac surgery centers such as the Wisconsin Heart Hospital to develop minimally invasive aortic valve procedures. Dr. Balkhy is an innovative thought leader in cardiac surgery who will continue to drive the development of minimally invasive, cosmetically favorable procedures with excellent clinical outcomes for his patients,” stated Michael Dale, President and CEO of ATS Medical.

Michael Dale – ATS Medical’s President

Given the benefits of minimally invasive robotic procedures, my inbox has already received several questions about aortic valve replacement using the da Vinci robot. That said, I will continue to monitor this exciting surgical advance.

Keep on tickin!

I recently launched a new section of this website called Heart Valve Journals. This interactive tool was designed to help patients, families and friends communicate before-and-after heart surgery. Already, several hundred people have signed up for this free service.

Amy Machtay – Mitral Valve Repair Patient

One of those patients is Amy Machtay from Raleigh, North Carolina. Amy created her own Heart Valve Journal just before minimally invasive, mitral valve repair surgery last month.

For me, reading Amy’s journals, seeing her pictures, and reviewing her Guestbook, has been inspirational.

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