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Is Paul's Scar On The Wrong Side?

By Adam Pick on October 11, 2008

Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Did Doctor Vaughn Starnes, one of leading heart valve surgeons, make a mistake when he performed minimally invasive aortic heart valve replacement on Paul? Scroll down and read Paul's email to find out why his incision scar is on the right side of his chest!

Patient with Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement Scar On Chest Holding Red Pillow

Paul - Seven Days After Valve Surgery

Hi Adam,

That first week after getting home from my surgery with Dr. Starnes... I was on top of the world. I felt like I was ready to get back to work. During week three, however, the bottom fell out and the pain set in. Then, the exhaustion just kicked my butt.

Luckily, I had my post-op with Dr. Starnes's office and Bob Sachs, his physician's assistant. They sat my wife and I down and reminded us that even though it was called 'minimally invasive aortic valve replacement surgery', the procedure is still very invasive. With his guidance, I realized that I had been ahead of the recovery curve - out of ICU in 24 hours, all drains and IVs removed within 36 hours and home in just 3 1/2 days, walking 2 miles a day within a week of getting home. My body was telling me to slow down.

Now, I am in a pretty good frame of mind. I am still very easily fatigued and know my first week back to work will be a bear. But, cabin fever has also set in now.

The photo (above) is seven days post surgery. Again, this was minimally invasive, aortic valve replacement only. I opted for a Medtronics Mosaic porcine valve. The scar, now at four weeks, is a three-inch, pink, thin, straight line. As a man, it wouldn't bother me at all if it never improved. My wife says that even on a female, the scar would be very slight and mainly covered by even a small tank top. Both my cardiologist (Doctor Horth), Dr. Starnes and Bob Sachs say it will continue to improve over the next year. I doubt it will be noticeable in 6 months.

Dr. Vaughn Starnes - Paul's Surgeon

The biggest drawback of this type of surgery - and it may be nothing compared to a median sternotomy (see picture below) - is the bruising pain and soft tissue pain from the center of the chest to the spine in a line about three inches below the scar to about three inches above the scar. There was initially a lot of nerve issues (burning, tingling and numbness across the same area and down the right arm) but the majority of those sensations are now resolved and deemed normal by Dr. Starnes' staff.

Adam Pick, patient of Dr. Vaughn Starnes showing sternotomy incision

Picture Of Adam's Median Sternotomy Scar

A HUMOROUS SIDENOTE: Almost everyone who sees the scar asks, "Why is your scar on the wrong side?" As you can see from the photo, my scar is on the right-hand side. Everyone automatically does their 'pledge of allegiance' pose and says, "Your surgeon went in the wrong side!" I never got a great answer from anyone, but apparently Dr. Starnes goes in that way as it gives him the best access to the aortic valve.

Thanks again for all of your support.

This blog and your heart valve surgery book are great!

Paul
Adam

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Written by Adam Pick
Patient & Website Founder

Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

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