Heart Valve Replacement News and Info
Similar to its mitral regurgitation tool, The Cleveland Clinic just announced a new, online program to help patients and caregivers determine their need for cardiac surgery relative to aortic stenosis.
Here is a snippet from their website about the interactive, aortic stenosis tool:
“Is surgery recommended for your aortic stenosis? This interactive tool, based on the American [...]
I just received an interesting question from Frank about rheumatic heart disease and heart valve surgery.
Surgical Repair Of Mitral Valve Stenosis Due to Rheumatic Fever
Frank writes, “Hi Adam - I’m preparing for mitral valve surgery due to stenosis caused by rheumatic fever. So far, I have not come across many patients like me. I’m [...]
Joseph Minnucci has really taken advantage of our new Heart Valve Journals tool to communicate with his support group and fellow patients. That said, you may already be aware that Joe had heart valve replacement surgery on February 8, 2010.
Joseph Minnucci - Heart Valve Replacement Patient
After reading through Joe’s journals, I clicked on his photos [...]
As we have learned together, there are several strategies and tactics that patients can use to best prepare for their heart valve surgery. Specific to this point, I just received an insightful email from Sam Swerdlow about using guided imagery CDs prior to surgery. Here is what Sam wrote:
Sam Swerdlow, Heart Valve Replacement Patient, & [...]
Hi everybody,
I just received a note from the Patient Education Team at the Cleveland Clinic about a new, online tool for patients with mitral valve regurgitation. The tool is pretty neat for learning about mitral valve regurgitation, the severity of mitral regurgitation, echocardiogram results, ejection fractions, heart dilation and atrial fibrillation.
Ultimately, this new Mitral Regurgitation [...]
Are you ready for another interesting “True / False” trivia question about heart valve surgery? Okay… Is this statement true or false?
One of the first heart-lung machines used in cardiac surgery, the Dewall-Lillehei machine, cost only $15 to manufacture.
For the answer, please scroll below the picture of Richard Dewall and his artificial heart-lung machine (1955).
With [...]
I just received a great question from Heidi about heart valve disease, surgery and seniors.
She writes, “Adam - My mom, Betty, has recently been diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis. Although her murmur was detected years ago, I never thought she would need open heart surgery. She’s 68 but acts like she’s 38. No symptoms at [...]
I was just reading The Washington Post when I came across an interesting story about aortic valve replacement. In addition to discussing the recent heart valve replacements of Barbara Bush and Robin Williams, the article posted its “Top 5 Facts About Aortic Valve Replacement”.
Tissue Valve Replacement Sewn In Aortic Position
I thought you might like to [...]
I just received an email from Bob about cardiac care centers. He writes, “Adam - Do you happen to know what is the number one hospital in heart valve replacements? I have a mitral valve prolapse and I need a mitral valve replacement. I would like to know which are the best hospitals in the [...]
Ready to take a guess?
Here’s the question… How many mitral valve surgeries (including valve repair and valve replacement) are performed each year in the United States?
Any ideas?
Want some help? Okay… Here is a hint. Each year there are over 100,000 heart valve surgeries performed in the United States. (I know that wasn’t the greatest hint [...]