 Heart Valve Surgery Pictures Of Open-Heart Surgery
Patient Pictures - Aortic Valve Replacement Pictures
Following my second opinion from Dr. Chaikin, a cardiologist in Los Angeles, it was confirmed that I would need to have aortic and pulmonary valve replacement surgery.
I was 34 years old. As you can read in my story, I would go on to have a successful double valve replacement but a very challenged recovery. After surgery, I wrote The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery (Revised Edition) to help future patients and their caregivers better understand the realities of open heart, valve surgery and recovery.
Since publishing my book and posting this website, several people were interested to know if I had any heart valve surgery pictures which documented the "open-heart surgery experience".
Guess what? I did. It turns out that Robyn (my wife) had taken a many interesting, heart valve surgery pictures following my open heart surgery.
There are six pictures of my heart valve surgery (below) which I think help illustrate what the experience is like. First, there is the picture of me in the intenstive care unit just a few hours after my valve replacement surgery. Second, there is the picture of me leaving the intensive care unit in a wheelchair, blowing on an incentive spirometer. Third, there is a picture of me one week after surgery. In this picture, you will see the scar resulting from the median sternotomy (aka cracked sternum) in all of its glory. Fourth, there is a picture of me in cardiac rehabilitation at Torrance Memorial Hospital.
The fifth picture of my open heart surgery was taken in Hawaii, ten months after my open heart surgery. As you can tell, my scar is barely noticeable!
The final pictures illustrate the completion of my physical recovery from heart valve surgery. In one picture, I am just exiting the Pacific Ocean in my wetsuit with my surfboard. I have just surfed for the first time in fifteen months. Another picture is from my wedding. And, finally, there is a picture when Robyn and I went Scuba Diving in Fiji on our honeymoon.
Heart Valve Surgery Picture In The Intensive Care Unit
(Five Hours After Aortic Valve Replacement)
To learn what it is like waking up in the intensive care unit (ICU), click here.
Heart Valve Surgery Picture Leaving Intensive Care Unit In Wheelchair
(1 Day After Aortic Valve Surgery)
I am blowing into a spirometer to help manage some extra fluid in my lungs following my operation.
Heart Valve Surgery Picture Of Median Sternotomy
(One Week After Open Heart Surgery)
To learn more about the median sternotomy (broken sternum), click here.
Heart Valve Surgery Picture At Cardiac Rehabilitation
(Three Months After Open Heart Surgery)
Cardiac rehabilitation was a critical part in a very challenging recovery for me.
10 Months After Aortic Valve Replacement - WHERE'S THE SCAR?
To learn more about Mederma Scar Treatment and the impact it had on my heart surgery scar healing, click here.
14 Months After Heart Valve Surgery - I SURF AGAIN!!!
Click here to read about my return to the sport I love... Surfing.
20 Months After Heart Valve Surgery - I GET MARRIED!!!
26 Months After Heart Valve Surgery - At Edwards Lifesciences, The Largest Heart Valve Manufacturer In The World, Doing Research For The 2008 Edition Of My Book
Well. I hope these pictures help you visually understand what some of the open heart surgery experience is like on the outside. If you have any questions, you can always email me at adam@heart-valve-surgery.com. Also, if you are interested in more information about heart valve surgery, you can visit my blog or read my book.
Keep on tickin!
Adam Pick is the 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 an actual heart valve surgery patient. This special book divides the valve surgery process into four sections which address the challenges and opportunities faced by both patients and caregivers. Ultimately, Adam designed the book to help patients and caregivers minimize stress, manage expectations and enhance recovery. Learn more...
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