{"id":1747,"date":"2010-07-27T06:32:28","date_gmt":"2010-07-27T11:32:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/?p=1747"},"modified":"2019-01-14T17:57:52","modified_gmt":"2019-01-14T22:57:52","slug":"dr-david-adams-paul-stelzer-mount-sinai-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/2010\/07\/27\/dr-david-adams-paul-stelzer-mount-sinai-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"Valve Clinic Tour: Dr. Adams & Dr. Stelzer Help Trigger Rankings Boost at Mount Sinai Hospital"},"content":{"rendered":"

When two, leading heart valve surgeons come together at an established cardiac care program, the expectations for success are high.<\/p>\n

That said, it shouldn\u2019t surprise you that Dr. David Adams and Dr. Paul Stelzer have transformed this hypothetical situation into reality at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.<\/p>\n

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\"Dr.Dr. Paul Stelzer, Me (Adam) & Dr. David Adams<\/p>\n

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Since Dr. Adams took over the program in 2002 and Dr. Stelzer joined the staff in 2007, Mount Sinai\u2019s heart program has soared 21 rankings in U.S. News and World Report\u2019s <\/em>annual survey of cardiac centers.<\/p>\n

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Most recently, Mount Sinai jumped 5 places to claim the 13th slot in the 2010 rankings just behind the University of Michigan and Barnes-Jewish Hospital \/ Washington University.<\/p>\n

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\"Mount<\/p>\n

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While these rankings provide independent and objective perspective, I tend to focus on patient success stories as a key indicator for program care. As many of you know, I have received countless patient testimonials for these heart valve specialists since launching this blog.<\/p>\n

For these reasons, I was beyond excited when Dr. Adams and Dr. Stelzer invited me to tour Mount Sinai in New York City.<\/p>\n

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Dr. Stelzer And I Almost Bump Into Each Other\u2026<\/h2>\n

The tour began at 7:30am when Dr. Stelzer and I simultaneously approached the entryway to Mount Sinai\u2019s cardiac care center. I immediately recognized Dr. Stelzer\u2019s warm smile from his online photos. Dr. Stelzer was already in scrubs and a red pair of Crocs shoes.<\/p>\n

Within the heart valve community, Dr. Stelzer is best known for his vast experience with the Ross Procedure, a complex double valve replacement<\/a> for patients suffering from aortic valve disease. To date, Dr. Stelzer has performed over 475 Ross Procedure surgeries \u2013 more than any other surgeon in the United States.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Ross Procedure has some great advantages for patients,\u201d Dr. Stelzer said to me. \u201cInterestingly, several surgical centers in Europe consider the Ross as the standard for aortic valve replacement<\/a>. However, I always leave it up to the patient to make that call.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"Paul
\nDr. Paul Stelzer and a Ross Procedure Diagram<\/p>\n

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While Dr. Stelzer and I chatted about the Ross Procedure, I began to notice a familiar face in my peripheral vision. As I turned to the left, I saw Dr. David Adams, the Chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Mount Sinai, standing next to me.<\/p>\n

As you may know, Dr. Adams is widely known for his research and his clinical concentration on mitral valve repair. In fact, Dr. Adams just released a new book,\u00a0 Carpentier’s Reconstructive Valve Surgery<\/em>, with heart valve legend, Dr. Alain Carpentier, and Dr. Farzan Filsoufi. Dr. Adams also runs a fantastic website dedicated to mitral valve repair at www.MitralValveRepair.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Coffee, Dr. Adams & Patient Education…<\/h2>\n

When Dr. Stelzer was called to the operating room, Dr. Adams and I sat down for a cup of coffee in the hospital lobby. There, we had an insightful discussion about many topics including patient education. In particular, we discussed the utility of the Internet and other technologies to enhance patient awareness.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI really believe the web will become even more critical in the future \u2013 for patients, for caregivers, for cardiologists and for surgeons,\u201d Dr. Adams said, \u201cI think we have an extraordinary opportunity and responsibility to improve heart valve care through information that patients can apply and easily understand.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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In particular, Dr. Adams and I discussed the current need for patients to better understand critical diagnostic elements and milestones prior to surgery including echocardiography, “watchful waiting” and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) guidelines.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want patients to know why they need surgery,\u201d Dr. Adams said to me, \u201cI don\u2019t think patients should enter the O.R. just because their cardiologist or surgeon says, \u2018Trust me, I\u2019ve been doing this for 20 years. You need surgery.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"\"Mitral Regurgitation Grading (Source: ACC)<\/p>\n

