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Michael G Koziol In Aug. 97, as part of a general physical, my doctor thought he heard a murmur. In passing he said, "I'd really like you to have an echocardiogram." so I did. From those results which showed aortic valve problems, my internist put me in touch with a cardiologist. The cardiologist could not hear any murmur, wanted a chest x-ray (which I had done with the physical and showed nothing) and an angiogram. Since he heard nothing I asked for a second echo, which was done, agreed with the first so I had an angio in early December. Result: valve leaky, aortic root enlarged to 5cm. In angio recovery, the doctor called and said, he'd like me to see the thoracic surgeon and get my affairs in order. That got me angry so the next day, via a friend's wife who's a nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital I made an appointment with the head of thoracic surgery there. That Monday I brought my echo tape and angio film to the doctor at Northwestern. He spent nearly an hour explaining the angio film and agreed with the cardiologist, both saying there was a likelihood that the root could rupture in 1-2 years if nothing was done. He mentioned something called the Ross procedure which would replace my aortic root and valve with my pulmonary root and valve and I'd get a donor root and valve on the pulmonary side. I asked him how many he did in the last 6 months (9). Meanwhile I had an appointment with a thoracic surgeon as the cardiologist indicated. The surgeon said that they would put in an artificial valve and that I'd be on blood thinner for the rest of my life. I asked how many he did of those in the last year (0). That day I went to the local library to look up info on the Ross procedure on the internet. I found this homepage! Everything someone might want to know on the procedure, diagrams, stories, results, links to medical journals. So on Feb. 3, I had the ross procedure done. Dr. David Fullerton, the surgeon explained the procedure in detail and Northwestern also had a nurse call me with information on all the "nitty gritty" details of the surgery, virtually a walk thru as to what tubes, needles, etc. would be used and their removal. I was fortunate that a young woman who had the procedure was in his office and we spoke for awhile. The morning of Feb. 3 I was wheeled into pre-op and was talking to the anesthesiologist as the needles and lines were put in. I remember turning to the nurse and saying "when you gonna start?" She said, "we're done" (that was after 7 1/2 hours of surgery!). I was in post op. I had almost no pain (except for one chest tube removal), but lots of aches. I remember little and much of recovery (especially cardiac care) is a blur. I did have a bit of numbness in my right hand, which I was told should go away and was a result of the way I was laid out for the procedure. Now, 4 months later, it is virtually gone. I was walking in the hospital on the first day (I figured that on some days, in the hospital, I walked almost a total of a mile, including a stint on the stairs), home on the 7th and walking everyday since coming home for at least 3 miles a day. Back to work on March 23, and now biking 10-15 (as high as 25, tho I'm not up to the 35-40 I used to be able to do) miles and rollerblading 5-6 miles, walking 4 miles, one or the other, almost everyday. My cardiologist at Northwestern said that I sure don't need cardiac rehab. Medications were a diuretic to remove water, a vitamin to replace that which was lost, a pill to keep blood pressure down, aspirin, vicadin for pain ( I shifted to plain Tylenol early on as my sleep was disrupted on vicadin) and a pill to control heart from irregularities, all stopped and now I am on none, except for the odd Tylenol when I ache, usually after rollerblading a lot. The total cost of all of those was about $82. A home nurse visited me the first 2 days to see if I was obeying orders and how I was doing. I cannot praise the staff at Northwestern Memorial enough, from the lead surgeon to the nurses, to others on staff. Some personal particulars: I am 43 and was is good health at the time of surgery, do not smoke, weighed 180 for 5'11". Surgery helped me lose 10 lbs. (hospital food and little appetite) and thru diet and exercise I've lost about 3 more since (by choice). I would be happy to speak with anyone who is contemplating the procedure as to my experiences, either via E-mail or phone. I work and live in a suburb of Chicago: Home: 847 825 0981 and work 847 297 7800. I would recommend to anyone thinking of the procedure to read up on it, use the homepage and internet. Ask lots of questions. This was my first surgery or for that matter any other kind of medical procedure, so of a big help was the nurse telling me ALL the details of the surgery. Ask, for any procedure, how many that doctor and the hospital has done. If possible, ask nurses about the doctor and the hospital.
06/07/00 I did, however, have my third post op echocardiogram. This one did show a slight enlargement of the aortic root. The doctors however, did not indicate any concern over this. |