About Dr. Lars Svensson,
Heart Valve Surgeon

"Dr. Svensson is legendary for a reason: He is incredibly bright, friendly, serious, direct, warm...and fast. There is very little he hasn't seen in his career. I felt complete confidence in his ability to address my fairly complex surgery, which included a valve, root, ascending aorta and single-bypass. When an incidental finding threw a slight wrench in my recovery, he personally took charge with confidence and humor. He personally stopped by every morning during his rounds. And the days he was off, in his place were his highly personable, talented and friendly surgical fellows.

His entire team is impressive, from his secretary Rhonda; to Becky his coordinating nurse; to Diana and Pam, his nurse practitioners, and Sandi, his holistic nurse ...and others on the surgical team, including those who ran the heart-lung machine. The latter two, charged with keeping the blood flowing while my heart was halted, stopped by the ICU to say hi. There was always someone there. I can't rave enough about the cardiac ICU/step-down nursing teams at Cleveland Clinic, but it all filters down from the top. I was fortunate to have Dr. Svensson as my surgeon and can't recommend him highly enough.

Surgical results: My recovery has been going faster than I expected. Pain-wise, I was on only Tylenol after several days. Despite having a full sternotomy, my sternum doesn't really hurt. Best of all, my heart is beating."

-- Herb Greenberg, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, Median Sternotomy, Root Replacement, 03/04/2020

"Dr. Svensson and the entire experience at the Cleveland Clinic were phenomenal. I am blessed to have had such a gifted surgeon share his talent with me. If you have a serious heart problem and want the best, head to Cleveland Clinic. You will not be disappointed. "

-- George Witt, Aortic Valve, Valve Repair, Root Replacement, 05/30/2018

"Everything went well. I think I saw him once post-surgery. I was rather out of it. It has been 14 months and we are back to very fast swing dancing!"

-- Anne Blanchard, Aortic Valve, Mini Sternotomy, 02/21/2018

"Extremely pleased with Dr. Svensson. He recommended without a doubt what I needed. He replaced my aortic valve with a mechanical valve & repaired my aneurysm. I am now aneurysm free with a history of an aneurysm. I remember he was very sympathetic to tell me it was time to take care of my bicuspid valve because he knew it was unexpected so soon. But felt it was best to take care of it now due to my borderline COPD. He wanted to be sure my lungs were strong to support recovery. Very grateful to him. He was the head of the cardiac thoracic division at the time from what I understand. Had a wonderful recovery with no complications. Very fortunate to have such a knowledgeable, well respected surgeon who is well known throughout the country/world caring for me. And I couldn’t be happier with how I was treated at Cleveland Clinic. Very clean & detail oriented. Runs so smoothly. "

-- Pamela Jacobs, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, Mini Sternotomy, 01/31/2018

"Dr. Svensson and the Cleveland Clinic took very good care of me. It is a first rate cardio/heart hospital run by Dr. Svensson. Dr.Svensson replaced my aortic valve and fixed my aortic aneurism. He is a very skilled surgeon. He explained what I needed done, what he was going to do and answered all my questions. He was nice and attentive. When selecting a surgeon you want a to select a surgeon who has done thousands of these procedures. Dr. Svensson is this surgeon. His surgical team and the Cleveland Clinic hospital nurses and staff took wonderful care of me."

-- Ed Kelly, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, Root Replacement, 07/28/2017

"I was very pleased with most of the Cleveland Clinic experience. Insurance choose this doctor for me. "

-- Donna Scholfield, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, 07/03/2017

"Results wonderful, I felt I was in the best hands possible, Dr. Svenson extremely knowledgeable and I felt a very good bed side manner, he made me feel safe in what was a very scary situation."

-- Dennel Burke, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, 05/18/2017

"Top Shelf care with terrific results. Bedside manner? Not why I selected my surgeon😛"

-- Katherine Wardle, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, Mini Sternotomy, 05/08/2017

"Best valve surgeon in the country. Great results and great care!"

