"One Month Post-Op: What I Want You to Know
I’m in my mid-30s, relatively healthy, and was shocked when I found out I needed open heart surgery. Today—April 4—is the one-month anniversary of my successful, curative mitral valve repair. I’m sharing my story in hopes that it helps make heart valve surgery feel a little less scary and unknown for someone out there. I’m also here to recommend my cardiac surgeon, Dr. Joanna Chikwe, who was so amazing that I will forever be her fan.
If you take just one thing away from this: please don’t skip your annual physical. Mine uncovered severe mitral valve prolapse that could have led to imminent heart failure (the left side of my heart was already dilating). It likely saved my life.
At my routine annual wellness exam in early February, my doctor—and then my cardiologist—each heard a murmur for the first time. I had dismissed my chest tightness and shortness of breath as asthma, but an echocardiogram revealed the truth. If it had been moderate, I could’ve waited and monitored. But it was severe. Severe mitral valve prolapse can cause blood to leak backward into the lungs, strain the heart, and lead to arrhythmias or heart failure. My cardiologist sent an urgent referral to cardiac surgeon Dr. Joanna Chikwe, and within 30 minutes of the diagnosis, I got a call from Dr. Chikwe’s highly competent, compassionate, professional, warm, and overall beyond amazing team. They were moving faster than I thought the health system could move—surgery could be as soon as the following week.
Exactly one week later, I underwent robotic open heart surgery at Cedars-Sinai. This minimally invasive approach uses small incisions between the ribs and avoids sawing through the breastbone, which typically means fewer complications, faster recovery, and smaller scars. My incredible surgeon and her team made it happen—squeezing me in for a CT angio scan that normally takes months to schedule, fast-tracking pre-op appointments, and even helping me resolve a last-minute insurance lapse due to a COBRA admin issue. They moved mountains. Every appointment was professional and streamlined and handled in the Cedars Sinai system without any glitches. Not only did Dr. Chikwe come highly recommended by my cardiologist, as a “world expert” in my kind of surgery, and she had so much experience that the risk of complications was close to nil, but her bedside manner was superb. After surgery, she personally checked on me every single day, and at my last post-op appointment, I was expecting to meet with her resident, but she and her nurse practitioner met me together, and she seemed truly curious about how I was feeling and absolutely delighted with the perfect outcome.
In the week leading up to surgery, I was extremely anxious and sought emotional support from my village. What weighed on me was whether this surgery was medically necessary and what alternatives there might be. My dear college friend who is a doctor put me in touch with her friend who is an interventional cardiologist, and he thought that given my facts, this was the right and only possible next step. My grandfather who had a leaky valve did not have the benefit of a repair like this and experienced a cascade of adverse health effects in the last decade of his life. My uncle who had a valve replacement reassured me that the science and technology are so good now that his recovery was as smooth as could be. A mentor who had gone through surgery told me that once it was done, I’d be able to put the whole heart valve condition in the rearview mirror. I reached out to friends who supported me by sharing their own families’ positive experiences with heart surgery. What clinched it was when Dr. Chikwe’s nurse practitioner shared that Dr. Chikwe would not be willing to perform this kind of surgery on anyone who might want it, if their condition did not call for it; the fact that she would turn folks away, backed up the seriousness of my condition, and I was convinced. On operation day, a surgical resident reassured me: “If you wake up in the cardiac ICU, everything went well.” And that’s exactly what happened. I fell asleep with anesthesia and woke up lucid in the ICU.
Before surgery, all I received was an IV in my arm and a nerve block in my shoulder. The chest tubes, larger IVs, and incisions were done after I was out. My valve was repaired, not replaced, which is typically preferred when possible, since it preserves the natural valve and doesn’t require lifelong blood thinners.
Post-op pain—mostly on my right side—was intense at first. It hurt to breathe. But once the chest tubes were removed (yanked out with finesse), the pain quickly subsided. I did take oxycodone during my hospital stay and intermittently for a week afterward, mostly at night—it helped me stay comfortable enough to heal.
I was discharged Friday, just three days post-op. At home, I felt better every day. Two weeks later, most of the pain had subsided. Three weeks later, I felt back to normal. Now, just four weeks later, I feel better than I’ve felt in years. I walked up a steep hill the other day with no shortness of breath or chest tightness—something I hadn’t experienced in a long time.
I’m not back at CrossFit yet and still avoiding heavy lifting. I didn’t need formal cardiac rehab, but I was encouraged to walk daily and listen to my body—small walks in my home became longer ones in my neighborhood. Showering, sleeping, and weaning off pain meds all happened gradually over the first two weeks; in fact, I was able to shower on my first day home from the hospital. I’ve been cleared to resume most normal activities, and I’m moving with care and filled with gratitude—I’m so thankful to be here."
-- Janice Dow, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, 03/04/2025
"When I first learned that I needed robotic-assisted mitral valve repair, I was naturally apprehensive. However, choosing Dr. Joanna Chikwe and her team at Cedars-Sinai turned what could have been a daunting experience into one of confidence, reassurance, and an incredibly smooth recovery.
Because the surgery was minimally invasive, several small incisions were made in my right chest area, allowing the robotic arms to access my heart without the need to go through my sternum. This technique not only resulted in a successful procedure but also significantly eased my recovery.
The anesthesia was gentle and effective, and the operating room staff was kind and patient. Even waking up from surgery—something I had been anxious about—was far more comfortable than I had expected. While the breathing tube was initially uncomfortable, the doctors and nurses did everything they could to minimize any discomfort.
To my surprise, I experienced little to no pain immediately after surgery. Dr. Chikwe’s team and the ICU staff were incredibly attentive, ensuring I remained as comfortable as possible. I was honestly shocked at how good I felt just hours after heart surgery.
At two months post-surgery, I am already at 85% recovery. My progress has been remarkable:
• Three days in the ICU, followed by one day in general recovery before heading home.
• Minimal pain throughout recovery.
• 80% of my normal activities within a few weeks.
• Walking my dogs and doing light activities within days of discharge.
• Back to nearly all pre-surgery activities within a month.
• Full recovery expected in 4-6 months.
I cannot say enough about Dr. Chikwe. From our very first meeting, she was warm, patient, and generous with her time. She carefully answered all my questions and put me at ease before surgery. She checked on me every single day in the ICU, ensuring I was recovering well and addressing any concerns I had. It is rare to find a surgeon who is not only at the very top of her field but also deeply compassionate and dedicated to her patients.
I was initially referred to Dr. Chikwe by my cardiologist, and after consulting with both her and another surgeon, the choice became clear. She is a leader in robotic-assisted cardiac surgery, and her expertise is matched only by her kindness. If I had to go through this again, I would choose her in a heartbeat.
For anyone facing heart surgery, I understand how overwhelming it can feel. But with modern advancements and a world-class surgical team, the process can be far smoother than you might expect. My surgery was necessary but not an emergency, and I am grateful I chose to move forward sooner rather than later. The experience could not have been better—and that is entirely thanks to Dr. Chikwe, her team, and the outstanding care at Cedars-Sinai.
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-- David Booher, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 01/09/2025
"When I first received my diagnosis of moderate-severe mitral regurgitation, I knew that surgery was inevitable. The thought of undergoing heart surgery was daunting, but learning that I was a candidate for robotic-assisted mitral valve repair via right Mini thoracotomy actually made me feel a bit more at ease. My journey ultimately led me to Dr. Joanna Chikwe at Cedars-Sinai, and for that, I am incredibly grateful.
From the moment I arrived for surgery, I was met with kindness and reassurance. Every member of the team took the time to listen to my concerns, especially my anxiety about the operating room experience. Their compassion made all the difference. In fact, once I was in the OR, I remember nothing at all—a testament to their expertise in making the process as smooth and stress-free as possible.
A key part of this incredible experience was Vivian, who is a tremendous asset to the program. She is not only highly efficient and knowledgeable but also incredibly friendly and kind. Throughout the entire process, she helped put me at ease, making a nerve-wracking experience feel much more manageable. Given her role as a primary point of contact for Dr. Chikwe, it’s clear that she plays a crucial role in the program’s success.
Beyond the surgical team, the entire care staff—including the ICU nurses, floor nurses, and CNAs—were outstanding. They were so attentive and kind, providing exactly the level of care and support I needed during some of the most vulnerable moments of my life. Their compassion and dedication made a significant impact on my recovery experience.
The first few days post-surgery were challenging, to say the least. Pain, discomfort, weakness, and what felt like tubes everywhere made recovery difficult. Due to my intolerance for stronger pain medications, I relied on IV Tylenol and Lidocaine patches, which provided some relief. While the incision site pain lingered for weeks, it has gradually improved.
At my one-week post-op visit, I received the best news possible: the surgery was a complete success! My heart was already showing signs of reversal from enlargement, my mitral regurgitation was corrected, my PVCs had decreased, and my lungs were clear. Just two weeks after surgery, I was able to walk longer distances comfortably, and now, seven weeks post-op, I am almost back to my normal pace and activity level. While I still experience occasional palpitations and chest tightness, my cardiologist assures me that my recovery is on track.
I cannot say enough about Dr. Joanna Chikwe. She is not only a world-class surgeon but also an incredible human being—knowledgeable, experienced, confident without arrogance, and genuinely kind. She exudes a level of confidence that makes her patients feel safe and assured that they are in the best hands. She is truly a national treasure.
My journey to Cedars-Sinai and Dr. Chikwe began through the Virtual Second Opinion program, and I am so glad I took that step. If there’s one piece of advice, I would give to anyone facing heart valve surgery, it’s this: Get a second opinion—unless your first opinion comes from one of the best, like Dr. Chikwe. A more experienced surgeon can make all the difference in your outcome.
Overall, my recovery has been positive, and I know that the best is yet to come. I still have milestones ahead—medication adjustments, cardiac rehab—but I am confident that, in time, I will not only regain my strength but surpass my pre-surgery health.
Without hesitation, I highly recommend Dr. Chikwe and her team at Cedars-Sinai. If you or a loved one is facing heart valve surgery, look no further—you deserve the best."
-- Maria Dondero, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 01/07/2025
"Mine is a story of self-advocacy. It is a story of two diagnoses, two doctors, and one simple surgical solution that took me to a better place. I knew of my two diagnoses from diligently following up with doctors over the years. I had also done my homework on the internet and by talking with friends and clients I trust. Research would add a layer of understanding that transformed my experience. And as soon as I was aware that I had both an aortic aneurysm and an aortic valve that needed to be replaced — I knew that as long as my aneurysm didn’t require immediate surgery — that I wanted to have my aortic valve replaced without a sternotomy, which means having my sternum cut open and my ribs spread apart. A minimally invasive procedure called a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) makes this possible.
With a TAVR, a small incision is made in the groin enabling the surgeon to run a catheter through my femoral artery and up through the blood vessel in the center of my body — where it can then be guided into place in my heart. Having an aortic heart valve replaced this way takes just over an hour and leaves no postoperative discomfort other than the healing of the small incision in the groin. The sternotomy required by fully open surgery means a sore chest from a cut and separated sternum sometimes results in broken ribs. I had experienced broken ribs from a motorcycle accident years ago, and I didn’t want to repeat the experience of pain with every laugh and cough. The TAVR procedure would make this faster and less uncomfortable recovery possible. Having my aortic valve replaced this way became my goal.
Unfortunately, in my case, arranging for a TAVR wasn’t as easy as I had thought. My cardiologist was great, and promised to send my charts to any surgeon that could perform my procedure. But when I consulted with surgeons at another institution, I was told that I would not qualify for a TAVR due to the shape of my heart and the severity of the calcification of my valve. This calcification is known as aortic stenosis, and they also told me that it would intensify my risk of having a stroke during the procedure. Another warning was that there might be risks from the anesthesia, which seemed odd, because TAVR’s are now so common. For this reason, the other institution said that I would have to have a traditional SAVR, or Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement. I immediately found myself in the “TAVR versus SAVR” debate. But as a CPA with 1000 clients, it was easy for me to find ten who had had TAVR’s. All of them spoke highly of the procedure and handled the anesthesia without incident. The objections being raised by the other institution seemed manipulative and contrived. This is when my self-advocacy kicked into high gear, and I decided that it was time for a second opinion.
All the homework I had done online told me where to go, and the place to go is to Cedars-Sinai and to Dr. Joanna Chikwe, the Director of Cardiac Surgery. Consulting with Dr. Chikwe was a breath of fresh air. She took an entire hour with me to review my diagnosis in detail. Dr. Chikwe has a wonderful patient manner. She is very calming and knowledgeable, putting patients at-ease with her kindness and vast knowledge — which she then shares with great understanding for her patients’ concerns. Prior to meeting with Dr. Chikwe, I had had an MRI and CAT scan at the prior institution. She reviewed both and was able to explain them to me in detail. Dr. Chikwe felt that I could, indeed, be a candidate for a TAVR. She also concluded that my aortic aneurysm, which at 4.5 cm was still half a centimeter below the 5 cm threshold for surgery - could be controlled without immediate surgery through blood pressure medications. This process is called medical management, and its effectiveness must be continuously monitored with daily blood pressure checks and scans every three to six months to ensure that the aneurysm has remained below the 5 cm threshold.
