Adam's Heart Valve Surgery Blog – Page 2
“Can Bicycle Riding Wear Out My Heart Valves?” asks Mort
By Adam Pick on November 4, 2019
I just received a great question form Mort about exercise, biking and heart valve durability. Mort asked me, “Adam, Will long distance bicycle riding – approximately 12 hours a week – prematurely wear out an aortic or mitral valve replacement made from porcine tissue?”
Technology Update: Pipeline Medical Gets First-In-Man TMVR Implant & Gore Acquisition
By Adam Pick on November 4, 2019
In case you missed the big news…
W.L. Gore & Associates recently announced the acquisition of Pipeline Medical Technologies Inc. So you know, Pipeline manufactures a transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) device that was founded by Dr. Steven Bolling, the Director of the Mitral Valve Program at Michigan Medicine and a long-time supporter of HeartValveSurgery.com.
Dr. Steven Bolling (Pipeline Founder)
In addition to its acquisition, I learned from Dr. Bolling that Pipeline just completed a “First-In-Man” implant of its TMVR solution. To learn more about Pipeline, I called Dr. Bolling.
Here are four highlights from my interview with Dr. Bolling:
Skydiver, Bill Legard, Jumps For An Edwards INSPIRIS RESILIA Heart Valve Replacement
By Adam Pick on October 29, 2019
Bill Legard is a very active 59-year old. He’s a skydiver, a pilot, an entrepreneur and Bill makes parachutes for a living. On a recent hike in Indonesia, Bill struggled with shortness of breath. His cardiologist diagnosed Bill with severe aortic stenosis, a life-threatening form of heart valve disease.
Considering his active lifestyle, Bill struggled with his valve replacement options. Then, Bill heard about the INSPIRIS RESILIA aortic valve from Edwards Lifesciences that is helping so many patients in our community. This is Bill’s story.
“What About Flu Shots for Heart Surgery Patients?” asks Cheryl
By Adam Pick on October 21, 2019
I just received a timely and important question from Cheryl about flu shots and heart surgery. In her email, Cheryl asked me, “Hi Adam – Can I get a flu shot, varicella and pneumococcal vaccines just 6 weeks after mitral valve replacement using a pig tissue valve?”
Heart Fitness: The Peloton Bike Transforms My Life & Saves Us $9,755
By Adam Pick on October 14, 2019
Not too long ago… I was out to dinner with Dr. Michael Mack, a world-renowned heart surgeon and long-time supporter of HeartValveSurgery.com. During that dinner, Dr. Mack mentioned that he just started using the Peloton bike.
“The Peloton bike? What’s that?” I asked.
Dr. Mack then described the Peloton as a new approach to “spinning” in which classes are beamed live from the Peloton studio in New York City – across the Internet – to a stationary bike at your home.
“Rock From the Heart for Aortic Health” Event Announced for February 7 & 8
By Adam Pick on October 12, 2019
Woo-Whoo! I’m excited to share that Amy and Pete Johnson are putting on the 2nd “Rock From the Heart for Aortic Health” event next February 7-8 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
During this special two-day event, you are invited to meet other patients and attend the Aortic Health Symposium, a Recognition Dinner and a Night Ranger Concert. To learn more, click here.
HeartValveSurgery.com Facebook Page Reaches 300,000 Patient & Caregiver Members!
By Adam Pick on October 9, 2019
Unexpected and wonderful!!!
Thanks to your extraordinary support and your “Likes”, I am happy to announce that the HeartValveSurgery.com Facebook page just reached 300,000 members.
“Is Congestive Heart Failure Common After Heart Valve Surgery?” asks Shae
By Adam Pick on September 24, 2019
I just received a great question from Shae, a patient, about congestive heart failure after heart valve surgery.
Shae writes to me, “Hi Adam – How often is it that patients develop congestive heart failure years after having the mitral valve replaced (with a cow valve) and having the tricuspid valve fixed? I had my valves fixed and replaced in 2012. Now, I just had a surprise diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF). Apparently, doctors know this can happen but I was never informed about this.”
Clinical Trial Update: TRILUMINATE Launches to Rescue “Forgotten” Tricuspid Valve
By Adam Pick on September 6, 2019
Big, big, big news!
Earlier today, Abbott announced the launch of the world’s first pivotal clinical trial for the catheter-based treatment of tricuspid valve regurgitation. The trial, which is called TRILUMINATE, will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the TriClip transcatheter valve repair system for leaky tricuspid valves. The TriClip does not require an incision to the patient’s sternum or ribs.
TriClip Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Repair System
Patient Advice to a Doctor?
By Adam Pick on September 6, 2019
As heart disease patients, we receive advice – from our friends, from our family and, most importantly, from our medical team.
But… What advice can patients give their doctors to help us through the surgical process?
I found the answer when I came across the Facebook post below. After reading “Advice from a Patient”, I smiled and thought, “Wow! That is fantastic, authentic, true and completely accurate”.
So you know, this was posted by Dr. Sloane Guy, a robotic mitral valve specialist, who I have been fortunate to work with for several years. How great! A surgeon sharing this with other surgeons!
Great, right?
Keep on tickin!
Adam
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