I just spent some time at Heart Valve Journals, our social network for patients and caregivers going through heart valve surgery.
While there, I noticed that Sarah Harnett, from Michigan, and Steve Regouby, from Oklahoma, are getting their heart valves fixed today.
As Sarah wrote in her journal this morning, “Shortly I’ll leave for the hospital. Thanks for so many for the encouraging words on the blog and in cards, on the phone and in person.”
As a double heart valve surgery patient, I found Janelle’s recent question very interesting.
She wrote, “Hi Adam – Almost everything I read on the internet deals with a singular leaking heart valve. At age 64, I was just diagnosed with three valves that are leaking: the aortic valve, the mitral valve and tricuspid valve. I have shortness of breath and I am also lightheaded at times. I am curious to know, what are the chances that someone with three leaking valves can still have a healthy heart?”
To get an expert opinion for Janelle, I recently discussed this topic with Dr. Patrick McCarthy, the Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Here are the highlights from our discussion.
Thanks to Janelle for her question and a special thanks to Dr. Patrick McCarthy for taking the time to share his clinical experience with us during our valve clinic tour of Northwestern.
For those patients and caregivers in our community who are hearing impaired, I have provided a written transcript of this video interview below.
I recently received a great question about bicuspid aortic valve repair. The patient wrote to me, “Adam – I have a bicuspid aortic valve and a dilated aorta. I think I need an aortic valve replacement and an aortic root replacement. I’m curious. Is it possible to get a bicuspid aortic valve repair instead of having it replaced?”
During my recent tour of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, I was fortunate to ask this exact question to Dr. S. Chris Malaisrie, a cardiac surgeon who specializes in aortic valve treatment. Here are the highlights of our discussion. (For those patients and caregivers in our community who are hearing impaired, I have provided a written transcript below.)
Sorry for the last minute notice, but tomorrow (Thursday) at 12pm (EST), The Cleveland Clinic will host a special web chat titled, “Stress, Depression & Heart Disease”. Dr. Leo Pozuelo, who is the associate director of the Bakken Heart Brain Institute, will moderate this very interesting session.
As I personally experienced issues with cardiac depression following surgery, I encourage all patients to attend this event. So you know, my research suggests that up to 32% of patients can experience depression after heart valve surgery.
Recently, Jim sent me a great question that reads, “Adam – I’m 65 and diagnosed with moderate aortic stenosis. It seems there are a couple of different types of minimally invasive surgery. Can you help me understand that better?”
I was very fortunate to ask this exact question to Dr. Marc Gillinov, a leading heart valve surgeon from the Cleveland Clinic, at the Heart Valve Summit. The highlights of our discussion are provided in this video. (For the patients and caregivers of our community who are hearing impaired, I have provided a written transcript below.)