With my aneurysm at a non-surgical point for now, Dr. Chikwe was able to address my aortic valve. She did feel that I was indeed a candidate for TAVR, and she then referred me to Dr. Mamoo Nakamura, an interventional cardiologist specializing in TAVR. My consultation with Dr. Mamoo Nakamura was also a reassuring and calming experience. Dr. Nakamura reviewed my prior scans and also assured me that the minimally invasive TAVR was an absolutely workable solution for me. He also assured me that it was perfectly fine to schedule my procedure in November so that I could take care of over 300 clients with tax filing deadlines. And the timing worked out well with how I had felt. Up until then, I had been asymptomatic. It wasn’t until about two weeks prior to my surgery that I started to feel sluggish, which was perhaps the result of my defective aortic valve not enabling enough oxygenated blood out into my body. It was clear that the time for my surgery had arrived.
When the day of my TAVR came, everything seemed so quick and easy. The entire procedure of replacing my aortic valve with the catheter through my groin took just one hour and fifteen minutes. As I awoke, the nurse asked me how I felt. “I’m ready to play five rounds of rugby,” I joked. I went home the very next day with no sternotomy. My surgery was on Thursday. I was home on Friday. And by Monday, I was already working half days. Within a week, I was out walking around again and going about my normal life. And the few discomforts were relatively minor in comparison what they might have been with fully open surgery. While at first I felt great, there were a few days after the surgery where I felt a bit uncomfortable with the steristrips over my groin incision. But they stayed on in the shower and felt better within days. There was also some bruising on my right side. The nurses said this was normal and that it would also go away within a week, and it did.
Throughout my experience with both Drs. Chikwe and Nakamura, I was constantly supported by their care and scheduling teams. When I first called Dr. Chikwe, her scheduler, Mary, and her nurse practitioner, Vivian, were both incredibly kind and helpful. And Dr. Nakamura’s nurse practitioner, Katherine Brow was just great as she helped me during my surgery and office visits. Dr. Nakamura’s scheduler, Auz, was simply terrific as she called me frequently to check on me. The pride that this team takes in their work really shows - and truly helped me as a patient.
It has now been almost three months since my TAVR. The experience of the surgery itself seems just as minimal as the term “minimally invasive” would imply. Looking back at this point, there isn’t much to say about the actual surgery and that’s the entire beauty of it. My valve was replaced quickly and efficiently with a TAVR and with relatively little discomfort. I was back to my normal routine within days. My new valve works, and I feel as energetic as ever.
But what does stand out in my mind now is what I learned through my own self-advocacy and self-care experiences. I started this entire journey with two diagnoses – one for my aortic valve, and one for my aneurysm. My new valve will last fifteen to sixteen years before needing to be replaced again. As for my aneurysm, I will need to make every effort to medically manage my blood pressure with medications and report for regular scans.
As a self-advocate, I am so glad that I sought a second opinion at Cedars-Sinai with Dr. Chikwe and Dr. Nakamura. I have already recommended both surgeons five times to friends and clients for their own heart care needs. My experience has left me feeling that Cedars-Sinai is the only place to go in Los Angeles for heart surgery. My fifty-year career as a leading CPA and accounting instructor at the college level has taught me to be savvy in reading how behavioral clues relate to competence. As an observer of people — that means that the stubborn hubris unfurled upon me by the rival institution in insisting that a sternotomy was my only option merely turned me off and drove me to seek answers elsewhere. When online research told me that Cedars and Dr. Chikwe was the right “elsewhere” to seek answers with, it was their gentle and straightforward delivery of the honest truth that impressed me immediately and won me over.
Dr. Chikwe and Dr. Nakamura are truly in it just for their patients and are not emboldened by excessive pride in their program or the desire for more profitable, fully invasive procedures when minimally invasive options truly can work. Dr. Chikwe and Dr. Nakamura will do whatever they can to make minimally invasive surgery available for their patients whenever the patient’s diagnostics show that it is possible. The esprit de corps of their entire care teams – their nurses and their schedulers – make an entire culture of their caring and gentle ways. I approached my diagnoses for my aortic valve and aneurysm wanting a minimally invasive solution if it could be done.
Dr. Chikwe and Dr. Nakamura took the time with me to show me that in my case, a TAVR really was possible for my valve, and that medical management for my aneurysm is a good strategy moving forward. In so doing, they gave me a good plan for my future and got me where I want to be with as little discomfort as possible. I arrived in this satisfied place because I found two great surgeons. Doing my homework and advocating for myself really did pay off."
-- Ernest Howard, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, Transcatheter, 11/07/2024
"I used to be a nurse, myself, and so I have learned what matters. My knowledge of medicine was forged in Ukraine during the days of the old Soviet Union - when supply and staff shortages forced my nursing colleagues and I to use every ounce of medical knowledge available to solve problems for patients. Simply put – my fellow nurses and I became very good at understanding medicine. And so, I approached my search for the right surgeon with my eyes wide open. I knew what to look for.
Not unlike others with heart issues, when I was diagnosed with AFib, it led to the diagnosis of my mitral valve problem. During my cardioversion to treat my AFib, the cardiologist found evidence of severe mitral regurgitation – or blood flowing backwards from my mitral valve. This condition is known as Congestive Heart Failure. Fortunately, my condition was caught early while the symptoms of feeling short of breath upon exertion and occasionally lightheaded were still slight. I was very fortunate to have been diagnosed at this early stage before my shortness of breath became more severe. With my symptoms and diagnosis, I immediately called the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai to schedule my consultation for possible surgery. Like many mitral patients, I began with Dr. Joanna Chikwe, one of the world’s great mitral surgeons. Dr. Chikwe performs her own form of minimally invasive mitral surgery using a robot through a small, inch-long slot between the ribs. But perhaps because of my vivid imagination, I wanted something even less invasive than that. And so, I was extremely grateful to Dr. Chikwe when she said that I met the qualifications for transcatheter surgery - the least invasive surgery of all - and she then referred me to Dr. Mamoo Nakamura. When the referral to Dr. Nakamura came, I did some online research and what I read was great. My cardiologist also recommended him highly.
My consultation and treatment with Dr. Nakamura was wonderful. Dr. Nakamura was extremely friendly as he explained that he was just going to make a small incision in my groin to slide a catheter up to my heart where he would place a MitraClip to repair the loose leaflets back together. Also known as a TEER procedure, this repair of my mitral valve would enable me to breathe better upon exertion and ward off the occasional spells of lightheadedness. And when my procedure day came, it all went so smoothly. As the anesthesia wore off, Dr. Nakamura came to visit me in recovery and later in my room during my one-night stay in the hospital. Throughout his visits with me, Dr. Nakamura was constantly kind and comforting. His nurse practitioner, Katherine, was also exceptionally good in caring for me and was so pleasant and supportive. And much to my surprise, I had no pain in my groin and no post-operative soreness.
During his treatment of me, Dr. Nakamura also discovered that I have mild regurgitation of my tricuspid valve, and that this valve problem could also lead to shortness of breath and episodes of lightheadedness. Because of the tricuspid issue, some mild shortness of breath does remain upon exertion. Dr. Nakamura said that we will continue to keep an eye on my tricuspid valve to see if it needs to be repaired, as well. But for now, my MitraClip has restored the flow of blood through my mitral valve, and I am able to both breathe and sleep much better with my repaired mitral valve. I no longer need an additional pillow to get me through the night.
During my follow up visit after my TEER procedure with Dr. Nakamura, he was very disappointed when he noticed that I still have AFib. He told me that my cardiologist and electrophysiologist should do everything they can to fix my AFib episodes as soon as possible because my Afib is damaging my tricuspid valve, as well. After a second cardioversion and a prescription of amiodarone, my recovery from AFib has shown some progress, and my EKG shows improved sinus rhythm. However, as my AFib does persist, and Dr. Nakamura is suggesting that I consider having an electrophysiologist perform an even more advanced transcatheter procedure called an ablation. Unlike a cardioversion which attempts to reset the heart’s normal rhythm with a shock, an ablation takes the additional step of destroying the tissues that are the underlying cause. Meanwhile, I continue to medically manage my Afib by taking amiodarone.
Moving ahead, we will need to keep an eye on my tricuspid valve to see if it will need surgery, as some shortness of breath does remain. And my AFib will need to be continuously monitored. But my treatment with Dr. Nakamura has led to a clearer understanding of what the issues are with my heart and what my options are for treatment. Dr. Nakamura and the entire Cedars staff are just wonderful. When the questionnaire came, I wrote that Dr. Nakamura is the greatest and the rest of the Cedars team is great, too. The girl who scheduled my appointments and my follow up with Dr. Nakamura was really fast and staid right on top of everything. When I showed my results to my cardiologist, Dr. Goodman, he looked at me and said, “Dr. Nakamura is the best!” And I couldn’t agree more. I am really happy that I had my mitral valve repaired and so glad that I did it with Dr. Nakamura. And if the time does come to repair my tricuspid valve in the future – I already know that Dr. Nakamura is the first person I’m going to call to see if I qualify for another transcatheter procedure! "
-- Lyubov Zagrebelskaya, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, MitraClip, 10/17/2024
"I was aware I had mitral valve prolapse for over a decade when it was discovered that my mitral regurgitation had progressed from moderate to severe during a routine echocardiogram in August 2024. Thanks to the steady guidance of my cardiologist, Dr. Raj Khandwalla, I had a very thorough work-up. To my surprise, a TEE revealed that I had Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Further diagnostic testing indicated that surgery would most likely be needed, and I was referred to Dr. Chikwe at Cedars-Sinai.
From our first meeting through the post-up period, Dr. Chikwe displayed just the right combination of confidence, compassion, and grace. I was fortunate that Dr. Chikwe was able to repair rather than replace my mitral valve, and performed a septal myectomy to treat my HOCM by using a minimally-invasive robotic approach. My surgery started at 8am. Thirteen hours later Dr. Chikwe was at my bedside in the ICU to check up on me. Her dedication and expertise made me feel safe and cared for. I’ll always be grateful to Dr. Chikwe for what she did for me.
Special thanks to Vivian Burkhart, NP for being the perfect guide for this challenging journey. Vivian was welcoming, an expert on all things related to my care, and returned phone calls faster than lightening. Many thanks to Dr. Chikwe’s outstanding team of Derrick Tam, MD, Jad Malas, MD, and Anne De la Cruz, NP for their hard work and taking such good care of me.
After working at Cedars-Sinai for 30 years, I am so appreciative to have received the outstanding care Cedars is so well-known for. Every person I encountered was knowledgeable, experienced, and compassionate.
I would also like to thank Adam Pick for creating, developing, and maintaining HeartValveSurgery.com. The educational videos were incredibly valuable in learning about my mitral valve disease and in preparing me for this experience.
Since my surgery in October 2024, I’ve had an excellent recovery. I’m back to taking daily 2-mile hikes with my husband and enjoying retirement. I’m so thankful this was something that could be repaired and allow me to return to my daily activities."
-- Delia Vogel, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, Mini-Thoracotomy / Port Access, 10/02/2024
"In 2000, I was diagnosed with a heart murmur that progressively worsened over the years, eventually leading to a diagnosis of prolapsed mitral valve with regurgitation. This diagnosis was confirmed in Santa Barbara, where I was advised to undergo surgery soon, despite having no prior baseline medical records. Faced with such a daunting diagnosis, I immediately began researching my options, as I knew I didn’t want to have the surgery in my hometown of Santa Maria.
Through extensive research and YouTube videos, I came across talks by Dr. Joanna Chikwe.
Her expertise and vast knowledge in robotic mitral valve repairs stood out to me, and her calm and reassuring delivery in these videos brought me comfort during a stressful time. When I finally met her, my expectations were not only met but exceeded. She walked me through the entire process, describing the surgical team as a “pit crew,” each member playing a vital role in ensuring my recovery. Her confidence and clarity reassured me that I was in the best hands.
On the day of my surgery, I was understandably nervous, but Dr. Chikwe’s calm demeanor immediately put me at ease. The procedure went exceptionally well. With proper medication, I experienced no pain and could already feel the improvement in my heart’s function. Dr. Chikwe and her team, including Vivian, were phenomenal throughout the process, providing unparalleled care and support.
Even my wife was deeply impressed by the compassionate care she received as part of my support system. She was escorted to the 5th floor, where she could monitor my surgical progress through TV displays—an experience she described as being “like the boarding screens at the airport,” which brought her great peace of mind.
