~*~*~OPTIONS ON SURGERY~*~*~

  SOON I WILL HAVE TO HAVE MY MITRAL VALVE REPLACED.  MY FEAR IS ALL THE PAIN AND TIME I WILL HAVE TO DO AND SPEND IN THE HOSPITAL.  I'VE HEARD OF A NEW PROCEDURE WHERE THEY GO IN THE SIDE OF THE CHEST AND REPLACE THE VALVE THAT WAY,,MY DOCTOR SAID HE WOULD NOT SUGGEST THAT PROCEDURE FOR ME,,DO YOU HAVE ANYONE THERE THAT CAN DO THE PROCEDURE??  CAN YOU GIVE ME MORE INFORMATION ON THE PROCEDURE???

[CCF CARDIO MD APS]

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Dear Christi,
Not only does the Cleveland Clinic offer various approaches to mitral valve
surgery (smaller incisions, incisions placed under the breast for females, etc)
BUT more importantly we offer patients the best chance at repair and not replacement.
Use the information (the 1-800 #) below to contact the office of Dr.Smedira, Dr.Sabik, or Dr.Cosgrove
(the cardiothoracic surgeons) for a second opinion.  Of course there are always some patients who
are not candidates for repair (therefore they get an artificial valve)
or a minimally invasive approach, but you literally will never know until you inquire.
I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for
general purposes only. Only your physician can provided specific diagnoses and therapies.
Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please
call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at
www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the
cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your
cardiac problem.