Adam’s Heart Valve Surgery Blog

Once diagnosed with severe aortic heart valve disease (stenosis), I went into action mode.

Yes. I was confused. Yes. I was scared. Yes. I may have even been a little bit depressed (and a tad angry).

Still, my heart needed to be fixed quickly. Dr. Chaikin, my second opinion cardiologist, had given me 30 days to relieve the stress and strain on my dilated (enlarged) heart. Otherwise, Dr. Chaikin told me there could be more damage to my cardiac muscle.

During the surgeon selection process, I set up interviews with Dr. Trento (Cedar Sinai) and Dr. Starnes (USC Medical Center). I would use this time to evaluate my potential surgeons and my options for valve replacement devices (mechanical, tissue, homograft valves) and surgical procedures (open heart, minimally invasive, robotic, ross procedures).

Needless to say, I was overwhelmed with information. I was also overwhelmed with the notion that I would be the one choosing both my valve replacement and the surgical procedure.

I mean… Come on… Who am I to know which valve would be best for me? That’s a big decision. And, I have enough trouble choosing between eggs, oatmeal or waffles for breakfast each morning.

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Blog Topics: The Ross Registry; Dr. Donald Ross; Ross Procedure Website Re-Launch; Videos; Dr. Vaughn Starnes; Aortic Valve Replacement

When I was first diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis and regurgitation, I was immediately confronted with several choices.

• When would I have surgery?
• Who would be the surgeon?
• Would I get a tissue valve or a mechanical valve?

One of the most pivotal questions I soon discovered was, “What procedure are you going to have Adam?” There seemed to be a pretty simple answer to that question.

“Ummm. I’ll have the procedure that replaces my diseased aortic valve and makes me healthy again!”

Soon enough, I learned about all the different procedures / choices that were available. It was not as easy as I originally thought.

I first learned about the Ross Procedure from Dr. Alfredo Trento at Cedar-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. Dr. Trento felt the Ross Procedure would be a good fit for me given my active lifestyle and my desire not to be on coumadin therapy for the rest of my life.

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Last night, I drove up to my house after a very, very, very lonnnnnng day of work. The past twelve hours were filled with hundreds of emails, several conference calls, Los Angeles traffic, etc.

Little did I know… My mailbox was holding a short, one page letter that would bring me to tears.

I was on the phone with Rob, a good friend, as I flipped through the daily junk-mail that advertised everything from built-in cabinets, to the local Indian restaurant, to Direct TV.

Then, I saw it.

“I have to call you back,” I said to Rob, “There is a letter in my hand from Dr. Donald Ross.”

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Blog Topics: Magdi Yacoub; Heart Surgeon; Cardiothoracic Surgeon; Ross Procedure Specialist

The more I learn and interact with the heart valve surgery community the more I hear about those surgeons which deserve and receive “top heart surgeon” or “best heart surgeon” labels.

That said, I have continued to hear the name of Magdi Yacoub over-and-over again. On one hand, the name Magdi Yacoub is not hard to forget. On the other hand, when you learn about all that Magdi Yacoub has accomplished it almost impossible to not mention his name along with the other heart surgeons we’ve been tracking.

Also, the fact that Magdi Yacoub is leading conferences on the perfection of the Ross Procedure, strikes my keen awareness to this surgical wizard. I say that because I had a Ross Procedure performed on myself in 2005. I’m so interested in the Ross Procedure, I was lucky enough to recently interview Dr. Donald Ross.

So, without further ado…. Here is some background information on Sir Magdi Yacoub. Yes… Magdi Yacoub has a real, official “Sir” in front of his name. I guess that puts him in another category right alongside Paul McCartney and Richard Branson.

Magdi Yacoub - Professional Accomplishments

Sir Magdi Yacoub has performed more transplants than any other surgeon in the world and, as a scientist, his interest in the basic mechanisms of heart structure and function in health and disease has improved transplant surgery and patient care. Magdi Yacoub retired from the NHS in September 2001, but continues to head his research programme at Harefield Hospital, which he sees as, “treating patients in the future.”

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