After my surgery, she was allowed to join me in the ICU, which was a truly remarkable experience. “The efficiency and level of care is exactly what you’d expect from a top hospital like Cedars-Sinai. Thank you to the entire team!”
Three weeks after surgery, I felt well enough to return to work in my shop, repairing cars. By the six-week mark, I was entirely pain-free. I cannot recommend Dr. Chikwe and the Cedars-Sinai team highly enough. Her expertise, compassionate approach, and the seamless coordination of her team made this life-changing experience as smooth as possible.
If you’re facing similar circumstances, don’t hesitate—Dr. Chikwe is truly top-notch. A perfect 10/10 experience!"
-- Duane Hammonds, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 10/01/2024
"I went through the whole thing without my family. And it took 37 years to get there. In 1987, during a visit to a specialist for a completely unrelated issue, a clicking sound in my heart was discovered. I was living in the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC at the time, so I went directly to Georgetown Medical Center where I was told that I had mitral valve prolapse, a condition where the mitral valve does not close properly upon beating, causing some of the blood to flow backwards – meaning that the heart will fail in its work in proportion to the amount of the backflow. Over the decades that followed until I finally had surgery in 2024, I remained steadfastly committed to seeking treatment in academic medicine. I wanted to be treated in hospitals where the doctors are professors that teach other doctors their specialties, and where the most cutting-edge research and treatments are also available. As my husband and I moved on to Los Gatos in the San Francisco Bay Area, my cardiologist was a faculty member at Stanford. When we then moved down to San Diego, UCSD offered its distinguished faculty, where my cardiologist of twenty years became Dr. Daniel Blanchard, a highly regarded internist and Professor of Medicine. During my two decades with Dr. Blanchard, he monitored my heart diligently, and a thorough understanding of my heart and its issues was developed. Over the decades following my initial diagnosis in 1987, I would have ablations to my heart in 1997, 2007, and 2019 to help control an irregular heartbeat known as sinus ventricular tachycardia (SVT). Repeated ultrasounds to follow my mitral regurgitation also revealed that I had a patent foramen ovale, a hole between the upper chambers of the heart that we are all born with, but that failed to close for me at birth as it does for most other people.
When, after 37 years, the ultrasound determined that the time had finally come for my mitral valve surgery, Dr. Blanchard said that I should talk to different surgeons. All the local surgeons that I consulted wanted to do a fully open procedure to replace my mitral valve and repair my patent foramen ovale. But I had done my homework, and reading had taught me that repairing a mitral valve is actually more effective than replacing it. And I also learned that less invasive surgeries are available short of having one’s sternum cut in half and ribs cracked open. It was then that Dr. Blanchard took out a piece of paper and wrote down the name “Dr. Joanna Chikwe” – and that was the piece of paper that got me on the right track and changed everything.
Dr. Chikwe, the Internet would further inform me, is highly regarded throughout the global cardiac surgery community as a leader in mitral repair. As a widely published Professor of Surgery trained at Oxford, teaching during her first years at top hospitals in New York, and now Professor and Chair of Cardiac Surgery at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles — Dr. Chikwe was the perfect fit for my desire to find treatment in academic medicine. It was her landmark research as a part of an NIH funded study that concluded that repairing a mitral valve is more effective than replacing it. And Dr. Chikwe is also a leader in robotic mitral surgery, where a robot arm is inserted into the chest cavity through a small, inch-long incision between the ribs – completely sparing the lucky patient from having her sternum cracked open and ribs spread apart. And the robot could also be used to repair the hole in between the chambers of my heart by suturing it closed. Dr. Chikwe was the answer I was looking for!
Dr. Blanchard’s decision that it was time for surgery came in December 2023. Then, suddenly, an unexpected bout with COVID forced a delay until July 2024. But as soon as I was ready, Dr. Chikwe’s team went right to work. Her scheduler, Mary, brought me in for a consult quickly. And her nurse practitioner, Vivian, immediately let me know which diagnostics would be needed. It was through Vivian that I had my first sense of the true magic of the care experience with Dr. Chikwe’s team. Throughout the months, whenever I had a question, I had a direct line to Vivian Burkhart. She answered almost instantly and was always so upbeat that it was infectious and reassuring. Vivian would keep me going whenever I felt like I had hit a wall for getting a test done. She is like glue. She keeps the whole thing together and going. Vivian even calls after hours on evenings and weekend. When I would leave a message, Vivian would often get back to me within ten minutes. At first, we were missing a CT scan and ultrasound, so they were immediately obtained in San Diego, formatted on a CD, and then sent straight to Vivian. As I explored minimally invasive options with Dr. Chikwe, I asked her if I would be eligible for a MitraClip, an even less invasive procedure where the valve is repaired using a catheter inserted through the groin. But it turns out that the repair results are better with the robot, and since I wasn’t sick enough to qualify for the MitraClip, it was much more to my advantage to go with the robotic approach with the better statistical outcomes. And Dr. Chikwe assured me that she would insert a ring around the mitral valve to make it easier to have the clip in another ten to fifteen years when I might have aged into a more vulnerable category and be deemed eligible for it.
When the day of my surgery did come, it seemed that things moved so quickly. I arrived for my surgery on a Wednesday morning and was sent home to finish my recovery the following Monday. I was up and walking by that weekend. The Saperstein Critical Care Tower at Cedars has attractive, streamlined architecture. A rather spectacular stacked deck of glass bridges links the ICU tower with the main hospital on each floor and offers magnificent views of the city and the Hollywood Hills. Taking conditioning walks across the glass bridge is a long-standing ritual of patients recovering from surgery at Cedars. As I think back, I remember how far it seemed to cross that bridge during my recovery. But I pushed through, and I made it. When I got home, I recovered quietly. I did not feel the need for pain meds. Tylenol was sufficient to keep any discomfort from my small incision under control. The physical therapy people have also been extremely helpful in guiding me back to my normal activities. I monitor my own vitals. My blood pressure has been near perfect at 114/75. My only challenge has been a high heart rate. I’ve reached 124 on the treadmill, 100 while sitting, and 90 while at rest. But my resting heart rate for my age should be 74 beats per minute. Vivian assures me that a high heart rate, known as sinus tachycardia, is a normal post-operative complication, and that it will go down on its own over time. So far, with my heart rate gradually reducing, that does appear to be the case.
Every so often, there are patients that must go through surgery without a family. But what may make my experience stand out is that I do have a spouse, siblings, and relatives - and yet I chose to go through surgery without them. Many patients choose to be surrounded by their families throughout their entire care processes. But as I considered the role of my family, I only considered having my sister care for me. And when she was unable to make it - I just decided to go it alone. When I thought of having my husband and relatives surrounding me in the hospital, all I could envision was that I would feel obligated to host them. And I just wanted to rest in my hospital bed, focus on working with the doctors and nurses on the advice they gave, and center my entire energy on taking charge of my recovery. Then I could go home fully in control and continue getting back to normal there. So, with my husband getting older, I just said to him, “honey, I want you to stay home and take care of the house and the cat.” For I was determined that with the support of Dr. Chikwe and her staff – that I could take care of me.
Taking this on without my family meant that I had to place my faith in my entire surgery and recovery process with the doctors, nurses, and Cedars staff. And I recognized right away that I was in the best of hands. I had the best feeling about the team in the Cedars ICU and Six North. They became my family for my surgery experience. The surgery team including Dr. Chikwe, Vivian Burkhart, Dr. Tam, and their Physicians Assistant, Paula Anguiano, looked after me constantly. Paula was especially amazing, as she checked on me constantly. Paula even helped me to arrange my transportation home to San Diego. And throughout all the stages of my care, Dr. Chikwe’s scheduler, Mary Alvarado, was always on top of every appointment and the diagnostic test results required to build my chart. The Cedars-Sinai nurses seemed like a cast of dozens and there were far too many to remember them all. But I would love to recall just a few of their many names to share my gratitude. In the ICU, I was under the constant care of wonderful nurses including Hanna Haywood, Stephanie Shaw, Amy Trinidad, Michael Ngo, Tomoaki Takatsu, Salina McNeil, Peter Wu, Jacqueline Han; and Nurse Practitioner Grace Lomibao. As the care team in the ICU got me through the first days of my recovery, I was then transferred to the main hospital floor on Six North, where fabulous nurses like Denise Sarmiento, Lito Alba, Yessica Franco, Adele Cabuhat, Priscilla Wilson, and Jessica Bergman were my constant strength and support as they guided me along my path towards being able to go home. And in both the ICU and the main hospital floor, my amazing physical therapists – Billy Villao (ICU) and Suzanne Seidel (6 North) – patiently coaxed me along as they helped me regain my ability to walk and take control of my full range of motor functions. The nurses then followed the lead of the physical therapists and helped make my exercises a part of my daily care. Even when I would doubt my abilities, they would give me a nudge and the next thing I knew I was up and walking. I owe my ability to walk as soon as I did to their constant attention and care.
Of course, there are all the big things that nurses do for patients, but there are also the little things. My love for the ICU staff is warmed by my memory of a nurse braiding my hair as I was coming out of anesthesia so it wouldn’t get in the way. Ironically, another offered me a chair for visiting family that I could turn down because I would not need it. But it’s the thought that counts. Looking back, I find it moving that I was able to go through heart surgery without my family and focus my entire experience upon Dr. Chikwe and the care staff. And I am actually glad that I was alone without my family. I am touched by how much the care team was able to do for me on both a physical and emotional level, and in so doing – became like a surrogate family for me focused entirely upon my needs. If any patient is out there and worried about going through heart surgery without family, my message to you is that if you go to Cedars for your heart surgery – worry not. Great care takers can also create a sense of family for a patient. And Dr. Chikwe and her Cedars team does!
My overall impression is that there is a special vibe and magic about Cedars-Sinai and its staff. Everyone on the staff seems so happy to be there. The care team members of doctors and nurses love what they are doing and love who they are doing it with. And they love their patients. Perhaps this is the heart of the magic that makes Cedars caretakers the very definition of professionalism, kindness, and humor. I cannot recommend Dr. Chikwe and her team highly enough. Black Mountain is the highest peak near my home in North San Diego County. If I could find a way to sing the praises of Dr. Chikwe from the summit of Black Mountain, I would surely do it. From a medical standpoint, Dr. Chikwe leaves me wishing that more surgeons would focus upon mitral repair and robotic surgeries. And from a human standpoint, I wish that more hospitals could create the spirit of care that I found with Dr. Chikwe and her team at Cedars. So, if it’s not too much of a pun, I have to say that I will forever have a special place in my heart for Cedars Sinai!"
-- Constance Malin, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, Mini-Thoracotomy / Port Access, 09/25/2024
"Having to choose between diminished physical abilities or a longer and healthier lifespan isn't exactly a third-world issue, and I am grateful to live when and where being able to make that choice is possible. I've recently learned it is also possible for some to be more selective in choosing who to help with that decision, and how to go about achieving their goal to make that choice.
Being careful not to take my good fortune for granted, I researched some options with which to repair my floppy old mitral valve. My wife had already convinced me that the recovery from such surgery is nearly as important as the repair’s chances for success. So calculating the factors important to me, I determined that Dr. Joanna Chikwe was the best choice to perform my valve job. She would utilize the da Vinci surgical system within the world class facilities at Cedars-Sinai in Beverly Hills, a confidence-inspiring combination to be sure. But to meet the doctor and her team (for example Vivian Burkhart) in person made my decision absolute.
Now five months after that mitral valve repair, it is difficult to think of those people without feeling strong emotions… seeing their faces, feeling their grace. I will be forever grateful to remember my own good fortune in finding Dr. Chikwe, and her will to utilize her amazing talents to care for someone like me."
-- Christopher Carmichael, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, 08/06/2024
"Dr. Chikwe is an amazing surgeon, person and I highly recommend her to anyone having mitral valve prolapse robotically assisted heart surgery. Her thoughtful manner and ability to listen to you as a patient and value your experience is hard to match with any other surgeon not to mention her vast experience with over 2,000 mitral valve surgeries completed.
She is the best of the best out there. I would feel comfortable recommending her to anyone who needs a well trained and thoughtful and experienced surgeon. She is also a real team player and all of these make her a truly gifted surgeon."
-- Linda Ross, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 06/25/2024
"I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the exceptional care I received during my recent surgery and recovery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
I am pleased to share that my recovery is going well, and I’ve been able to resume my work as a trial attorney. Since my surgery on June 18, I’ve successfully handled two murder cases and feel stronger each day. In addition, I’ve recommitted to my fitness routine, incorporating treadmill, elliptical, Peloton bike sessions, and resistance training with Tonal at least three times a week.
A special thanks to Dr. Chikwe for her unparalleled expertise and unwavering support throughout this journey. Her dedication to patient care is truly remarkable, and I’m immensely grateful to have had her and the entire Cedars-Sinai team by my side.
