About Me (In My Own Words)
My Aortic Valve and Bypass Journey
I was first diagnosed with moderate aortic stenosis in 2018. From then on, I was monitored every six months by my cardiologist. At that time, I was completely asymptomatic and remained very active in sports.
Over the years, my stenosis gradually worsened, and by June 2024, I was diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis. Although I still felt fine in daily life, I began noticing angina during intense exercise. My cardiologist recommended that it was time to undergo a surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).
As part of the preoperative evaluation, I had a coronary angiography, which revealed a 70% blockage in two areas of my left main artery. This meant I would need not only an aortic valve replacement but also a single coronary bypass (CABG).
I reached out to Prof. Marco Di Eusanio at Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona, a highly respected cardiac surgeon in Italy. He confirmed the plan: a full sternotomy, implantation of a biological Resilia valve, and myocardial revascularization using the left mammary artery.
On March 23, 2025, I underwent the surgery. I spent one day in ICU, followed by five days in the cardiology department before being discharged. During my hospital stay, I experienced one episode of atrial fibrillation, which was successfully treated with medication.
After the operation, I was placed on warfarin for three months with regular INR monitoring. My recovery has been painless but slow. Initially, I began walking twice daily as my main form of rehabilitation. After a month, I followed a structured cardiac rehab program on YouTube (NHS).
Now, nearly six months later, I can say that my recovery is almost complete. I am walking 10 km every day, and I occasionally bike for two hours. The only limitation I still face is with continuous jogging — after 500–800 meters, I need to pause, walk briefly, and then resume running. I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to jog 10 km without interruption again, but I am deeply grateful for the excellent outcome of my surgery and for being able to enjoy such an active lifestyle once more.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Niederanven, Luxembourg
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My surgery date is:
March 23, 2025
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Stenosis
Coronary Artery Disease
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Marco Di Eusanio
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My hospital is:
Ospedali Riuniti Ancona - Italy
