Adam's Heart Valve Surgery Blog – Page 73

Like many heart valve surgery patients, I was born with a bicuspid aortic valve. However, unlike many of you, I was not diagnosed with the bicuspid aortic valve defect as a newborn baby. It wasn’t until I was five years old that my family doctor heard my heart murmur. After that, diagnosis of the bicuspid valve was formally issued following my first visit to the cardiologist.

After I had an aortic valve replaced, I was curious to know, “How do bicuspid aortic valves impact newborns?” and “What other problems can bicuspid valves cause in newborns and children?”

I knew that the bicuspid aortic valve occurs when the aortic valve does not develop normally while the baby is in the womb. However, I wanted to know more.

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I just received a question that reads, “Adam, can you tell me more about pig valve transplants? My surgeon thinks that is the best valve choice for me.”

Sure thing. However, I want to make sure you know there are other options for tissue (also called biological) valve replacements besides pig valve transplants. The four key types of biological valve replacements are:

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I just received a question that reads, “Can you tell me all the different heart valve disorders, treatment and surgical procedures to fix heart valve disease?”

I have to admit, that is a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE question. As you probably know, there are many different forms of heart valve disorders and their are many different types of valvular treatment.

That said, to answer this question about heart valve disorders, treatment and operations would take the rest of the week (and it’s Monday morning).

However, I have created the Heart Valve Learning Center to help you get started answering this question about heart valve disorders, treatment.

Keep on tickin!
Adam

I was recently asked by Doug, a patient preparing for heart valve replacement, “Have you been weightlifting after open heart surgery?”

My answer was a definitive and delightful, “Yes. I have lifted weights after open heart surgery.”

However, I DID NOT rush back into the weight room after heart valve replacement surgery. It took several months before I was lifting weights again. You should also know that I never lift to bulk-up.

Doctor Vaughn Starnes, my heart surgeon, told me that lifting heavy weights puts additional strain on the heart valves. Over time, the strain on the heart valves can become problematic – both before and after surgery. That said, Dr. Starnes told me to lift for tone (repetition) not for muscle build-up. To learn more about my surgeon, click here.

I’ve taken his advice to heart (pun intended) and really focused on aerobic exercises I learned to really enjoy during cardiac rehabilitation.

Remember, heart valve surgery SHOULD NOT be the end of your active lifestyle. However, to be incredibly safe, I suggest you contact your surgeon to discuss weightlifting after open heart surgery. As you probably are aware, every patient is unique.

Keep on tickin!
Adam

It was my third day in the hospital. I just had my aortic valve replaced.

Even though my surgery was deemed a complete success, I was experiencing significant respiratory pain due to a common heart surgery complication. There was fluid in my lungs.

It hurt to breathe – like a little pinch or cramp in my left side after every inhale and every exhale. My medical team started me on respiratory therapy. So, throughout the night, I did fifteen minute breathing exercises at 11pm, 2am and 5am.

I was ab-sooooooo-lutely exhausted.

Then, my wonderful family began to arrive at USC Medical Center. It was Saturday morning. The “Adam Pick Family Support Machine” was in full force. First, my wife (Robyn) arrived. Then, my parents, my brother, my sister, her husband and their children trickled in.

Room 550 had turned into a zoo.

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I think it’s called a coincidence, or maybe serendipity, or even deja vu.

Regardless of the official terminology, I just received two, back-to-back email questions about cigarette smoke and heart valve surgery. That’s pretty strange because I have never received any questions about cigarettes during the past 18 months I’ve been writing this blog about heart valve replacement and heart valve repair. Quite odd, right?

Anyways, the first smoke-related question I received was from Michelle, a concerned mother and caregiver. She writes…

“Hi Adam – I have an 8 year old daughter who had open heart surgery when she was 4 years old. She had a mitral valve repair. Long story short, she is doing wonderful. My problem is, my fiancé does not understand me how dangerous it is for my daughter to go to his mothers house to visit. My fiance’s mother and her husband are smokers. They smoke inside their house. Can you help me with some facts that I can bring to my boyfriend’s attention to help him realize the truth about second hand smoke and heart patients.”

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Ever wonder, “What does a normal heart valve look like?”

I did.

So, I thought you might want to know what I learned before I went into my aortic valve replacement surgery.