Thank you once again for everything!
"
-- Osvaldo Fumo, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 06/18/2024
"Life was becoming challenging. For two years, I had fluid in my lungs, difficulty breathing, and fatigue. I could get winded just walking up a flight of stairs. I had a list of things to work on in the house that I couldn’t get to during those two years. But I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I thought it might be asthma, or even my age, which is just 52.
Then, when visiting my nurse practitioner one day, she heard what she described as a “heart murmur” when she listened with her stethoscope. Soon, an EKG and
echo immediately showed a leaky mitral valve. It was called a P2 leak, which is the leading, center
section of the valve most commonly associated with mitral leaks.
Suddenly – I was scared. Getting this diagnosis was a traumatic experience. Although we live in an age of
incredible surgical success, there’s always that primal fear deep down that mine will be that rare case that does not go well. So, I sprung into action looking for the right surgeon. As a biologist in my career, I am accustomed to doing research to get the right answers. After looking at leading institutions across the country, Dr. Chikwe’s name came up on a Facebook group.
What first caught my attention is her
Oxford-Cambridge background. Then, her videos on YouTube were extremely comforting. She seems so
knowledgeable and caring all at once. I read one of her peer reviewed papers and was impressed by the
depth of her knowledge about valve cases. I learned that my local surgeon does 20 valve cases per year,
and it immediately became apparent that Dr. Chikwe does that many in a month.
When I read that Cedars-Sinai had been named as a Mitral Center of Excellence under Dr. Chikwe’s leadership, I knew for sure that I had found the right surgeon. One of the important lessons from Dr. Chikwe as an expert is that repairing a mitral valve is preferable whenever possible. One benefit is that having a surgeon capable of repairing a valve can spare a patient from being on blood thinners for the rest of one’s life.
And best of all – Dr. Chikwe can perform minimally invasive robotic mitral repairs which mean smaller
incisions, less discomfort, and faster recovery times. I feel fortunate that I qualified for this minimally invasive surgical technique.
My surgery with Dr. Chikwe went great. The nurses are incredible, and the entire staff is awesome. Dr.
Chikwe’s nurse practitioner, Vivian, is especially caring and wonderful. When I was taken into the
operating room, there were six to nine people, and they were all so focused on what they were doing,
and this made me feel like I was their number one priority. Their professionalism was extremely
comforting. I knew I was in the right hands. After surgery, my post operative discomfort was managed
well.
I was only in the hospital from Thursday through Sunday and was up walking slowly before being
sent home. Within ten days after surgery, the pain from the small incisions for the two tubes and a 3–4-
inch incision in my upper chest was gone. Amazingly, I was walking to my mailbox and sitting up typing
on my laptop within two weeks after the surgery. I healed quickly, and was outside taking walks within
three weeks. A month after surgery, I was driving again.
Six weeks after surgery, there is no more fluid in my lungs. My breathing has drastically improved. After
two years of living with a heart valve problem I had not even been aware of, I am finally able to work on
my house again. Just last weekend, I was able to move eleven fifty-pound bags!
As a hunter who likes to
bring home fresh, organic food from nature, I can say that the treatment that I received from Dr. Chikwe
and her staff really hit the bullseye. I would recommend Dr. Chikwe and her team in a heartbeat. And I can assure you – the pun is intended!"
-- Dwayne Oberhoff, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Mini Sternotomy, Robotic Surgery, 06/13/2024
"I had been monitoring the progression of my mitral valve prolapse with my cardiologist for ten to fifteen years. Mitral prolapse is a condition where the flaps on the mitral valve don’t close properly while the heart is beating. This can lead to mitral regurgitation, where the blood leaks backwards into the heart. When the heart can’t get enough oxygenated blood out into the body, that’s called heart failure. My cardiologist told me that I wouldn’t need surgery until I had symptoms. And then, one day, the symptoms suddenly came on. First, I had a small stroke called a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which is when one experiences stroke symptoms on a short-term basis. In this case I had a partial loss of vision in one eye, which only lasted a few minutes. A few weeks later I also experience a type of A-fib known as rapid ventricular response (RVR), which is when the lower chambers of the heart beat too fast. This can also lead to problems circulating enough oxygen into the body. Although I was given a treatment called “cardioversion” to restore my regular heart rhythm, it turns out that it’s only a short-term repair. After more than a decade, my mitral valve problems were making themselves known through some rather scary symptoms. I knew that I needed surgery – immediately.
That’s when I found Dr. Chikwe. When I wasn’t getting any response from a surgeon that my local cardiologist referred me to, I discussed the situation with my father’s cardiologist who referred me to Dr. Joanna Chikwe. He explained that he now refers all his patients to Cedars-Sinai and to Dr. Chikwe for their surgeries and that I would find she is an expert in this surgical repair. I immediately saw why. Once I called Dr. Chikwe’s scheduler, Mary, everything went like clockwork. Dr. Chikwe and her team, including her ever-attentive nurse practitioner, Vivian, reviewed all my diagnostic test results and scheduled my surgery immediately. I was also encouraged by Dr. Chikwe’s online videos. There is one video where a woman of similar age to me, who is a dentist, remarked about how quickly she was able to be up doing things again following her surgery with Dr. Chikwe. It was also helpful to me to know that Dr. Chikwe has done so many mitral valve surgeries. It was immediately apparent to me that Dr. Chikwe is a leader in her profession.
What surprised me is that the surgery wasn’t nearly as painful as I had thought. The robotic surgery with smaller incisions really does make a difference, and I’m glad that I qualified for it. Sure, there was some discomfort where tubes went in; some soreness with the incisions; and some pain in my shoulder. But it all seemed to resolve and get better on a daily basis after surgery. The doctors gave me a neural block in my back that helped to manage the discomfort very effectively, as well. By the time of discharge, I was very tender at the incision locations, but not in persistent pain. Throughout it all, the nursing staff was phenomenal. They were so amazingly professional and nice. Dr. Chikwe’s bedside manner is incredibly calming and took away any anxiety. I am also grateful for the professionalism and attentiveness of Dr. Derrick Tam, one of Dr. Chikwe’s co-surgeons, who also visited me following the surgery and was exceptionally reassuring and helpful.
I had surgery at 5 am on a Tuesday. By 10 pm I was sitting up in bed. The next morning, I was walking to the nursing station - and I’ve been walking more and more every day ever since. I was released to go home on that Friday morning - after just four days in the hospital. On that same Friday evening, I was able to rest comfortably on my sister’s patio, enjoying a burger, and watching my children splash around in her pool. Sleep was difficult the first few days after I was home. No combination of pillows and sleeping positions worked well for me. But that subsided within two or three days, and then I could sleep comfortably. One week after checking in for surgery, I was able to work remotely on my laptop. I was walking around the block right away and over a mile within that first week following discharge. At two weeks, I was traveling for work. I thought I would be bedridden for weeks like my father once was, who had a similar mitral repair many years ago, – but I wasn’t. My energy came back very quickly. The difference is probably that 25 years ago, my father had to have his ribcage cut open for a full sternotomy. Whereas I was able to have a small incision for Dr. Chikwe’s robotic surgery. This made my recovery much faster and less uncomfortable.
Two months after my surgery with Dr. Chikwe, I feel great. I can run up stairs and no longer feel short of breath. I can tie my shoes without deep breathing. As I consider the future, I cannot say how grateful I am that Dr. Chikwe is able to actually repair a heart valve, as opposed to merely replacing it, as many surgeons do. The difference in repairing a heart valve is that the solution can be a permanent repair with my own tissue, while a cow or pig replacement valve may need to be surgically replaced in as little as fifteen years. A mechanical valve, while long lasting, will require careful administration, and frequent monitoring, with blood thinners for the rest of my life.
If I was asked to play word association to describe my experience with Dr. Chikwe and her team, the word that comes to mind is “smooth.” Everything was done so quickly, so efficiently, so well, and with so much kindness and care. I wouldn’t’ think twice about recommending Dr. Chikwe. She is honest about issues like pain and mortality and really gives the impression that she cares – unlike some other surgeons who may seem merely transactional with their patients. Dr. Chikwe believes in to helping the whole person – not just fixing the heart - which she does better than anyone."
-- Matt Haskell, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 06/13/2024
"From a scale of 1 – 10, Dr. Chikwe is a 12.
Excellent experience! Dr. Chikwe was wonderful to meet with. She provided me with much detail about the procedure. She saw me before going into surgery and was calm and wonderful. Fantastic patient- doctor relationship! Three weeks out and I was slowly but surely feeling better. And by seven weeks, everything was feeling much better!
The whole experience was great, the ICU nurses were terrific, and the staff makes you feel very comfortable.
A piece of advice: if you can avoid heart surgery, then do so. But if you can’t – then choose Dr. Chikwe and choose Cedars!"
-- Steven Rheuban, Mitral Valve, Valve Replacement, 05/30/2024
"Dr. Chikwe became my choice of surgeon during the first meeting - I was in incredible pain, to which Dr. Chikwe and the most superb Vivian Burkhart cared for first before we got to the business of surgery.
The work went off without a hitch - the only pushback needed to be in the staff's faith in me, as I took an extra day or two to leave the hospital. Though cardiac rehab took a few too many months to start, I am told the progress of recovery is well in hand.
I could not recommend Dr. Chikwe and Vivian Burkhart enough as a team. To put it simply, they gave me hope to live again as I died. Now, I type in the midst of a new life to live.
Words are inadequate to convey my thanks to you both, Dr. Chikwe and Vivian. Here's to your future work, as you have given me my future."
-- Jimmy Chattin, Aortic Valve, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Valve Replacement, Root Replacement, Ross Procedure, 05/29/2024
"I was born with mitral valve prolapse with a severe regurgitation. Since diagnosis at age 8, I’ve monitored the condition with the help of several cardiologists. My current cardiologist referred me to Dr. Chikwe after completing a TEE and other tests that both confirmed the feasibility of repairing my mitral valve and determined how urgently the repair was needed.
From the moment I met Dr. Chikwe, I felt comfortable. I had my first consult with her on my birthday - not the way I imagined to spend the morning of my 27th birthday! I was nervous, but Dr. Chikwe was so comforting, reassuring, and calm. After meeting and discussing my specific circumstance with Dr. Chikwe, I researched her further online. Everything I watched and read confirmed my thoughts when meeting her and her team in person.
Dr. Chikwe is an incredible surgeon, her bedside manner is impeccable, and she’s surrounded by an incredible team. This information coupled with the fact Cedars is a stellar cardiac hospital near me, made moving forward with surgery with Dr. Chikwe an easy decision.
My surgery experience was quick. Everyone at Cedars was very nice and attentive the morning of surgery. Dr. Chikwe came in and reminded me of the post-surgery breathing tube logistics. This was my first surgery, so one of the doctors I saw that morning in pre-op tried to prepare me by comparing being in the operating room to being on a racetrack. She described me as a race car and everyone else in the OR as a member of my pit crew. “Everyone will be buzzing around, doing various things around you. It will feel very busy in there, but everyone is doing exactly what they need to do to prepare. Just try to relax,” she said.
When I reached the OR and laid down on the surgery table, I chuckled to myself, “She was right. I feel just like a race car at the center of a pit crew hard at work.” That thought is the last thing I remember until the ICU. Upon waking in the ICU, I listened to Dr. Chikwe’s calm voice in my head talking me through what I was experiencing.
Things continued to move quickly after waking up from surgery. The day after surgery, I walked to the bathroom at the hospital and by the time I went home (3 days after surgery), I could walk up the stairs (slowly, but surely). That being said, it took some time to return to daily activities. I knew my body was capable of doing certain things, but for a while I was simply too tired to do much for long. I could walk (more like waddle) to the bathroom and stand to shower, but it took a lot of energy out of me. When I started cooking again (something I love to do), I would sit at the table to chop ingredients myself, but needed someone else to lift the pots of food and water since I couldn’t lift heavy objects.
Physical therapy helped build strength and stamina and I would practice walking a little further every day until I could finally walk my usual daily distance.
Now, nearly 3 months later, I’m back to normal activity and even incorporating activities I’ve never tried before due to my life-long mitral valve leak. I feel great! I don’t get dizzy or tire as easily as I did pre-surgery. I also don’t notice my heart at all on a day-to-day basis, which I’m told is the norm for most people so that’s pretty neat!
I really can’t say enough good things about Dr. Chikwe. She deserves 5 stars! 10/10! Gold medal in the cardiac surgery Olympics! I, along with my loved ones that helped me recover, are proud members of the Jo Chikwe fan club. Prior to meeting Dr. Chikwe, my family and I were never provided the option of repairing my mitral valve so I’ve spent my entire life waiting for what I was told was an unavoidable valve replacement.
