Adam’s Heart Valve Surgery Blog

Ever wonder, “What does a normal heart valve look like?”

I did.

So, I thought you might want to know what I learned before I went into my aortic valve replacement surgery.

First, you have to know that all heart valves do not look the same. As you can see in the diagram of the heart below, heart valves differ in size. The aortic valve and the pulmonary valve are smaller than the mitral valve and the tricuspid valve. And, you can also see that the mitral valve is the only valve that is naturally bicuspid. A bicuspid valve only has two leaflets while all the other valves have three leaflets.

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Every few days, I see a picture or image on the Internet that REALLY captures my attention. Many times, those pictures are diagrams and illustrations that relate to heart valve surgery.

As I remember it, before my aortic valve replacement and pulmonary valve replacement surgery, I had a difficult time grasping what actually occurs during the operation.

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Blog Topics: X-Rays After Heart Surgery; Mechanical Valve; Sternum Wires; Pictures

So I’m surfing the Internet last night when I come across Michael C’s blog, “The Wonderful World Of Nothing Worthwhile”. Great name for a blog, right?

Anyways, it turns out there is something very worthwhile at this blog. Michael is a former heart valve replacement patient. He had mechanical valve replacement surgery just recently.

Like many patients, Michael was curious to see what his chest (heart valves and sternum wires) looked like under xray after surgery. Unlike many patients, however, Michael actually did something about it.

Here is Michael C’s show and tell (including an actual xray picture of his embedded, artificial heart valve and sternum wires)…

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Blog Topics: Scar Healing After Heart Valve Surgery; Pictures Of Patient Scar Following Open Heart Surgery With Cracked Sternum

On Monday, Labor Day, I chose to really enjoy myself. So, I did one of my favorite things…

I WENT TO THE BEACH!!!

As you can see, my family and I went to Manhattan Beach in California and experienced a picture perfect day. We enjoyed the sun, the Pacific Ocean and a picnic of submarine sandwiches.

When I downloaded the photos just now, I immediately noticed the smiles on everybody’s faces. We had so much fun.

Then, I couldn’t help but notice the scar left from my aortic and pulmonary heart valve replacement surgery. (So you know, it is always a little emotional for me when I see a picture of myself without a shirt on.)

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Blog Topics: Bicuspid Aortic Valve Pictures; Normal Aortic Valve Pictures; Calcified Aortic Valve Pictures

So, I just received an email asking, “Do you have any pictures of a bicuspid aortic valve?”

Well, considering I had a bicuspid aortic valve for the first 33 years of my life, I definitely researched and located pictures of bicuspid aortic valves for my book.

As you can see below, the aortic valve on the left is normal - the valve has three leaflets and three cusps.

The valve on the right, however, is a bicuspid aortic valve. As you look at the diagram, you will note that the bicuspid heart valve only has two leaflets and two cusps.

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