This morning, I came across a helpful, easy-to-understand video about aortic valve surgery and aortic valve disease. The video, which is a great introduction for patients and caregivers, features two of the leading heart valve surgeons – Dr. Gosta Pettersson and Dr. Lars Svensson.

To watch the video, simply press the play button above. Also, please make that sound on your computer is turned on. If you would like to learn more about the topics covered in this video, click any of the hyperlinks provided below:

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Some might find this video a bit too graphic. Others, like me, might find this educational video an incredible testament to the unique surgical skills needed to fix defective heart valves.

That said, I’ll let you decide what you think about this double heart valve replacement (also known as the Ross Procedure) video narrated by Dr. Paul Stelzer, of Mount Sinai Hospital, in New York.

If you didn’t know, the Ross Procedure is a unique, double valve surgery in which the patient’s own pulmonary valve (the autograft) is removed and then stitched into the aortic valve position. A homograft (human donor valve) is then used as the pulmonary valve replacement.

Ross Procedure Diagram

Although estimates vary, it is projected that about 1,500 Ross Procedures occur annually for the treatment of aortic valve diseases – including stenosis and regurgitation. While the procedure is complex, the primary patient benefits of this procedure are (i) no post-operative use of Coumadin, (ii) the patient uses his/her own tissue valve in the aortic position.

Dr. Stelzer is one of the leading Ross Procedure surgeons. To date, Dr. Stelzer has performed over 400 Ross Procedures. To learn more about Dr. Stelzer, please click here.

Dr. Paul Stelzer – Mount Sinai Hospital (New York)

I hope this helped you learn more about this unique, double heart valve replacement operation.

Keep on tickin!

I just received an interesting email from Tammy that touches on heart valve surgery, atrial fibrillation and the MAZE procedure.

Tammy writes, “Adam – Like a couple of your readers (Mark, Patrick and Anita), my doctor has suggested that I need a combo operation that includes a mitral valve repair due to regurg and a Maze procedure for atrial fibrillation. I’m just starting to do my research and was wondering if you have any videos about the Maze procedure. Thanks, Tammy”

Interestingly enough, I’ve noticed that several patients are discussing the MAZE procedure in their new Heart Valve Journals. That said, I located a great video by Dr. Niv Ad of Inova Health System which discusses the MAZE procedure and atrial fibrillation. So… Without further ado, here is the video:

I hope this video helped Tammy (and perhaps you) learn more about the MAZE procedure and heart valve surgery.

Keep on tickin!

Patients and caregivers often ask me about the immediate, post-op experience in the intensive care unit. Common questions include:

• How long were you in the intensive care unit?
• Did you experience pain immediately?
• Was your family allowed in the ICU area?
• How many tubes were sticking out of you when you woke up?

However, one of more common questions I get is, “How did you feel as you came out of general anesthesia?” Honestly, I don’t remember much – just bits and pieces of the first few hours after surgery. But, lucky for me, my family has clued me in on the strange experience of waking up after heart surgery with a ventilator tube, Foley catheter and several other tubes still inserted in my body.

On this topic, I just read that the video below was one of YouTube’s Top 10 Videos of 2009. The video titled “David After Dentist” has been watched over 37 million times this year. It’s not an exact match to the experience of waking up after heart surgery but I think you might find some silly and honest humor as little David talks candidly with his father after dental surgery.

Please remember, each patient case is unique. Just because David was a tad loopy after his surgery, that does not mean you will have the same experience.

Keep on tickin!

As we have seen through the inspiring stories of Teppo Numminen (NHL hockey star) and Aaron Boone (MLB baseball star), several athletes have returned to professional sports after heart valve surgery.

Here is a great story about competitive cyclist, Michael Gnatek. At 43 years of age, Michael required mitral valve repair surgery due to a mitral valve prolapse. To treat his leaky heart valve, which caused a life-long heart murmur, Dr. Paul Massimiano from Inova Health System in Virginia used a minimally invasive approach.

One of the most amazing elements of Michael’s story is how quickly he was discharged from the hospital…. One day! However, please remember, each patient case is unique. As my research suggests, the average patient stay in the hospital is about five days.

Patient Days In Hospital Following Valve Surgery

I  hope you enjoyed this video about Michael Gnatek and Dr. Paul Massimiano.

Keep on tickin!

P.S. Would you like to celebrate your surgeon? Now, you can join over 450 patients who have shared their surgical experiences at our new HeartValveSurgeons.com. Click here to learn more.