-- William White, Aortic Valve, Valve Repair, Valve Replacement, Mini Sternotomy, 11/22/2016

"My original surgery was for a Aortic valve replacement, Dr. Svensson was able to repair my Bicuspid Valve. It has been 3 months since my surgery and I feel great! "

-- Daniel Conrad, Aortic Valve, Valve Repair, 08/19/2016

"Excellent - he and the Cleveland Clinic are the gold standard for aortic valve replacements. I'm happy I made the effort to go to Cleveland even though I live in Washington DC. "

-- Laurie Cappa, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, Mini Sternotomy, 05/21/2015

"I live in Northwest Florida. After much research, I decided to have my surgery done by Dr. Lars Svensson at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. This was the best decision I have ever made. I was thrilled when his assistant told me that he had reviewed my records (the day he received them I might add!) and was willing to do the surgery.

I needed surgery to replace my aortic valve and remove an ascending aortic aneurysm. Dr. Svensson planned my surgery perfectly. I arrived on Saturday, February 14, was tested February 16 and 17, and met with Dr. Svensson on February 18, 2015, the day before my surgery. Dr. Svensson did a great job explaining everything to me, was very personable, and made me very confident going into the surgery. The surgery and my experiences in ICU and the step-down room were just incredible. It came as no surprise to me when I learned after the surgery that Dr. Svensson was made the chairman of the heart and vascular institute at the Cleveland Clinic. Based upon my personal experience, he certainly deserves that honor. My recovery has been outstanding.

At 9 weeks post-op, I was released to go back to work without restrictions of any kind. Had my appointment been earlier, I know I would have been released at that time. I have no physical restrictions other than lifting hundreds of pounds. My cardiologist and internist were literally thrilled with the outcome. I whole-heartedly recommend Dr. Svensson."

-- Gordon Rahmes, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, Median Sternotomy, Root Replacement, 02/19/2015

"I had an excellent time at Cleveland clinic with Dr. Lars Svensson. From what I heard, it was a tough surgery with lots of scar tissue from previous surgery. But, Dr. Svensson did an excellent job both pre-op, during and after surgery. ICU experience was also most gratifying as there was an excellent staff of professional caring people. I fully recommend Dr. Lars Svensson for any surgery of this type."

-- Stan Soltys, Aortic Valve, Root Replacement, 02/05/2015

"100% Rock Star with a supporting team that is the best there is. Hands down, if you can make a decision horizontally about your surgery, save up your coins and make it to the Cleveland Clinic. None better. All aspects. 100% Respect"

-- chris brown, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, 01/08/2015

"I traveled from Louisiana to Cleveland for an Aortic Valve surgical evaluation by Dr. Svensson. His calm, confident manner in explaining my particular situation (severe left ventricle dilation, but no symptoms) was very reassuring. I returned to Cleveland 1 month later for the valve replacement. The surgery lasted only 34 minutes thanks to Dr Svensson's great skill, technique, and experience. I am 63 years old and now 3 weeks post-op with little to any pain (1 on 1-10 scale), walking 2-3 miles a day. I highly recommend Dr. Svensson and the Cleveland Clinic. I rate Dr Svensson's bedside manner and surgical result as A++++. I strongly feel that the travel costs to Cleveland were justified."

-- Boyd Anderson, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, 10/24/2014

"In selecting Dr. Svensson, we decided to find the best surgeon possible for my ascending aortic aneurysm and bicuspid aortic valve. He is an expert in these areas. We were completely satisfied with Dr. Svensson's evaluation and treatment. Dr. Svensson is a quiet, thoughtful, calm and reassuring person. For me, he was super. A surgeon who I could completely trust. "

-- jeff offermann, Aortic Valve, Valve Repair, Median Sternotomy, 08/08/2013

"I was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic heart valve and my local cardiologist recommended surgery to replace the valve. Initially I was to have the procedure done locally but I researched the Cleveland Clinic and contacted them to see if I was a candidate for their minimally invasive surgery. They told me I was a candidate for this surgery and I advised my cardiologist that I wanted to have the surgery done at Cleveland Clinic. He recommended Dr. Lars Svensson and I was able to schedule the surgery with Dr. Svensson. I was happy with Dr. Svensson from the start as he recommended a biological valve and not a mechanical valve as I did not want to take blood thinners the rest of my life as I was only 58 years of age. Dr. Svensson was very good in explaining the procedure to my wife and I and he was great in checking on how I was doing every day after my surgery. I was in Cleveland Clinic for five days and their staff was outstanding!"

