Joel Kaplan - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

1012 days ago

I’m 8 months post mitral valve repair by dr McCarthy and doing fine. Lucky it was caught before heart failure. Thank you all

Joel Kaplanposted an update

1148 days ago

I had mitral repair july 13. First post op echo Friday. Fear

Ginny Turner Hope you get a great report, Joel. Please update after your echo.

I'm waiting for my January mitral ... Read more

Ginny Turner Hope you get a great report, Joel. Please update after your echo.

I'm waiting for my January mitral and tricuspid repair, full sternotomy. It's encouraging to read that you didn't have terrible pain with yours. Hope my experience is the same.

Joel Kaplanposted a journal

1177 days ago

My repair was on 7/13/21. I’m suppose to stop Coumadin at 3 month mark. Looking forward to that since worry about that always on my mind. Any reason may have ...Read more

My repair was on 7/13/21. I’m suppose to stop Coumadin at 3 month mark. Looking forward to that since worry about that always on my mind. Any reason may have to be continued. I have lifescience 32 ring. Anyone with this post op treatment?

Susan Lynn Joel - I had a mitral valve repair with a Edwards Lifesciences ring. My surgeon also had me take a b ... Read more

Susan Lynn Joel - I had a mitral valve repair with a Edwards Lifesciences ring. My surgeon also had me take a blood thinner for three months. I was thrilled to be done with it - and the frequent INR testing - but, it served its purpose. It's purely precautionary, so I can't think of a reason you would have to continue. Congrats on your 3 month anniversary!

Joseph Heinzmann Struck me as odd that you just stop, as opposed to tapering off, so I asked that specifically and my ... Read more

Joseph Heinzmann Struck me as odd that you just stop, as opposed to tapering off, so I asked that specifically and my cardiologist conformed: just stop.

Probably can't sell the extras at a concert ;(

Richard Munson I think you can but you would be a drug dealer.

Richard, lol

Joel Kaplanposted an update

1192 days ago

Any benefit to routine mitral valve repair vs robotic repair?

Joseph Heinzmann Less time under anesthesia I think. I went robotic, no regrets.

Richard Munson Less incisions maybe ? Or smaller anyway

Deena Z Hi Joel, if you mean to be cut through the sternum as what "routine" means, I can tell you based on m ... Read more

Deena Z Hi Joel, if you mean to be cut through the sternum as what "routine" means, I can tell you based on my "routine" repair that robotic (or through the ribs) is a much less time consuming surgery and much faster immediate recovery. The pro of cutting through the sternum is probably that the surgeon has an incredible view of your heart and valves for repairing . I could not go through the minimally invasive/robotic surgery, because of the severe calcification on my mitral valve. Universal standard (for now) that if you have such you have to go through the sternum. Hope this helps!

Richard Munson The 3rd option what i had was minimally invasive, also thru the ribs but no robot involved.

Joel Kaplan I had sternotomy. Robotic was not offered. I was to numb and to unwell and to shocked to do any resea ... Read more

Joel Kaplan I had sternotomy. Robotic was not offered. I was to numb and to unwell and to shocked to do any research. My scar is “only” 3-4 inches. I feel I had tremendous care. I’m 2 months post op and essentially no chest/incision pain. The scar is not to bad. I’m lucky it was diagnosed before I had heart failure and could be repaired rather than replaced.

Joel Kaplan I just wanted the procedure that would give me the best chance for a good long term outcome with good ... Read more

Joel Kaplan I just wanted the procedure that would give me the best chance for a good long term outcome with good quality of life. I think that’s what happened. I just happened to get into the northwestern medicine and northwestern memorial hospital.

Richard Munson Sounds like you did ok. My scar sounds similar only a little more to my right side. With a couple of ... Read more

Richard Munson Sounds like you did ok. My scar sounds similar only a little more to my right side. With a couple of other small ones for who knows what. If you feel good, that is the main thing i guess. I never asked about robotic either. I mentioned it to my wife after surgery when i found this sight and she may have said i was the only robot in the room. Probably true. In the end, we both did the right thing by having surgery. You had symptoms, i did not.