First, you have to know that all heart valves do not look the same. As you can see in the diagram of the heart below, heart valves differ in size. The aortic valve and the pulmonary valve are smaller than the mitral valve and the tricuspid valve. And, you can also see that the mitral valve is the only valve that is naturally bicuspid. A bicuspid valve only has two leaflets while all the other valves have three leaflets.

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My inbox is filling up with some very interesting questions. I just received a question that reads, “Is stress a symptom of mitral valve leakage?”

As I’ve written before, there are several leaking heart valve symptoms identified by leading heart care facilities including The Cleveland Clinic and The Mayo Clinic. (Please click here to view those symptoms.)

However, from my own research, I have not seen any clinical studies which suggest that mitral valve leakage is directly related to stress (as a symptom). However, as a former patient, I could very easily see how being diagnosed with mitral valve leakage creates stress.

If you have any, extra information on this topic of stress and mitral valve leakage, please help out and leave a reply below.

Keep on tickin!
Adam

Yes, Forrest Gump is one of my favorite movies.

That said, I had to borrow that famous line for this very rare patient story about Brad Mueller. In case you can’t remember the complete movie quote, Forrest Gump said in the movie, “My momma always said life was a like a box of chocolates. Ya never know what you’re gonna get.”

Brad and I started emailing each other a few months ago. Brad had read my book and had some additional questions about stamina after heart valve replacement.

On February 29, Brad went in for an aortic valve replacement. Brad’s surgeon was Dr. John Oswalt from Austin, Texas. Like me, Brad had a bicuspid aortic valve with an erosion due to endocarditis. Over time, the endocarditis had severely compromised the integrity of the aortic valve.

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I just received a great question via email. In fact, this particular question brought back memories to when I was first diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis and told that I needed heart valve replacement surgery.

The question reads, “Adam – Do you have any statistics about the success or failure rates of heart valve replacement surgery?” Interestingly enough, I have collected some statistics about how successful heart valve replacement surgery is.

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So you know… I never expected this.

I never expected to be so connected to the stories of fellow patients and caregivers experiencing heart valve surgery. But, the more I work on this blog, the more I work on this website and the more I work on my book, the more I feel lucky to have had aortic and pulmonary valve replacement surgery.

Yes, I did just say I was “lucky” to have heart valve surgery. How ridiculous and ironic does that sound?

Case in point… Sergio and Maribel Garzon from Cancun, Mexico.

I first learned of Sergio’s defective mitral valve when his wife and caregiver, Maribel, emailed me a few months ago. Maribel wrote to thank me for writing my book. After that, we continued to email each other as Sergio prepared to travel to Mexico City for his mitral valve replacement surgery. Sergio had severe mitral valve regurgitation. (To learn more about regurgitant mitral valves, click here.)

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One of my favorite television shows is 60 Minutes on CBS. I love the stories. I love the reporters. And, I love the way they tackle subjects that really make you think. (I even find Andy Rooney pretty darn funny.)

Yesterday, however, I was watching a very troubling 60 Minutes story about Trasylol. As you may know, Trasylol is a drug used during cardiac bypass surgery (including heart valve repair and heart valve replacement) to prevent blood clotting. The drug is manufactured by Bayer and its generic name is Aprotinin.

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Doug Atkins and his regurgitating bicuspid aortic valve appeared on my radar about three months ago. (To learn more about bicuspid valves, click here.)

I was eating sushi in Tokyo when I received an email from his wife, Heather. Like most caregivers, Heather peppered me with a series of questions about heart valve surgery. In fact, Heather ended her first email with, “Sorry for all the questions, but I am doing everything I can to keep my husband alive.”

Now, three months later, Doug is returning home from the hospital with a new set of heart valves. Like me, Doug opted for the Ross Procedure operation, a special form of aortic valve replacement. I received the following email from Doug – just eight days after Dr. William Ryan operated on him. I thought you might like to read it to gain further insight to the patient experience relative to heart valve surgery.

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Hey everybody,

As you may know, I’m currently interviewing several leading heart valve replacement manufacturers for the next edition of my book. I’m trying to learn more facts about heart valve replacements to help future patients and caregivers better understand their options.

That said, last week I visited Edwards Lifesciences headquarters in Irvine, California. It was amazing! The company has an incredible heart valve museum that really illustrates the development of heart valve technology and heart valve surgery.

