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\u00a0![\"Dr.](\"https:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/..\/Images\/dr-john-byrne-brigham-womens-chief1.jpg\")
\nDr. John Byrne<\/p>\n
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I was recently talking about this moment with Dr. John Byrne, the chief of the Division of Cardiac Surgery at Brigham & Women\u2019s Hospital in Boston.<\/p>\n
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During our chat, Doctor Byrne had some really interesting thoughts about patient experiences and emotions \u2013 from diagnosis to recovery.\u00a0 So, to help current and future patients, I asked Dr. Byrne if we could transform our conversation into an interview.<\/p>\n
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Interview Highlights With Dr. John Byrne<\/h2>\n
Adam Pick: Thanks so much for agreeing to turn our phone call into an interview!<\/p>\n
Dr. John Byrne: Thank you Adam. This is an important topic for patients, their families and their friends.<\/p>\n
Adam Pick: We were just talking about how patients progress through the surgical process. Often times, patients can be very confused and under-educated.<\/p>\n
Dr. Byrne: That is correct. Heart surgery is typically a once in a lifetime experience for patients. There are very few things in all of life that one does just once.\u00a0\u00a0 Think about it.\u00a0 What else other than major surgery does one do just once in a lifetime?\u00a0 As a result, most patients are not familiar with the words we [doctors] use, the tests we administer, or the names of valvular disorders, like regurgitation.<\/p>\n
Some patients have never had surgery before. Some patients have never been under general anesthetic before. Some patients have never slept in a hospital before. To your point, this can be very confusing time for patients, their family members and their friends.<\/p>\n
Adam Pick: We were just talking about the importance of minimizing the information asymmetry before, during and after heart valve surgery. Can you explain what you meant by that?<\/p>\n
Dr. Byrne: Unless the patient has access to someone who knows a lot about heart surgery, there is obviously a large gap in information between the patient and cardiologist and surgeon.\u00a0 This is probably true for many aspects of life, such as complex business dealings, legal and tax matters, but the consequences in heart surgery are much greater.\u00a0 Our job is to bridge that information gap.<\/p>\n
Adam Pick: Considering all that you know about heart valve surgery, what do you feel are the most important steps in the surgical process that patients should research — to reduce the information asymmetry?<\/p>\n
Dr. Byrne: First, get a good general cardiologist who you trust, who will advocate for the best solution and refer you, if needed, to the right surgeon for your condition.\u00a0 Second, bring a family member who takes notes during the consultation. Prepare questions prior to the interview. \u00a0I tell my patients that one of the most valuable assets any patient has is a family member who is paying attention.\u00a0\u00a0 Because the patient is often anxious and not focused like a family member can be.\u00a0 Also, utilized the Internet, but be cautious because the information is probably not peer reviewed.\u00a0 And finally, utilized your social network to find friends and family who may have experience with a similar problem.<\/p>\n
Adam Pick: I understand that your mother had aortic valve surgery.<\/p>\n