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Together, we brainstormed several different possibilities for advancing patient education. In particular, we discussed the possibility of holding an online seminar on the web, or webinar<\/em>, for patients and caregivers to better understand the diagnostic process.<\/p>\n

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Mount Sinai & Gift Of Life Nurture Cardiac Care In Developing Regions<\/h2>\n

Unbeknownst to me, Dr. Adams and I shared similar altruistic goals. Midway through our chat, I learned that Dr. Adams had an explicit interest in expanding cardiac care in developing regions.<\/p>\n

For example, in 2009, Dr. Adams traveled to Hue City, Vietnam where he – and 11 other heart doctors, nurses and staff, including Dr. Khanh Nguyen – performed several valve repair surgeries on young patients.<\/p>\n

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\"Dr.Dr. Adams, Dr. Nguyen and Their Patient in Vietnam<\/p>\n

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This medical mission was organized by Gift of Life — the same organization that we recently submitted a $5K donation to<\/a>. Currently, Dr. Adams is planning another medical mission to the Dominican Republic.<\/p>\n

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In The ICU, I Meet John Cautela & Sherry Grabowski<\/h2>\n

Following coffee, Dr. Adams took me to the intensive care unit (ICU) where I saw and met several patients recovering from heart surgery. In particular, I was very touched by the story of John Cautela and his wife, Sherry Grabowski. Residents of Boise, Idaho, John had just come through a very complex, re-operation due to a leaking mitral valve replacement<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"Dr.Dr. Adams, Sherry Grabowski & John Cautela<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe had to do John\u2019s surgery in two steps,\u201d Dr. Adam\u2019s told me. \u201cThe process of opening his chest took three hours due to heavy scar tissue from prior surgeries in Idaho and California.\u201d<\/p>\n

I would later learn from Sherry, who manages the intensive care unit at St. Luke\u2019s Hospital, that John has had five heart surgeries in the past three years.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore coming to Mount Sinai, the other doctors told me I should just let my husband go [die],\u201d Sherry quietly shared with me. \u201cBut, John has 9 lives\u2026 He\u2019s a fighter.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Next Up\u2026 Dr. Stelzer\u2019s Operating Room<\/h2>\n

As my time with Dr. Adams came to a close, I was invited into Dr. Stelzer\u2019s operating room. There, in scrubs, a surgical mask and a bouffant cap, I watched Dr. Stelzer and his team perform an aortic valve and root replacement surgery. The patient suffered from aortic stenosis<\/a> due to a bicuspid aortic valve<\/a> which was severely calcified<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Upon entering the O.R., my visual and auditory senses were highly stimulated.<\/p>\n

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\"PaulDr. Stelzer\u2019s Operating Room<\/p>\n

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My eyes rapidly bounced from the patient to Dr. Stelzer to the medical professionals that supported this effort. The medical team consisted of two cardiac surgeons, a perfusionist (heart-lung operator), one physician\u2019s assistant, three anesthesiologists, a cardiac nurse and an O.R. surgical technician.<\/p>\n

As I approached the patient, I could see that a median sternotomy had been performed and the patient was already on bypass. Doctor Stelzer was in the process of removing the diseased aortic valve.<\/p>\n

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\"\"Dr. Stelzer\u2019s Team and the Heart Lung Machine<\/p>\n

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My ears were also stimulated in the operating room. On one hand, I was intrigued by the ongoing communication among Dr. Stelzer and his team. On the other hand, the surgical theater was an epicenter for beeps, blips, slurps and gurgles from the high-tech machines that powered this life-extending operation.<\/p>\n

For me, highlights of the procedure included:<\/p>\n