{"id":906,"date":"2009-09-11T09:56:02","date_gmt":"2009-09-11T14:56:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/2009\/09\/11\/patient-advocacy-brazil-cleveland-gillinov\/"},"modified":"2018-08-31T17:35:35","modified_gmt":"2018-08-31T22:35:35","slug":"patient-advocacy-brazil-cleveland-gillinov","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/2009\/09\/11\/patient-advocacy-brazil-cleveland-gillinov\/","title":{"rendered":"From Brazil to Cleveland, Patrick Fights For Minimally Invasive Surgery"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the\u00a0critcal learnings\u00a0from\u00a0my heart valve surgery experience was:<\/p>\n

The patient (or their caregiver) must, at times, be tenacious. We must, at times, ask questions that may or may not be silly<\/em>. We must, at times, stand up for ourselves and our hearts. Ultimately… we must, at all times, be our own, best advocate.<\/p>\n

I am reminded of this belief as my\u00a0inbox is often filled with patient and caregiver emails that radiate\u00a0frustration and\u00a0confusion. Many of these emails begin, “Adam, I really need to vent right now. I’m having problems with\u00a0__________.” However you chose to fill-in that blank, I can relate.<\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

\n
\"\"
\nPatrick Hightower – Heart Valve Surgery Patient\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

  <\/p>\n

Recently, I received a patient story that illustrates just how far certain patients and caregivers\u00a0will\u00a0go to get\u00a0the best care. Here, for your review, is the educational and inspirational story of Patrick Hightower:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Adam, I had this picture taken 24 days after my heart valve surgery on August 9, 2009.\u00a0 As you can see, my main incision is about 2 1\/2 inches long. I also have a 1\/2 inch scar just below it – which was for the drain line.<\/p>\n

Although it may appear that I had minor heart surgery, I did in-fact have degenerative mitral valve with severe regurgitation<\/a>, persistent atrial fibrillation, and tricuspid regurgitation. An annuloplasty band<\/a> was installed in each valve, each valve was repaired and a MAZE procedure was done to stop the fibrillation. The actual surgery was six hours plus two hours pre-op and another two-hours post-op. I have no idea how long I was on the heart-lung machine.<\/p>\n

I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my surgeon, Dr. Marc Gillinov and The Cleveland Clinic<\/a> for my successful surgery. I realize that each person’s situation is different but, for me, the minimally invasive surgical procedure used by Dr. Gillinov was ideal.<\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

\"\"
\nDr. A. Marc Gillinov – Patrick\u2019s Surgeon<\/div>\n

  <\/p>\n

In my situation, I had to literally fight for my right<\/em> to have a top surgeon, minimally invasive surgery and a little scar.\u00a0 My first doctor in Brazil thought I needed to see a psychiatrist because I was so adamant about the minimally invasive approach. Another doctor said I didn’t need to do anything. The third cardiologist, who is now my primary Brazilian cardiologist, said, “Go to the States!” He felt my problem could not be surgically treated safely in Brazil. Finally, my cardiologist in Houston said, “We really don’t do the minimally invasive procedure.”<\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

\"Frustration<\/div>\n

  <\/p>\n

After all of those dead-ends, I wrote Dr. Gillinov at The Cleveland Clinic. Soon after, I sent Dr. Gillinov my test results and waited, hoped and prayed for him to accept me. I did this with no cardiologist recommendation, just perseverance.<\/p>\n

As for the details of my surgery:<\/p>\n