robotic Mitral Valve Repair

[Sharlea]

Hi all, I am new to this forum. I had an appt. with a cardiologist in Hstn. at the Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center. They now have a valve clinic. I had a stress test on a bicylce that confirmed my dx of Barlow's syndrome, which is a type of MVP. I also have regurgitation that ranges from moderate to severe depending on my activity level. The Dr. said it is not a question of should I have surgery, but when. He recommended a MV surgeon there in Hstn who could do the robotic surgery. Has anyone out there had any experience at the Methodist Hosp. in Hstn? I do plan on setting up the surg. in the very near future. I have known that this was coming for months now, and I just want to get it behind me. I want to get to the other side of the mountain as I have heard ya'll say!!!!!
Thanks in advance for any information you can share with me.
sharlea

 

[cp172]

Hi Sharlea,

I can not help with Houston Methodist but let us know if you have other questions. Looking forward to your leaping the mountain!

 

[DarrinDNelson]

Hi all, I am new to this forum. I had an appt. with a cardiologist in Hstn. at the Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center. They now have a valve clinic. I had a stress test on a bicylce that confirmed my dx of Barlow's syndrome, which is a type of MVP. I also have regurgitation that ranges from moderate to severe depending on my activity level. The Dr. said it is not a question of should I have surgery, but when. He recommended a MV surgeon there in Hstn who could do the robotic surgery. Has anyone out there had any experience at the Methodist Hosp. in Hstn? I do plan on setting up the surg. in the very near future. I have known that this was coming for months now, and I just want to get it behind me. I want to get to the other side of the mountain as I have heard ya'll say!!!!!
Thanks in advance for any information you can share with me.
sharlea

Unfortunately, I don't have any experience with that hospital....but....

I just had my Mitral valve robotically repaired by Dr. Rakesh Suri at the Mayo Clinic. If you're willing to travel for the surgery (I did), it might be worth you at least having a phone conversation w/him. I was out of the hospital 3 days after surgery. If interested, PM me, and I'll give you his number.

 

[Bear72]

Same here. I had robotic mitral repair at the Cleveland Clinic in the very recent past. I could answer plenty of questions regarding the surgery. If you want to stay close to home in Texas, your first question needs to be how many of these robotic operations has the surgeon done? How often? I traveled past several robotic locations to get to one I knew had experience. Remember, the robot is not doing the operation, it's just a tool of the surgeon.

 

[Smedders]

I wouldn't touch this kind of surgery with a barge pole - the robots will worm their way into being accepted as surgeons and all sorts of other life-preserving jobs as a precursor to wiping us out!!

 

[Bear72]

I wouldn't touch this kind of surgery with a barge pole - the robots will worm their way into being accepted as surgeons and all sorts of other life-preserving jobs as a precursor to wiping us out!!

But you'll already be long gone before that happens.

 

[Sharlea]

The surgeon is Dr. Gerald Lawrey who did Barbara Bush's surgery. Supposedly he has years of experience with mitral valve repair and he has been doing the robotic surgery for a couple of years. He trained under Dr. DeBakey. He is highly recommended by both of my cardiologist. Right now I am waiting for his office to get back with me. So, I'll see. I had considered Cleveland Clinic, but I am only 100 miles from Hstn. and it would be so much easier for my family. I want to be 100% comfortable with my decision.
That's what I am leaning towards though.

 

[Star54]

While I do not know much about your surgery, if the surgeon was Barbara Bush's you can safely say he is a good one, and under Debakey.....I'd go with that!

 

[Eva]

Welcome aboard, Sharlea, and wish you luck.

 

[CThrock]

Hi Sharlea, Welcome to the vr forum. I have known a couple people that had the robotic surgery on their mirtal valve. They just got three or four little incisions. They also recovered faster then regular OHS. So good luck and you'll do fine. God Bless!

 

[Sharlea]

Thanks all for your warm welcome!

 

[cp172]

With the robotic surgery you will recovery faster but it is not pain free. You will have muscle and nerves cut that will result in a different pain than if you had your sternum split. The surgery can also take longer meaning you will be on the bypass machine longer. The surgeon may also decide once he starts the procedure that he will have to go with the sternum cut rather than use the robot. The bottom line is that either method is serious surgery and you need to prepare for a long recovery while hoping it is not necessary. I was in the hospital for a week because my chest would not stop bleeding. While I was back at work part time in three weeks (I have a soft desk job) it took me a year before I really felt 100%. I still have off days if I exert myself for long periods in the Georgia heat.

I chose to have the surgery done locally because I found a really good surgeon who had done a lot of MV repair jobs and being near family meant a lot. I do not think going cross country to find a surgeon is necessary unless you have unusual circumstances.