I am so glad I was given the option of a mitral valve repair. Dr. Chikwe quite literally changed my life.
"
-- Tobi Taieb, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, 05/28/2024
"I’m a fly fisherman living in Denver at the base of the Rocky Mountains where life has been good. But suddenly, I felt as if I had no energy. My doctors ran several tests and realized that I had a leaky mitral valve in my heart. After interviewing several surgeons here in Denver, I spoke with one who is a former student of Dr. Chikwe, and he recommends her highly. Dr. Chikwe is renowned as a pioneer of minimally invasive robotic mitral valve repair surgery. And with a sister who had heart surgery with a full incision, I knew that minimally invasive surgery is my preference over maximally invasive surgery. So, I looked up Dr. Chikwe online and discussed the good things I was reading with friends.
I immediately called Dr. Chikwe’s office and spoke with Mary, her scheduler. Mary is so efficient in moving things around that she should be an army general. Mary’s speed is astonishing. Twenty minutes after talking with Mary, she called me back and said that Dr. Chikwe can perform the robotic surgery that I wanted. Even more remarkable is that Mary said that if I could fly to Los Angeles the following Monday, that Dr. Chikwe could perform my surgery on Tuesday. So, my wife and I bought airline tickets, and I was able to get the surgery I wanted and needed from Dr. Chikwe without having to wait.
Arriving at Cedars-Sinai, I was cared for by a staff that is truly first-rate. Vivian, Dr. Chikwe’s nurse practitioner, is her clinical point person and she is phenomenal. Vivian is attentive, available for patients, and always has the right answers. In fact, I’m writing a letter commending her. My surgery was seamless, and I could not have been made to feel more comfortable. The staff is remarkable and the word “attentive” comes to mind again and again. Any discomfort that I felt from the small incisions was well managed.
As one who doesn’t like being a patient and just wants to get medical procedures over with, I could not be happier that just two and a half months later I’m feeling great. I’m walking two miles each day and going to cardiac rehab. My doctors are telling me that six months after surgery, that I will feel closer to normal. And that a year after surgery, that I’ll feel as good as possible. Most importantly to me, is that I can start to fish again. Since I’ll be on blood thinners for one year after surgery, I’m told that I’ll have to fish from a boat during that time as I should not risk bumping into rocks in streams while on blood thinners. So, I look forward to my first fishing trip from a boat next weekend. Fishing from a boat is a small price to pay for how good I feel. Then, next spring when it’s been a year, I’ll be able to wade waste deep into the streams of the Colorado Rockies to fly fish as I always have.
I’ll stand fly fishing in the streams while looking up at the towering mountain peaks surrounding me.
Thanks to Dr. Chikwe, life is good again! If anyone else is with a valve problem is looking for a surgeon, I absolutely recommend Dr. Chikwe!"
-- David D., Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Mini Sternotomy, Robotic Surgery, 05/14/2024
"Robotic Mitral Valve Repair was a lot quicker than I thought.
I was initially seen by my PCP, and he heard an irregularity that he believed was a heart murmur. After additional tests, my PCP quickly sent me to a cardiologist, who also found cancer in my abdomen. My cardiologist, Dr. Alexander Hardwick, believed I needed more advanced care and referred me to Dr. Chikwe. Coming down from Santa Barbara and arriving at Cedars Sinai, I was diagnosed with mitral valve regurgitation prolapse that was severe. My meeting with Dr. Chikwe was excellent.
She explained all my options, was very encouraging, and had diagrams and pictures of the differences between surgery methods. Her care team tailored my experience and recommended minimally invasive robotic surgery, which was best suited for me. My recovery was easy: I was up and walking in 24 hours. What I looked forward to was the minimally invasive components where the surgeon goes in through the ribcage versus traditional methods. Dr. Chikwe’s bedside manner is excellent.
I highly recommend her. I spent four nights in the hospital and had restrictions for the first 6 weeks, but the recovery was quick. Being quickly treated at Cedars Sinai by Dr. Chikwe prepared me for my next battle to fight cancer.
In the grand scheme of things, the surgery was way easier than I thought. She is a 10/10 and is great!"
-- Brian Eckhart, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 04/30/2024
"My journey leading to mitral valve surgery began in early 2023, when I felt high blood pressure and my heart beating in my throat, especially when lying down. It was a strange feeling, never having that in the past. I chose to visit my primary care physician for a checkup. After a thorough exam he told me that he heard a heart murmur and that my blood pressure was indeed rather high. He contacted the cardiologist down the hall from his office and they took me right in for an examination. He too did not like what he heard and scheduled me for an echocardiogram the following week.
That procedure determined that I had a mild to moderate prolapse mitral valve with minimal regurgitation. He told me that many people live with this for many years without it worsening, but that we better keep a close monitoring of it. Unfortunately, over the next 9 months it got worse, and he prescribed a TEE (transesophageal echocardiogram) for a superior view. The procedural doctor for the TEE advised me that my mitral valve prolapse had become very severe and that I had about a 65% regurgitation. His advice was that I have it repaired or replaced quickly, within 6 months or less.
As you can imagine, that was a rather frightening diagnosis. About 6 years prior I had a total hip replacement done at Cedars Sinai Hospital. I found Cedars Sinai to be absolutely world-class in every manner and felt that for heart surgery that is the facility I wanted to go to. Some research on their website provided me with a lot of information, including video bios of the cardiac surgeons. Through these videos I felt just the right vibes from Dr. Joanna Chikwe.
On the website it stated "accepting new patients" so I contacted her office and was able to schedule an appointment for just 12 days out. That was very reassuring right from the start. I brought my TEE results with me on a CD ROM disc and they also scheduled me for an echocardiogram for the same day, on sight. Dr. Chikwe reviewed everything even before she entered the office room I was waiting in.
It was so nice that Dr. Chikwe, upon meeting me, opened our conversation with dialogue about me, my passions in life, sports activities, even the types of food and music that I like. She is so personable, caring, warm, and genuine. I had those same good vibes now, in person, that I got from the bios video. She reviewed all of the test results with me and concluded that I really did need to have a mitral valve surgical procedure. All options were discussed, and we concluded that robotic assisted, mitral valve repair was the best option for me. At 70 years of age, I am strong and very healthy (other than this mitral valve issue), and I participate in aggressive activities such as downhill skiing, rugged trail mountain hiking, and offshore fishing for big tuna. Other than something unforeseen, I should be able to enjoy a long healthy life and mitral valve repair, rather than replacement, is the best bet/option.
Dr. Chikwe' Nurse Practitioner, Vivian Burkhart, is thorough and professional. She scheduled me for surgery just 3 weeks out and also scheduled me for all of the pre-op tests just one week out. I realize that took a lot of coordination on her part with the other departments, so I give a big "high-five" to Vivian for being the great professional that she is. Vivian maintained contact with me throughout. Everything was so smooth and well-coordinated, confirming my feelings again about the world class status of Cedars-Sinai.
Well, of course on the day of surgery my anxiety level was rather high. After prepping and laying in the pre-op room, Dr. Chikwe came to visit me. She was so calm and reassuring, it really helped me. I'll never forget how she looked me in the eyes and told me that everything is going to be fine and that I will have a great recovery and soon be able to get back to all of the activities I so much enjoy, 100%. Awesome!
The robotic assisted surgical procedure went quite well, no hiccups or issues at all. I awoke in the Cardiac ICU and was well cared for over the next 24 hours. There were no problems, so I was then moved over to the Cardiac Care Floor. Around the clock care for the next two days and then I was discharged from the hospital. During my 3-day stay I was very impressed at the level of care and genuine compassion from all of the nurses and staff. What wonderful, caring people they all are. And of course, Dr. Chikwe came to visit me, twice. She was 100% up on all of the reports from the nurses, discussed everything with me and how my trajectory was so good that I would be discharged on time. She also reviewed the written directions for me at home and the follow-up post op visits over the next month. Very thorough, indeed. To say the least, being discharged from the hospital only 3 days following major cardiac surgery is very impressive. I can speak so highly of the robotic assisted surgical procedure.
Home recovery went so well. No doubt, the first two weeks are a challenge, as expected. However, the rate of recovery over the next several weeks, and beyond, was fantastic. After one month I was able to walk more than a mile with no real issue. I then began my routine again at the gym, though at a much lower level of exercises and weights than is my usual. But in just another 6 weeks I was at nearly 100% in my weight loads and number of exercises. I began mountain hiking again. Seven-mile day hikes, no problem! I also resumed offshore fishing for big, strong tuna and yellowtail. It was if I never even had gone through cardiac surgery. Back to a normal lifestyle for my rather aggressive way of being. Skiing is next, as soon as the snow arrives. This is wonderful!
I can't speak highly enough for how the robotic assisted surgical procedure is for mitral valve repair. I can only imagine this method has similar results for other types of surgical needs. The least amount of invasive procedure there can be, and the best recovery process there is for the patient. And of course, the medical facility, the surgeon, and the entire surgical team makes it the positive outcome I experienced. Cedars Sinai Hospital, Dr. Joanna Chikwe, and the entire staff are absolutely world-class. It just doesn't get any better."
-- Joel Kaplan, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 03/26/2024
"I am so thankful that my surgery was done by Dr. Chikwe and her team at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
MY CASE WAS COMPLEX: I had a particularly challenging case. Not only was I diagnosed with severe mitral valve regurgitation due to severe P3 and P2 prolapse, but my tests revealed significant Mitral Annular Calcification (MAC) around the mitral valve. I learned that calcium makes it very difficult to fix the mitral valve. Attempting to remove the calcium can be dangerous, potentially causing a stroke or worse during surgery.
THREE DISCOURAGING EVALUATIONS PRIOR TO MY CONSULT WITH DR. CHIKWE: I was told by two well-known surgeons that my mitral valve could not be repaired due to the MAC, and a third said that a repair would only reduce my severe regurgitation to somewhere between mild-moderate – an outcome I viewed as unacceptable. After three consults, I was discouraged beyond words, until I spoke with Dr. Joanna Chikwe, Chair of Cardiac Surgery at Cedars-Sinai.
MY STORY IN ADAM’S BLOG: My story of the hopeful consult I had with Dr. Chikwe, why I am so thankful she was willing to take my complex case, and the successful mitral valve repair she and her team performed, can be found in Adam’s Blog here (you’ll need to copy & paste the following into your browser): https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2024/04/22/robotic-patient-success-story/
The following explains why Dr. Chikwe and her team are exceptional:
SAFETY FIRST: There are many videos about Dr. Chikwe and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center online, like the ones at HeartValveSurgery.com. One in particular that gave me great confidence in her and her team is a speech she gave at the 2023 Cardiothoracic Surgery Symposium https://youtu.be/gjh5mSIntgY. Although it is intended for an audience of cardiac surgeons, it conveys a deep understanding of the critical factors that are essential for safe surgeries.
During my initial consult with Dr. Chikwe, she said she was “reasonably confident, but not certain” due to the calcium, that a robotic repair could be achieved, and that based on my test results, a robotic approach should be reasonably safe for me. As she explained her thoughts about my case and her suggested approach, she was extremely compassionate and honest about the risks involved, and her emphasis was always on safety, first and foremost.
FLEXIBILITY TO CHANGE COURSE BASED ON WHAT SHE LEARNS DURING SURGERY: All of the surgeons I spoke with prior to Dr. Chikwe were adamant about a specific surgical plan, ranging from replacing my mitral valve via a sternotomy to doing an “imperfect” repair. Dr. Chikwe was the only one who expressed flexibility to change her approach based on what she learns during surgery. She said if she could not reduce the leak to mild, or if there were signs that the repair would not be durable (long-lasting), she would make a decision during surgery to replace the mitral valve. That flexibility is what set her apart from the other surgical consults, and is one of the primary reasons I wanted to be under her care. Of the four consults I had, Dr. Chikwe and her team was the only one I was willing to trust my life with.
REDUNDANCY IN THE OPERATING ROOM: Dr. Chikwe had a top-notch team with her in the operating room. She was assisted by Dr. Dominic Emerson, Director of Robotic Surgery, pursuant to their policy of having two attending surgeons scrubbed for robotic cases. Dr. Chikwe was my lead surgeon, but I believe Dr. Emerson was eminently qualified to have been the lead as well. After surgery, I woke up to learn that the first attempt to repair my mitral valve was suboptimal, resulting in greater than mild regurgitation. There was a discussion amongst the team in the operating room about replacing the valve, and a decision was made to try one more time to enhance the repair. THANK GOODNESS FOR THE REDUNDANCY ON MY SURGICAL TEAM. Without multiple qualified surgeons in the operating room, such a discussion would not have been possible, and a decision to try for a second attempt at a repair may not have been made. The second attempt was successful, resulting in better than mild regurgitation (some said it was “very little leak,” or “trace-mild”), which is better than what I had hoped for. My surgery was performed robotically, without the need for a sternotomy. They gave me a successful repair without touching the calcium, keeping safety foremost in their minds.
SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE: Dr. Chikwe’s team has substantial experience in two areas that were critical for me: (1) Experience doing safe robotic surgeries. Not all heart surgeons are experienced enough with the robot to perform it safely, and in my case, I had two experts in the operating room. (2) Experience doing mitral valve repair in the presence of calcium. Calcium increases the complexity of any mitral valve repair or replacement. I knew that having a team experienced with MAC was critical to a successful outcome.
Each individual on Dr. Chikwe’s team has significant experience, and they also have experience working together as a team. It was worth it to me to travel 2,000 miles to have my surgery done by two of the best surgeons, with an outstanding team, at one of the best centers of excellence in the country.
OUTSTANDING CARE AFTER SURGERY: The care I received in ICU and in my regular room was absolutely outstanding in every respect. Dr. Chikwe came to see me in ICU and every day after that. I was also able to speak with Dr. Emerson and some of the other people who were on the team in the operating room. Everyone, surgeons, nurses, nursing aids, etc. were so compassionate, caring, and respectful.
EFFICIENCY AT EVERY STEP: My interactions with Dr. Chikwe’s team were extremely positive every step of the way. There are too many people to name individually, but they were all experienced professionals and made me feel like they truly cared about me.
Every case is different and demands an individual evaluation and surgical plan. Dr. Chikwe involved my husband and me in all of the key decisions. She made me feel like I was her most important patient. If anyone I love ever needs heart surgery, I would recommend Dr. Chikwe and her team at Cedars-Sinai without hesitation."
-- Lynn Friedman, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 03/19/2024
"I can’t imagine allowing any other surgeon to operate on my heart than Dr. Chikwe. I understand she does this everyday, but it was a super scary season for our small family. As a 35-year-old mom of a 3-year-old, we felt “in over our heads”.
But, Dr Chikwe and her INCREDIBLE NURSE PRACTITIONER, Vivian walked us through the process amazingly. Not only is she an INCREDIBLE surgeon, she is so considerate and kind.
On the day of my surgery, Dr. Chikwe could tell how scared I was before they rolled me back so she hugged me and even held my hand. She may not even remember it, but I’ll never forget. I can only imagine how many hurdles she has had to climb over to be in the position she is at Cedars Sinai, and as a woman, but wow is she deserving of it!!!
She was so confident she made us feel confident. And, while another nurse practitioner for different surgeon asked what type of valve I would want if he couldn’t do a repair and needed to replace it, neither Dr. Chikwe nor her team ever asked. They were so confident it would be a simple repair that will probably last my lifetime, they almost laughed when I asked. Politely, of course!!
For someone facing a potential replacement valve with pig tissue (that expires every 10 years) or the required blood thinner for the rest of their lives (with a mechanical option)… I sincerely pray they find Dr. Chikwe. I felt like God led us to her. And I will be forever grateful!!!!! HUGE thanks to their team. I don’t care where you have to travel from… When it was me, I called her office. This is a suuuuper scary season in your life. And I’m so sorry for that. Whether it’s for you or your loved one, it affects the ENTIRE family. So, please know that I see you.
From my experience, I can’t imagine anyone else doing this. It saved my life. "
-- Rachel McCord, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, 03/14/2024
"In 2013, my doctor diagnosed me with a prolapsed mitral valve. I had regular checkups and monitoring for a time, but that changed when my cardiologist moved away. In the interim, unbeknownst to me, my mitral valve regurgitation issue became severe. I have four siblings, and three of them have already had mitral valve replacement or repair. In January of this year, I faced my biggest challenge: a diagnosis of heart failure with pulmonary edema.
Limited by local resources, I was still determined to get the best treatment possible. After learning about the Mitral Valve Foundation, we started researching all the possibilities on the West Coast. Considering my family history and desire for top-tier care, I discovered Dr. Joanna Chikwe at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. Her impressive experience, stellar track record, and glowing reviews made her an ideal choice for my condition.
When I contacted her office, Dr. Chikwe’s team acted swiftly, scheduling me promptly. During my initial phone consultation with her, I felt reassured and confident in her expertise, which was crucial for such a daunting procedure. Dr. Chikwe and her team, particularly Vivian, went above and beyond to tailor my surgery to fit my preferences and medical history.
With consideration for the severity of my case, Cedars-Sinai’s outstanding team managed to schedule my robotic surgery in under a month, expediting the process with remarkable urgency. The surgery was a resounding success - phenomenal and incident-free. Dr. Chikwe’s exceptional skill and the quality of care I received from her team left me feeling incredibly fortunate.
Post-surgery, I stayed in Los Angeles for about three weeks for routine follow-ups. Just four days after the procedure, I felt energized and was already walking about four miles. Within a month, I was almost back to my normal activity level, averaging over 20,000 steps a day and even enjoying short bike rides.
My wife and I recently returned from a trip to Japan to celebrate my recovery and renewed health. We went on several hikes, and walked an average of 8-10 miles per day. Looking back, choosing Dr. Chikwe and Cedars-Sinai was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second.
Dr. Chikwe is extraordinary, and Cedars-Sinai is the place to go. Don’t settle—go for the absolute best!"
-- D'Armand Cook, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 03/06/2024
"I recently underwent a robotic Mitral valve repair surgery and Maze procedure performed by Dr. Chikwe at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles.
The valve had been experiencing over 50% regurgitation and definitely needed to be addressed. On February 27, 2024 the surgery was performed flawlessly in approximately three hours.
The results were phenomenal, to say the least. The AFib I had been experiencing was completely gone, my blood pressure dropped from 160/90 to 120/75, the post-surgical pain was minimal, and the recovery time was only about three weeks. During my 3-1/2 days in the ICU Dr. Chikwe's wonderful team, including the joyful Vivian Burkhart, NP-BC, checked up on me on numerous occasions.
Dr. Chikwe herself dropped by five times, patiently answering my questions, and always reflecting a calm, kind, and humble demeanor. When I thanked her for saving my life, she replied that the credit goes to her entire team of about 50 doctors, nurses, and staff.
So to sum up, I highly recommend Dr. Chikwe, knowing "in my heart" I was treated by one of the very best in the field."
-- John Witschel, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, Maze Procedure, 02/27/2024
"I am so delighted to have Dr. Joanna Chikwe as my cardiac surgeon. She is caring, compassionate, skillful and provided me with relevant information concerning my ops.
I found Dr Chikwe on HeartValveSurgery.com and was impressed by her. After researching more, I decided to fly from Maryland to LA for my surgery. My family and I felt so assured that I would be in good hands if Dr. Chikwe is my surgeon.
She is the best doctor I have ever encountered in my lifetime. What a blessing to have her repair my mitral valve and have my valve completely repaired."
-- Edwin Tan, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, 02/06/2024
"Dr. Chikwe was very informative, compassionate and made me feel very confident that I would be in the best hands possible for robotically assisted mitral valve repair at Cedars-Sinai.
She answered all my questions, even those I didn't think to ask. I really appreciated her coming to see me every evening while I was in the hospital to check on me. It was a "beautiful valve repair" as she commented. Thank you Dr. Chikwe, Vivian Burkhart and the entire staff at Cedars-Sinai."
-- Fabian Graciano, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 01/30/2024
"I cannot say enough about Dr. Chikwe and her amazing staff. I owe them my life. From the time of making an appointment with Mary, who was extremely kind and helpful, to meeting Dr. Chikwe and her nurse practitioner, Vivian, this has to be the kindest group of people I have ever met in any medical field.
Dr. Chikwe is so beyond comforting, informative and just overall amazing. I have never been so scared and felt so much at ease with her as my surgeon. I can happily say I had a successful mitral valve repair and can continue going on with my life, healthier and able to do so much more thanks to Dr. Chikwe.
From the first appointment to the last post-op visit, it was the best experience I could have asked for and worth the drive from San Diego! Vivian and Dr. Tam are amazing as well. Any questions or concerns I had, I could reach out to Vivian anytime and she would answer all questions and ease the worry. Dr. Tam was amazing as well, he checked up and followed through and was beyond kind.
Dr. Chikwe and her staff are amazing. Anyone that is preparing for surgery and is able to go to Cedars, I highly recommend Dr. Chikwe. She is the "Queen of Cardiac Surgery". She is kind, comforting, and amazing skill at what she does. I am forever grateful!"
-- Michele Miller, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, 01/09/2024
"During a regular visit, my general practitioner detected a heart murmur, performed an echo-cardiogram and referred me to a cardiologist. The cardiologist diagnosed me with severe mitral regurgitation and recommended that I meet with a surgeon. I was not only horrified but because I was asymptomatic, also in complete denial.
Research into mitral valve regurgitation led me to the Mitral Foundation which convinced me that I wanted to pursue a repair, if possible, by a surgeon who has met the Foundation’s standards for not only the number of repairs performed but also the success rate of the outcomes of those procedures.
As soon as we met with Dr Chikwe in a virtual meeting, we knew that she was the surgeon for me to go with. She is kind, caring, and compassionate. She shows that she understands how traumatic facing heart valve surgery is for a patient and relieves their anxiety by clearly explaining all parts of the surgery and the recuperation process. Because she is so thorough in her communication, she had answered most of my questions without my even asking them.
Under Dr. Chikwe’s leadership, the team at Cedars Sinai is amazing. Everyone we interfaced with was excellent in the treatment their patients. The result is to make Cedars Sinai a very special place not only because they enable you to restore your health but they do so in such a warm and caring way.
Although every member of the staff is a standout, Vivian Burkhart is pure gold. She is the kind of person who makes you feel better just by talking with her. For any issue you raise, Vivian has probably already thought of it and has a solution. A couple of times I sent her an email not realizing she was on vacation or on a day off. Both times she called me back within minutes. Her timely responses were very helpful in relieving my stress during a very stressful period. She maintained communication with my local cardiologist to keep him completely in the loop of the care I was receiving and my needs going forward.
I understand that everyone will have a unique outcome. My regurgitation went from severe to none. Because Reference Surgeons do many of these surgeries each year, they know how to deal with the nuances of each case. By choosing Dr. Chikwe, you are not only choosing a very experienced surgeon and team but also one who understands that the emotional side of surgery is just important as the physical."
-- Terri Babek, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 09/19/2023
"My doctors had been telling me for 10 years that I would eventually need heart surgery. But it never felt real until this year, when they stopped saying “eventually.” As unprepared as I was for the news, I could not have asked for a better experience or a better surgeon than Dr. Chikwe and her team.
I was born with a heart defect, a bicuspid valve. Worse, I was developing an aneurysm. I never had any symptoms and my condition never slowed me down. I suppose I should have used those 10 years to read up on my condition and learn what the surgery and recovery would look like. But, yeah… that didn’t happen. However, I did take one proactive step during that time and it might have been the most important one.
Even though I changed jobs and health insurance plans several times during that period, I always made sure that Cedars-Sinai was my primary care facility. I paid more for it under some of those plans, but if I was eventually going to need heart surgery, I made damn sure it would be at Cedars.
My cardiologist referred me to Dr. Chikwe. From the initial consultation, she set me at ease. Dr. Chikwe is kind, confident, upbeat and extraordinarily open. Rather than walking in and saying, here’s what we’re gonna do, she pulled up a chair and asked, “what questions do you have?” Her answers were clear and concise. She spent as much time with me as I needed and we set a date for my surgery.
At that point, Dr. Chikwe’s team took over and held my hand through every step of the pre-op process. Other appointments and tests were needed and Mary Alvarado helped me schedule those. As I thought of new questions, Vivian Burkhart was right there to answer them. Vivian also reassured me that it was the right move to have the surgery before I showed any symptoms, as it would make my recovery that much quicker.
After the surgery, Dr. Chikwe personally visited me every night I was in the hospital. Each time before she left, she asked if I had any questions and answered any concerns. On the fifth day after surgery, I was released. Five days! I’m still amazed.
Within a week of being home, I was walking as much as I had before my surgery (a 20 minute walk, twice a day). A month later, I’m approaching the 10,000 steps a day my iPhone has been nagging me to do for years. Next week, I go back to work.
There were some hiccups along the way, but for the most part everything went as Dr. Chikwe laid out in our initial meeting. I can honestly say that I never doubted her.
The night after my surgery I felt like crap. I couldn’t even lift my iPad. It is a humbling experience to become that helpless.
Dr. Chikwe came by to reassure me that everything had gone well and that I’d be up and about soon. Before she left, she asked if I had any questions, as she always did. I shook my head. I was confident that I was in the best possible hands and that’s all I needed to know."