-- Daniel Ritter, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, Robotic Surgery, 02/20/2013

"Dr. Svensson was thoroughly professional, a very business-like surgeon who inspired confidence in his knowledge and experience. He made daily attentive visits and was surrounded by his talented team. Dr. Lars Svensson is one of the finest surgeons in the country. I was fortunate to have my request for him to do the surgery fulfilled. The Cleveland Clinic's overall care and monitoring of my 6-day hospitalization stay was nothing less than superb. "

-- Ronald Barnett, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, Mini Sternotomy, 08/01/2012

"Dr. Svensson was able to repair my aortic valve and save me from having it replaced. He also repaired my aortic aneurysm. Dr. Lars Svensson is the best. "

-- Reid benes, Aortic Valve, Mini Sternotomy, 05/30/2012

"I had read Dr. Svensson's papers and book, watched his surgery and lecture videos, but our first meeting assured me that he was the surgeon with whom I would put my trust. His focus, demeanor, candid responses, and laughter instilled me with confidence. He is a world class surgeon, operating in the world class Cleveland Clinic. During my recovery, he visited me every morning, assessing and discussing my progress. I am grateful to him for the years of toil and sacrifices that he made to acquire his knowledge and develop his skills. He has my unconditional endorsement, and I believe that individuals such as Dr. Svensson have shaped the standards of excellence at The Cleveland Clinic."

-- Steven Cook, Aortic Valve, Median Sternotomy, David Procedure, 01/03/2012

"My time with Dr. Lars Svensson was limited but he is one of the best in his field. I would recommend him highly."

-- Doug Sivyer, Aortic Valve, Mini Sternotomy, 05/11/2011

"Dr. Lars Svensson credentials are outstanding which is why I chose to have my surgery with him at the Cleveland Clinic. That being said, he is a very busy man but spent adequate time before the surgery discussing the operation. He came to see me each morning at 6am after the surgery while I was in the hospital -- which made a big difference. "

-- Christina Zafiris, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, 04/21/2011

"I first learned of Dr. Svensson by watching a video on the Cleveland Clinic website. When I saw him and listened to him speak, I knew he was the surgeon I wanted to operate on my younger brother for his life-threatening ascending aortic aneurysm and mechanical aortic valve.

I was shocked that we were able to request him and he agreed! We discovered that our family has a connective tissue disorder and approximately 1 1/2 years later, he performed my ascending aortic repair. I had visits with him a year prior to my surgery.

He always took his time, answered all of my questions and reassured me. He is calm, professional, and so very kind. He is the person you want. His training and skill, his nonexistent infection rate, and expert care are beyond comparison. I developed fluid around my heart and in my lungs and had another surgery two weeks after the aneurysm repair. He personally came to see me every day both times and always updated me and my husband and answered all of our questions.

I always felt that he cared about me. I will never go anywhere else for any cardiac issues. Dr. Svensson has been blessed with his gift and he is using it. I told him he had blessed hands. I believe he is the best in the world. "

-- Rhonda White, Aortic Valve, Median Sternotomy, Root Replacement, 11/01/2010

"Excellent, very professional!"

-- Allan Neff, Aortic Valve, Mini Sternotomy, Root Replacement, 09/03/2010

"I can't say enough good about Dr. Lars Svensson. Very good surgeon, great support team at Cleveland Clinic. I flew home to Colorado 6 days after surgery."

-- john palermo, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, 08/19/2010

"I am an 85 year old patient that had Aortic Valve replacement and aortic artery repair. The surgery and recovery was excellent. I stopped taking pain medicine on the 29th day after surgery and started my Cardio-Rehab 4 weeks after surgery. I saw Dr. Svensson each morning of my recovery. I could not be more pleased with my results and would enthusiastically recommend Dr. Svensson and the Cleveland Clinic. The 1200 mile drive from North Carolina was well worth it."

