I just received a very important email from Doug Atkins, a heart valve surgery patient, about the often over-looked and often mis-managed topic of cardiac depression.
Doug writes, “We’ve touched base several times both before-and-after my Ross Procedure.  I’m now 14 months post-op and doing very well.  However, I’m trying to understand if I have cardiac [...]

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First, Leslie Lafayette was featured on television during her robotic surgery.
Now, another one of my readers, Charles Boisvert, from Hollywood, Florida was featured on CBS news for his inspirational battle against leukemia and mitral valve disease. I thought you might like to read more about Charles’s incredible story or watch the video, so here it [...]

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I was just reading Scientific American when I came across a fascinating slide show presentation which explores the history of the artificial heart valve replacements during the past 40 years.

Cheers to Scientific America and Amber Dance (the author) for this information! To view the slide show, please click Artificial Heart Valve Replacement History Slide Show [...]

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Over the past few years, I’ve suggested that my readers consider an investment in the stock of Edwards Lifesciences. As you may know, this company, based in Irvine, California is the world’s leading heart valve replacement device manufacturer.
Edwards stock, traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: EW), has outperformed almost every other stock that [...]

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Hey everybody,
I’m curious to know…  Do you ever watch the heart valve videos that are posted in the sidebar of this web page?
I have never received any feedback about the value of these videos for patients or caregivers, so I figured I would simply ask.
If you could leave me your thoughts about these heart valve [...]

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Specific to the signs and symptoms of heart valve problems, I just received an interesting email from Donna.
Donna writes, “Adam - I was diagnosed with moderate mitral regurgitation over 5 years ago. Since then, I have annual check-ups to make sure the valve doesn’t get any worse. The strange part is that I’ve had no [...]

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I just received an interesting email from Donna about the signs and symptoms of heart valve problems.
Donna writes, “Adam - I was diagnosed with moderate mitral regurgitation over five years ago. Since then, I have annual check-ups to make sure the valve doesn’t get any worse. The strange part is that I’ve had no symptoms [...]

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Anyone interested in a patient success story that smells of 100% inspiration?
If so, read this wonderful story about Kevin Hains which addresses soooooooo many patient issues specific to heart valve surgery. Here is what Kevin wrote to me:
Adam,
I am 39-years old and had aortic valve replacement and aortic root repair surgery on October 27, 2008. [...]

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I was just reading the USA Today when I came across an article on Barbara Bush’s recovery from aortic valve replacement. The article detailed her actions as she prepared for open heart surgery.  Here are some snippets from the story:

Before her open-heart surgery last month, Barbara Bush wrote farewell letters that were to be sent [...]

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The excitement surrounding minimally invasive heart valve procedures continues to build. In addition to mini-sternotomy approaches, mini-thoracotomy techniques and robotic surgery, transcatheter technologies are being closely watched-and-monitored for clinical success.
A transcatheter solution for patients suffering from aortic valve stenosis (the narrowing of the aortic heart valve) is most likely to be of most benefit for [...]

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