-- Doug Johnson, Aortic Valve, Valve Repair, Root Replacement, 07/26/2023
"I was completing pre-op appointment for shoulder surgery when I couldn’t get the cardiologist to sign off because something was wrong with my heart. I was referred to Dr Chikwe who’s light mannered personality was comforting and put me at ease. Within a month of initial appointment I had my heart procedure done, no issues.
Dr. Chikwe and Vivian explained and answered all our questions. The day of surgery my family was kept up to date on my procedure. I was continuously monitored and made sure I felt ok before discharging me. I was able to return to work by Oct 2023 and feel less tired, after I was able to get my shoulder surgery completed with no issues and am back to my normal day to day activities. Thank you Dr. Chikwe and team for making the process seamless."
-- David Ayala, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, 07/12/2023
"When I found out I needed open heart surgery, I went from shock and confusion to hope and gratitude for the health breakthrough found at Cedars-Sinai! They reassured me I was at the right place!
Choosing Cedars was the best decision for me as later agreed by my local cardiologist. Because of the minimum invasive procedure, my recovery has been smooth. I have been able to regain my life.
A new determination has been birthed in me. I could not be more satisfied with Da Vinci mitral valve repair surgery performed by the world-class Dr. Joanna Chikwe and her amazing team of doctors and staff!
Dr. Chikwe is an exceptional surgeon whose kindness, patience, intelligence, and understanding exceeded my expectations. I left the hospital taking only Tylenol for pain and I really didn’t experience unbearable pain from the surgery site."
-- Shelia Hamilton, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 07/11/2023
"My primary care physician recommended I see a cardiologist after test results showed an artery calcium score greater than 400 and an ascending aorta enlargement. In typical fashion, I dismissed him for over a year. I was already being treated for high blood pressure and cholesterol.
I met with Dr. Chukumerije at Cedars in March 2023 (amazing doctor) who ran a few more tests and I was diagnosed with ascending aortic aneurysm and bicuspid aortic aneurysm which would require open heart surgery. I was shocked, I did not have any symptoms and was only 58 years old. He recommended I consult with the surgery department and that I make an appointment to see Dr. Chikwe.
Prior to seeing Dr. Chikwe I started my research into heart surgeons and hospitals that specialized in these types of surgeries, Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Hospital and Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. I decided that the surgeon would be Dr. Joanna Chikwe at Cedars-Sinai. The answer was easy due to the extensive and impressive information and videos available on Dr. Chikwe. With her experience, expertise, and success rate in these types of heart repairs, there was no question.
During our initial consultation with her and her Nurse Practitioner, Vivian Burkhart. Dr. Chikwe took her time and extensively explained to me and my partner what would happen during the procedure and after. We never felt rushed during our visit and she answered all our questions and never once felt dismissed. She recommended I not wait more than 6 months and she performed my surgery on May 18, 2023.
I am now 4 months post-surgery and feeling great. I had an uneventful surgery with no complications. I was in the hospital for 4 days and discharged on day 5. I was walking and going upstairs from my first day home from the hospital and only needed Extra Strength Tylenol for the first few weeks for pain/discomfort.
Dr. Chikwe is an outstanding surgeon and an incredibly nice, intelligent person. She has a calm, confident and soothing manner along with a great sense of humor. I cannot thank her and her surgical team enough for taking great care of me and my partner, they are all simply the best! Dr. Chikwe was with us every step of the way.
Shout out to Mary Alvarado who made my appointments and communications seamless. Vivian Burkhart, her Nurse Practitioner (also great sense of humor), was there every step of the way to guide us through the entire process and always answered the thousands of questions we had pre and post operation. She was
awesome and even called me the weekend after I arrived home. We were extremely impressed with her knowledge and expertise in cardiology. She was vital and invaluable in her overall caring and assistance throughout the entire process.
Most importantly the entire staff of ICU nurses, nurses, doctors, lab technicians and assistants that monitored and took care of me during my hospital stay was beyond exception. The friendly, caring staff contributed to my incredibly quick recovery and if I could name them all I would.
Cedars-Sinai is an outstanding hospital that I will always recommend. Thank you, once again, Dr. Chikwe, you are the best of the best."
-- Susan Heizmann, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, Median Sternotomy, 05/18/2023
"Dr. Chikwe is an extraordinary surgeon as well as an extraordinary human being. She has an extensive and impressive background of education and experience in cardiac surgery.
My primary care physician had discovered a heart murmur during a routine visit. He had an echocardiogram ordered that showed I had a mitral valve leak. He then referred me to a cardiologist.
My cardiologist diagnosed me with mitral valve prolapse with severe mitral valve regurgitation. I didn't have any symptoms with the exception of getting out-of-breath only with exertion. He monitored me for the next 4 years with echocardiograms every 6 months. The regurgitation slowly but steadily increased over 3 1/2 to 4 years. At this stage, he strongly recommended surgery for mitral valve repair and would refer me to a surgeon.
That surgeon would be Dr. Joanna Chikwe at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, California. Once I researched her experience and expertise in mitral valve repair, there was no question she was the surgeon for me. I was nervous I would have to research multiple surgeons to compare and be confused as to who to choose. That wasn't the case due to the extensive and impressive information and videos available on Dr. Chikwe.
The decision was sealed after an initial consultation visit with her and her Nurse Practitioner, Vivian Burkhart. Dr. Chikwe performed my mitral valve repair on April 18, 2023 through minimally-invasive da Vinci Robotic-Assisted Surgery.
Vivian was just as impressive with her knowledge and expertise in cardiology. She was vital and invaluable in her overall caring and assistance throughout the entire process.
I am now 6 weeks post-surgery and I had an uneventful surgery with no complications. I was in the hospital 4 days and discharged on day 5. I was walking and even going upstairs from my first day home from the hospital. I only needed Extra Strength Tylenol for the first week and a half for mild pain/discomfort. I was also cleared to drive at 3 weeks post surgery and all recovery has been text book. I will now start cardiac rehab to improve stamina, endurance and strength.
Dr. Chikwe is an outstanding surgeon and an incredible human being. She has a calm, confident and soothing bedside manner. I can't thank her and her surgical team enough for taking great care of me, they are all Rock Stars! Mary Alvarado, her scheduler made and kept appointments and communications seamless. Vivian Burkhart, her Nurse Practitioner, was there every step of the way to guide me through the whole process and answer any and all questions. She is such a comfort to ease any nervousness a patient might have. Last, but certainly not least, the entire staff of nurses, doctors, lab and assistants that monitored and took care of me during my hospital stay was exceptional. Cedars Sinai is an outstanding hospital. All my encounters were smooth and seamless.
Thank you, once again, Dr. Chikwe, you are a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Cardiac Surgeon!
"
-- Donna Stropoli, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 04/18/2023
"Hello, My name is Sharon, and I would like to take this opportunity to share my experiences that I had with Dr. Chikwe, Vivian Burkhart (NP-BC), Mary Alvarado (Patient Services) and the entire Cedars-Sinai Hospital staff.
I was born with a defective heart valve, and it has been monitored for the past 10 years unfortunately just recently it has gone to the point where I needed open heart surgery. My first treatment option was to repair the valve with the standard methods of open-heart surgery, but I chose to get a second opinion. After extensive research on the Internet, it was very apparent that I needed to speak with Dr. Chikwe and her team.
Dr. Chikwe is a renowned cardiac surgeon with years of experience in robotic surgery. After my consultation with Dr. Chikwe, she left me with the feeling of comfort and reassurance. Dr. Chikwe answered all my questions and made me feel that she genuinely cared about my health and wellbeing, her humble approach and gentle calming demeanor was exactly what I needed to help me through this challenging time.
Now... Onto two of the members of her staff,
Vivian Burkhart is my Nurse Practitioner and a wonderful jewel she is! As the consummate professional, she returned all my phone calls promptly, and answered all my questions with a kindness, and concern that you just do not find in the healthcare industry today.
Mary Alvarado is a credit to her profession, she helped me in navigating through the records transfer process, appointments and paperwork. This process can be stressful, but Mary made me feel that I had a real go to person, and she was there at every intersection to help me speed through the process so my healing could begin. These individuals are just two of the threads woven into the warm blanket of caring that this team provides to their patients.
Unfortunately, this is not the first thoracic surgery that has been performed on me. I am a lung cancer survivor, I have been in remission for five years and along with three other surgeries in my past, I know a little something about the healthcare industry and the care that you can expect to receive, let me tell you there has been none that have performed to the level in which Doctor Chikwe, her team and the entire Cedars-Sinai Hospital staff have throughout my care.
I could go on for hours, telling the story of how special Dr. Chikwe and her team are but you really need to come experience it for yourself. I guarantee if you have a consultation with these caring professionals, you will see why I put my life in their hands.
I hope that by me telling my story others will find comfort. I know it is a scary journey but when you have the best of the best holding your hand, you too, will have a positive outcome.
May God bless Doctor Chikwe, her Surgical team, Vivian Burkhart, Mary Alvarado and the entire Cedars-Sinai Hospital staff.
With Deepest Regards.
Sharon B.
P.S. A huge thank you to the Doctors, Nurses and staff of the I.C.U. (The Best in The Biz)"
-- Sharon Bickel, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 04/12/2023
"My condition came to me as a sort of surprise. It started out as atrial fibrillation, but as I was getting treatment for that, my Foothill Cardiology team discovered that I also had more than minor mitral valve regurgitation and strongly suggested surgery.
They referred me to Cedars-Sinai and Dr. Joanna Chikwe and I am beyond happy that they did. Finding out about this condition was a surprise, but Dr. Chikwe and her team put me at ease immediately, entirely and honestly filling me in on what needed to be done and why, doing additional tests in anticipation of the surgery to repair my regurgitating valve and relieve my A-fib too.
They even worked with my crazy pillar-to-post schedule to put me exactly where I needed to be and at just the right time. They did all of this with kindness, attention, expertise and good humor. I very much appreciated that.
The surgery went really well. I was up and walking (slowly!) the same day, out of the hospital in a few days and have been getting stronger each day since.
In fact, it took me a few weeks to write this because
I am so deeply grateful to Dr. Chikwe and her entire team that I really didn’t have the words until now."
-- Frank Gladstone, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Maze Procedure, 03/30/2023
"I can't begin to tell you how safe I felt in Dr. Chikwe's hands. From the moment I met her to the last checkup I had with her, she always made me feel comfortable important and heard. She not only is an incredible surgeon, she is an amazing human being. She strikes me as someone who has dedicated her entire life to saving people.
She is one of the few cardiothoracic surgeons in the entire nation that does what she does and we are blessed to have access to her skills and humanity in our own backyard. God bless your "heart" Dr. Chikwe, as you have blessed mine.
I feel like you have given me a second chance at having an active life again."
-- Mariam Mashhadi, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 03/29/2023
"My surgery was on March 1, 2023 at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. My surgeon was Dr. Joanna Chikwe and assisted by Dr. Dominic Emerson. They performed a mitral valve repair with robotic mini-thoracotomy. Today, I am post-op 15 days (2 weeks) and doing great. My stay in the hospital was 5 days and I experienced no complications from the surgery during my stay. My surgery went very smooth.
I returned to Cedars on March 13, 2023 for my post-op checkup with Dr. Chikwe and Vivian Burkhart, NP. They could not believe how well I was doing and how well I looked.
Before my surgery, my regurgitation was severe with symptoms of shortness of breath, chest pain and extreme fatigue. Now, my regurgitation is "trivial" with no signs or symptoms of shortness of breath, chest pain and my energy level is incredible.
My friends and family tell me I look great and sound great. They can tell a big difference in my voice when speaking, no gasping for oxygen as I spoke. I never realized I had this, as this came on gradually and I chalked up to getting older. Now, as I climb the stairs in my house and do chores, I have so much energy.
I would recommend Dr. Chikwe over-and-over again for this type of surgery. Her success rate is 97 to 98%. Her bedside manners are superb and she answers any questions you have. She is very calming as she speaks and reassures you that she is going to do whatever she can to make your heart better again."
-- Jonette Kruk, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 03/01/2023
"Dr. Chikwe and her team at Cedars-Sinai were impeccable from my first call to her superb scheduler Mary Alvarado, who helped me through the initial process of securing a spot with utmost patience and responsiveness.
Dr. Chikwe embodies the perfect combination of mastery and humanity. Her achievements and high-volume record of successful mitral valve surgeries would have been enough for me to know I was in the best possible hands. But I also appreciated her kind and cheerful personality, and her intuitive ability to give me clear information in a framework I understood.
The surgery was a complete success, with my 50% regurgitation being reduced to 0%, no complications, and minimal scars. The surgical team communicated with my husband by text throughout the procedure to give him updates. During the 1 day in ICU and 3 more in the hospital, we were both amazed at the precise systems that the staff employed: the built-in redundancies, checks and double-checks of each test, procedure, medication...all performed with such caring and good cheer. We understand why this hospital is so highly rated!
