Adam’s Heart Valve Surgery Blog

Bedora just sent me an interesting question about the use of Cordarone before heart surgery. If you are unfamiliar with Cordarone, this drug is used as an anti-arrhythmic. It works by stabilizing the heart rhythm in conditions in which the heart is beating too fast or in an irregular rhythm.

In her note, Bedora requests patient inputs specific to the use of Cordarone prior to surgery. Personally, I did not need to use Cordarone. Did you? If so, maybe you can leave Bedora a comment after reading her story?

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I just opened an email from John about bovine valve replacement devices and re-operations. I provided some thoughts for John below but perhaps you can help him as well?

John writes, “Hi Adam - Because of a post-operative complication (possible suture failure creating a leak), it appears I will be facing a re-operation to replace my bovine aortic valve. How can I get some advice from other folks who have encountered this problem?”

Obviously, John raises a good question. So you know, I am aware of several patients that required re-operations for most types of valve replacement devices including cow valves, porcine valves and mechanical valves.

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I receive about 50 emails each day about heart valve surgery, from both patients and caregivers. Unfortunately, many of these emails begin with opening statements like:

• “Hi Adam - I am scared out of my mind right now, I was just diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis…”
• “Hi Adam - After monitoring my my mitral prolapse for 10 years, I need surgery. Needless to say I’m a wreck…”
• “Help Adam! My husband is going in for aortic valve replacement tomorrow. I can’t sleep I’m so scared…”

As you can tell, fear is the fundamental emotion expressed in these types of emails.

In the past, we have talked about fear on many occasions. We have turned it into an acronym as F.E.A.R. or Fantasized Experiences Appearing Real. And, I have posted clinical research to illustrate how to dispel your fear of heart surgery.

This morning, I read a wonderful quote from best-selling author, John Roger, that addresses this very common issue among patients and caregivers. Here is the quote:

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As a follow-up to our recent discussion about heart valve surgery, pregnancy and child birth, I found this story in RIA Novosti, a Russian magazine, to be quite amazing…

An unidentified Russian woman unexpectedly went into labor just before heart surgery in the city of Penza, and gave birth to a healthy girl, the clinic’s chief doctor said on Tuesday.

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