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As many of you have read in past blogs, Leslie Lafayette had mitral valve repair using the Da Vinci Surgical Robot a few weeks ago. Doctor Richard Shemin from UCLA was her cardiac surgeon.

While her surgery had some complications, Leslie’s great attitude is accelerating her recovery. Now… For the fun news!

Leslie’s heart surgery story was documented by Lifetime Television. The story aired on Sunday, February 24th and has already been posted on the Internet.

Keep on tickin!
Adam

“What is that thing Adam is holding in his hand?” you may wondering.

 
Well…

Believe it or not, that is a replica of the first mechanical heart valve developed by Miles “Lowell” Edwards in the late 1950’s.

“Who was the first patient to receive the first Edwards’ caged-ball mechanical valve replacement?” you may also be wondering.

To find the answer to that question and much more, I highly encourage you to read the history of the Edwards LifeSciences and the first mechanical heart valve replacement surgery.

It’s amazing to think how far the heart valve manufacturers have advanced the performance and technology of mechanical valves and tissue valves.

Keep on tickin!
Adam

I wake up pretty early. Usually no later than 5:30am. Robyn (my wife) stays in bed while I make the coffee. A few minutes later, I’m in my office turning on my computer.

That is when my stitched heart really gets ticking. Why? Well, lately I have been receiving lots and lots and lots of email from folks like you – heart valve surgery patients and caregivers. Some emails are filled with fear. Some emails are filled with questions. Some emails are filled with frustration. And, some emails are filled with inspirational stories like this one…

A few days ago, I received an email all about Raye Gilliamsen. Raye’s daughter, Abby, wrote me to share her mother’s story. Raye just celebrated her one year anniversary after receiving a new heart valve replacement.

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Don’t be so quick to answer “true” to the above question.

Here’s why…

Until recently, it was recommended that patients with heart valve disorders receive short-term antibiotics prior to receiving dental treatment to prevent the risk of infective endocarditis (IE).

Now, however, the American Heart Association (AHA) has revised those guidelines. The AHA now suggests that many patients who have taken prophylactic antibiotics routinely in the past no longer need them.

 
But… Don’t be so quick to answer “false” to the statement above either.

Still, there are conflicting views on whether or not to pre-medicate for patients having had heart valve replacement or heart valve repair surgeries.

As you can read, during my most recent annual check-up (following my aortic valve replacement), Dr. Vaughn Starnes suggested I continue to pre-medicate with Amoxicillin prior to seeing my dentist.

It’s really no big deal. I’d rather be safe than sorry, right?

I thought you might want to know about this if you are going to need dental work and heart valve surgery in the future.

Keep on tickin!
Adam

As many of you know, I had a congenital birth defect known as a bicuspid aortic valve. After thirty-three years of opening and closing, my two-cusp aortic valve became incredibly diseased with aortic stenosis and regurgitation. Ultimately, I had aortic valve replacement and pulmonary valve replacement. Following surgery, Dr. Vaughn Starnes (my surgeon) informed me that my aortic valve was very calcified as well.

That said, I just received an interesting question about mitral valve disease from Kara. Unlike most questions that focus on mitral valve prolapse and mitral valve regurgitation, this question focused on mitral valve calcification.

Kara’s question reads, “Can you tell me about mitral valve calcification? Do you have any pictures of a calcified mitral valve? What are the symptoms? What is the treatment of mitral valve calcification?”

As you can see above, calcification can impact mitral valves just as it can impact other heart valves. This picture illustrates the build-up of calcium along the annulus of the mitral valve. Ultimately, that impacts the integrity of the mitral valve to open and close properly. My research indicates that most symptoms of mitral valve calcification are similar to the symptoms of other forms of valve disease.

As for treatment of mitral valve calcification, that will be determined by your cardiologist and/or your surgeon. Primarily, there are two forms of surgical, mitral valve treatment – mitral valve replacement and mitral valve repair.

I hope that helps share some insight on mitral valve calcifcation.

Keep on tickin!
Adam

Heart Valve Surgery Pop Quiz Time!!!

Complete the following statement:

“Waking up in the intensive care unit after cardiac surgery with a ventilator tube still in your throat is…

• A. “So much fun! I can’t wait to do it again!”
• B. “Uncomfortable. Not being able to talk is somewhat dislocating.”
• C. “The worst thing ever!”
• D. “I don’t know! It was removed before I woke up.”

And… The answer is.. “E”… It depends!

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