Adam’s Heart Valve Surgery Blog

The excitement surrounding minimally invasive heart valve procedures continues to build. In addition to mini-sternotomy approaches, mini-thoracotomy techniques and robotic surgery, transcatheter technologies are being closely watched-and-monitored for clinical success.

A transcatheter solution for patients suffering from aortic valve stenosis (the narrowing of the aortic heart valve) is most likely to be of most benefit for elderly patients for whom the risk of open heart surgery would be too great.

Calcified Aortic Valve With Stenosis

The most recent surgical results obtained specific to this minimally invasive technique for aortic valve replacement at the German Heart Center in Munich, Germany suggests:

Continue reading this post »

I recently received a very interesting email from Shannon about heart surgery, pregnancy, labor and baby delivery. In her note to me, Shannon asks for help from other patients about delivering a baby after heart valve surgery. Can you help her?

Continue reading this post »

Yesterday, Barbara Bush, at 83 years of age, joined a long list of public figures to have undergone successful heart valve surgery.

The former first lady, Barbara Bush, underwent open-heart surgery Wednesday to replace her aortic valve, a family spokesman said. Barbara Bush’s heart surgery took place at Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas and lasted about two and a half hours.

Barbara Bush - Heart Valve Surgery Patient

Bush, like many patients, was suffering from shortness of breath due to aortic stenosis. This valvular disease results from a narrowing of the heart valve which may occur due to congenital factors, calcification or infection.

Dr. Gerald Lawrie, a heart surgeon at the Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, replaced the aortic valve with a biological tissue valve that was most likely a pig valve or a cow valve. Doctor Lawrie stated, “I expect her to recover fully and soon resume her normal activities,” Lawrie said.

Dr. Gerald Lawrie - Barbara Bush’s Heart Surgeon

According to reports, the former president of the United States, George H.W. Bush, was at the hospital with his wife. Like most heart valve surgery patients, Barbara Bush remained in the intensive care unit following the operation. The hospital said the former first lady was expected to be released in seven-to-ten days.

George Bush said, “I am very impressed with and grateful to the wonderful team of doctors and nurses at the Methodist Hospital who have helped Barbara… We have every confidence she is in the best hands.”

VIDEO UPDATE: To see the latest update on Barbara Bush after her cardiac surgery, please click here.

Keep on tickin’ Barbara!!!

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

P.P.S. I just learned that actor and comedian, Robin Williams, is also having heart surgery for aortic valve replacement too. To learn more, click here.

About The Author: Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery, a unique book which integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of 78 former valve surgery patients. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.

Here’s an interesting, patient story recently posted at the Daily Mail Reporter in the United Kingdom. As you can read, there are several common elements previously discussed at this blog in Michael Birch’s story - asymptomatic patients, enlarged hearts, post-operative complications, thankfulness, etc.

The founder of social networking site Bebo has had open heart surgery just months after selling his popular website for more than $700 million. Michael Birch had surgery just before Christmas in San Francisco, and was then rushed to Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire last week following complications.

Continue reading this post »