-- Anthony Simonelli, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, Median Sternotomy, 01/21/2010

"Dr. Lars Svensson was wonderful!! He and his team were very professional, answered all of our questions and put my family at ease during and after the surgery. After a long and stressful interview and decision making process leading up to my surgery, I am thankful for choosing him and the Cleveland Clinic for my BAV repair!"

-- Curt Wagner, Aortic Valve, Valve Repair, 09/10/2009

"Dr. Lars Svensson is the best doctor i have had yet. He explained all of my options and assured me that I was in good hands. He saved my Aorta and also did the same procedure for my brother. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. This doctor is a class act and is the best surgeon for the David Procedure or any patient with a connective tissue disorder. "

-- Dustin Lundelius, Aortic Valve, David Procedure, 05/15/2009

"Extremely pleased with both the physician and the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Svensson is one of the country's leaders in performing the modified David Procedure. I chose this repair rather than a mechanical valve replacement to avoid a life of Coumadin. I had both a valve repair and a repair of an aortic root aneurysm. "

-- Jeff Axelrod, Aortic Valve, Valve Repair, Root Replacement, David Procedure, 02/19/2009

"I only remember seeing my surgeon one time and that was in my initial visit and interview with Dr. Lars Svensson in November 2008 at the Cleveland. I asked many questions regarding my specific valve and aneurysm surgery and questioned Dr.Svensson on what he recommended for my particular heart condidtion. He suggested I have a valve repair and a graft for the aortic aneurysm. He responded by saying that the aortic valve and aneurysm repair was the way to go and that I would not need to be on any blood thinners. Dr. Svensson is a well known surgeon and instructor for combined valve and aortic aneurysm surgery including minimal invasive aortic surgery. I also chose Dr. Svensson for his innovation on prevention of stroke and paralysis after heart surgery. Dr.Svensson has developed several techniques for aortic bicupsid valve repair in which I had been diagnosed."

-- Mary Campbell, Aortic Valve, Valve Repair, Median Sternotomy, Mini-Thoracotomy / Port Access, 12/02/2008

"Great bedside manner. I could not have been more pleased with the after-care of surgery. Cleveland clinic has been rated the number one heart hospital for fifteen years and Dr. Svensson is the Director for Aortic Surgery at Cleveland Clinic. If I ever have to have future heart surgery I will definitely go back to Cleveland."

-- Greg Bailey, Aortic Valve, Valve Repair, Median Sternotomy, Root Replacement, 09/12/2008

"Great surgeon. Great hospital. Great care. Worth the trip. Minimally invasive procedure. Quick recovery, took no pain medicine after leaving hospital. No post-op side effects or restrictions."

-- Jim Wright, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, 09/11/2008

"His bedside manner was average. The surgery went fine and I have had no problems since surgery."

-- Shawn O'Donnell, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, 02/05/2008

"In 2007, I was shocked to learn that I had an aortic root aneurysm. I chose the Cleveland Clinic because of its #1 rating in the United States for successful heart procedures. I also chose Dr. Lars Svensson based on his reputation. It was very reassuring that he was very informative and answered all of my questions & my wife's many questions. I was given the recommendation of a David's re-implantation of my aortic valve and replacement of my ascending aorta. I was very pleased that my own aortic valve was able to be repaired and that meant I did not need to take Coumadin for the rest of my life. Nine months following surgery and an out patient cardiac rehab program, I was medically cleared to go on a guided elk hunting trip in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. In 2013, I will celebrate 5 years post op with very few limitations! "

-- Robert Green, Aortic Valve, Valve Repair, Median Sternotomy, Root Replacement, David Procedure, 01/08/2008

"Excellent bedside manners and expertise. I am extremely happy with the results. The valve replacement was done via a Bentall procedure."

-- Manuel Leon, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, Median Sternotomy, 07/26/2004