To top it off, Dr. Chikwe's nurse, Vivian Burhart, has been absolutely invaluable in the recovery period, answering my countless little questions at all hours. Her responsiveness has helped me at each step of the recovery period. Within the two weeks I was able to walk 2-4 miles a day, and now at week 5, I'm back to almost all my normal activities, pain-free, and looking forward to an even stronger heart in the months to come.
My family and I highly recommend Dr. Chikwe and the Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute. "
-- Lisa Harrington, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 12/15/2022
"Sometimes there really are no words to express the true depth of gratitude that one feels. Having unexpected open-heart aortic valve replacement surgery and aneurysm repair by the miraculous Dr. Joana Chikwe undeniably brought about that enormity of emotion for me and my partner, Lynne.
I did not have typical deteriorating valve symptoms prior to my diagnosis of “a severe stenosis of the aortic valve with a dilated root.” In fact, I felt pretty good except for feeling a little dizzy when I bent over. My heart condition was actually discovered during routine pre-op testing for my scheduled hysterectomy! Needless to say, that surgery was put on an immediate hold while my heart surgery took precedence and was immediately scheduled. Enter Mary Alvarado, Dr. Chikwe’s surgery scheduler, who was from day one, extremely professional, competent and amazing at her job. What a gem.
It was during my initial consult that Lynn and I met the renowned Dr. Joana CHIKWE, her nurse practitioner, Vivian Burkhart, and Mary. To say that this trio exudes calm and instills immediate confidence is a vast understatement. Dr. Chikwe is an extraordinary surgeon, and she always gives you her laser-beam focus whenever she talks with you. She is empathetic, kind, and answers every question you ask. I
We never once felt hurried, or that she was anything but 100% concerned about my health and well being. Dr. Chikwe is unparalleled in her surgical skills, and from the moment we met her, we knew we were in the most gifted surgical hands in cardiac care. We still marvel at how very fortunate that we found her!
Vivian. She is a phenomenal nurse practitioner, who was there for us every step of the way. She answered each and every question we had those 7 weeks with unbelievable compassion and understanding. And her knowledge in the cardiology field is remarkable. Vivian was a blessing, someone who held our hands from beginning to end, and as a result, she will be our life-long friend.
So, to say we are filled with gratitude does not even gloss the surface. We are indebted to this wonderful and talented group of individuals for the rest of our lives. Dr. Hiker and her cardiac team are quite simply are second to none.
My surgery experience. Well, despite how intimidating open heart surgery sounds, and is, my experience with the phenomenal Dr. Chikwe and her surgical team, the incredible and heart-warming care in the ICU and the Mini-ICU made my surgery outcome a remarkable success.
I was released from Cedars-Sinai five days after my cardiac surgery. My incision was approximately 4” long! And when I went home, I was able to manage pain by mid-week with a muscle relaxer and Tylenol! There was pain in the surgical area, mostly in the breast bone location, but it was very manageable.
I followed my post surgery instructions and I was religious about walking 30 minutes a day during the first week and kept increasing it until I was up to 45 minutes to an hour by week 4. I also did my daily leg and arm exercises, and I maintained a low sodium diet of under 2,000 mg of sodium a day.
By the beginning of week 5 post surgery, I went back to work! I sell new homes for a builder, so it is not laborious physically, but I resumed full time work from day one. I am now 6 weeks post surgery and getting ready for my complete hysterectomy in 12 days. Overall, I feel pretty good. My only problem has been hot flashes that I started having a month before my valve replacement, so I’m not sleeping as restfully as I would be otherwise.
Thank you, Dr. Chikwe, my amazing life saver; your extraordinary surgical team; Vivian, our special guardian Angel; and Mary, the wonderful and vigilant Gatekeeper. And lastly, thank you Cedars-Sinai for caring enough about your patients to provide the best surgeon, staff, and medical care on the planet! ❤️ to you all!
"
-- Markolita Camden, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, 12/07/2022
"From the first moment I arrived at Dr. Chikwe's office, I was greeted with warmth and so much understanding. I was rattled and full of fear, as everything happened so fast.
Dr. Chikwe and Vivian Burkhart, her nurse practitioner, were so calm and gentle with me and showed so much warmth and patience. Dr. Chikwe was an angel in my eyes. She saved me and gave me a 'second chance' at life. I knew that I was in the best hands I could be because my family quickly looked her up and told me so!
I still can't believe how calm she was and sweet and patient she was with me, as busy as she is. She always treated me like she had all the time in the world to address my fears and let me know exactly what was going on with my heart.
I will never ever forget her or her team, especially Vivian, who made sure to see me right before my surgery.
I highly recommend Dr. Chikwe and her whole team. I'm forever grateful for this 'second chance' in life and I know I wasn't an easy surgery. God bless Dr. Chikwe and her team! I'm 3 weeks post-op today. I'm feeling more and more like myself again - walking, cooking, and slowly getting better. I still get tired a bit from activities, but I know that I will regain my strength and heal up and be better than before!!!! A New Me!!!!!
I have no idea how to thank Dr. Chikwe from the bottom of my heart! "
-- Elizabeth Walker, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, 11/22/2022
"I discovered that I had a severe mitral valve regurgitation while being asymptomatic back in 2018 at the age of 62. I continued without symptoms until the day of my surgery. Like others, I had Kaiser Permanente insurance and I was offered a valve replacement. I struggled with the decision of the repercussions of a replacement and the possible need to do it all over in 10 to 15 years, as risks will increase with age.
I searched during 4 years, left Kaiser and by the grace of God watched a video on YouTube about Dr. Joanna Chikwe. I learned that she was doing exactly what I was looking for: A repair of my own mitral valve through a minimally invasive procedure, the DaVinci Mitral Valve Repair.
I thank God for putting Dr. Chikwe at Cedars-Sinai in my life. With her knowledge and calming ways of explaining, I immediately decided to go ahead with my surgery. A week later, she gave me a second chance for a normal life. I have no words to describe the feeling on how happy and grateful I am. The whole experience beginning with her staff, Mary A. Vivian B. and the rest of the great nurses, too many to mention. Thanks! Thanks! Thanks! Grazie mille!"
-- Claudio Landeros, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, 10/20/2022
"Dr. Chikwe performed robotic assisted mitral valve repair via 5 cm mini-thoracotomy, left atrial appendage closure and left atrial cryomaze on 9/22/22. She saved my life! Before the surgery, I could not walk more than 5-6 steps and I had to rest, I had no energy to do anything. I was not able to breath and I was gasping for air all the time. My cardiologist in Santa Barbara recommended to get the surgery done at Cedars-Sinai and I was one of the lucky patients to get Dr. Chikwe as my surgeon.
She is wonderful! My surgery was great. I have had no pain and I was walking the day after the surgery. Dr. Chikwe is the most caring and understanding doctor I have ever had. She explains everything thoroughly, takes her time and makes all her patients feel at ease and she really cares for us. I am forever thankful for Dr. Chikwe.
Anyone who is fortunate enough to have a surgery done by Dr. Chikwe is very lucky. Dr. Chikwe's staff members, Vivian, Mary and others were all the best as well. Everyone in the ICU and the hospital was helpful and caring. Overall, this was a great surgery with the best surgeon ever! Thank you Dr. Chikwe!"
-- Kristiina Runge, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 09/20/2022
"I highly recommend Dr. Chikwe for minimally invasive mitral valve repair surgery using the DaVinci robot. I went from severe mitral valve regurgitation to ZERO regurgitation following the procedure. Dr. Chikwe is highly professional and skilled and she's built an incredible, caring and competent organization at Cedar-Sinai's Smidt Heart Institute.
Prior to finding out about Dr. Chikwe and Cedars-Sinai, I had been told by a prospective surgeon at Kaiser Permanente, my former provider, that he did not recommend repairs because they usually didn't work, and that I therefore needed a mitral valve replacement. After extensively researching the matter, I discovered that leading heart-valve surgeons throughout the world were migrating away from valve replacements in favor of repairs, and that increasingly such repairs were being performed via minimally invasive techniques. The data is unequivocal: if a valve repair is done right, no further surgery is necessary down the road and one's life expectancy isn't altered one iota. With a valve replacement, it's just the opposite.
As a result, I changed insurance to get into the Cedar-Sinai system of care—one of the best moves I've ever made. I feel sad for patients out there who may be getting unnecessary valve replacements simply because their provider or surgeon is "behind the curve," and when they would be better off with a less invasive repair. Please DO YOUR RESEARCH!! And know that you're NOT STUCK with your current insurance or doctor. You can easily change these to get the best possible, most state-of-the-art care available.
After all, it's your HEART we're talking about. You only have one. Yours deserves the best! And in this regard, I can't say enough good things about Dr. Chikwe and her team at Cedar-Sinai Medical Center."
-- Bill Light, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 09/20/2022
"Understanding the difference that Dr. Chikwe made for me requires going back a year prior to the surgery when I was consulting other doctors at other hospitals. I was born with congenital aortic valve stenosis, which means that my aortic valve was narrowed and unable to open fully, making breathing difficult and reducing blood flow to the rest of my body. So, I knew I was going to need surgery. I was 35 years old last year. My options were to either replace my aortic valve with a valve from a cow or a pig, which would last for ten years before I needed another surgical replacement; or, with a metal ring, which would give me 25 years until my next surgery. Neither option could save me from having my chest opened for another surgery — which was a prospect I truly wished to avoid. And when I was having the surgery at another hospital, it turned out to be a nightmare. The other surgeon got about halfway into cutting me open when he realized that the risks of continuing my surgery were too high and he had to abort the operation. When I awoke from that surgery in pain from where they cut me, I was told that it was all for nothing. The other surgeon aborted my surgery because I had a “hostile chest cavity” filled with scar tissue and calcified bone, and there was no way for them to connect the heart-lung machine for my surgery. When I returned to my cardiologist to regroup, I was also told that even a minimally invasive surgery called a “TAVR” was also too risky for replacing my valve. It was then that someone spoke to me in confidence and said that what I really needed was to leave the smaller city where I live and seek help elsewhere. When I told my cardiologist that I wanted a second opinion, after being stonewalled initially, she finally gave me a referral to Dr. Chikwe at Cedars-Sinai. It was then that hope finally dawned for me.
As I left my home community to travel to Los Angeles to meet Dr. Chikwe at Cedars-Sinai, I was in true despair. Seemingly unable to get the lifesaving surgery that I so desperately needed, I feared that I would either die young; or perhaps live just another ten years until I needed surgery again. And I was still in pain from the partial incision from my aborted surgery attempt. To make matters worse, the community where I am from has a serious drug addiction problem, so it was hard to get pain medications. I really needed for Cedars and Dr. Chikwe to make a difference for me.
And this is when Dr. Chikwe got to work. At first, she referred me to Dr. Raj Makkar, the famed Cedars cardiologist renowned for his pioneering work in the field of minimally invasive valve surgery. After an extended review process with him, Dr. Makkar decided that a minimally invasive procedure called a TAVR would be too risky for me because deployment of the valve could cause my heart to rupture. This was a difficult decision — but it was the right decision and I accepted it respectfully. Minimally invasive surgeries won’t work for everyone. This is one reason why highly skilled surgeons like Dr. Chikwe are so important.
Dr. Chikwe then laid out my options for surgery. The heart valve replacement using pig, cow, or a metal ring were still possible. But then she made a suggestion that changed my entire outlook: Dr. Chikwe offered me a Ross procedure — a procedure so advanced and sophisticated that it cannot be offered by every surgeon. In a Ross procedure, the aortic valve is replaced with a patient’s own pulmonary valve. The pulmonary valve, in turn, is replaced with a patient’s own tissue. Dr. Chikwe’s ability to offer such a highly skilled technique was a game-changer compared to the prior surgeon. For it meant that the repairs could be permanent, and I wouldn’t need surgery again as I would have in the previously offered valve procedures. At last, after fearing that I might not live to see my kids grow up or would need repeat surgeries — I found hope in the world class skills of Dr. Chikwe. She could save my life with no repeat surgeries.
Superior surgical skills compared to other surgeons are just part of where Dr. Chikwe succeeds and exceeds. What is just as special about Dr. Chikwe is how she relates to her patients and comforts them. For although she is one of the best heart surgeons in the world, Dr. Chikwe is kind, humble, approachable, and relatable. She was constantly amazing in her empathy and how she always considered my feelings and my family’s feelings. One thing that blew me away is that during my surgery, she called my wife every two hours to update her on my progress. I’ve never had care like this anywhere else.
Dr. Chikwe’s honesty is also comforting and helped me to make sense of my challenging experience. When we planned my surgery, Dr. Chikwe said that due to the complexity of my surgery that only the most highly skilled surgeons would be assisting her. That is where Cedars’ Congenital Cardiac Surgeon, Dr. Richard Kim, entered my process. Dr. Kim was also incredible, as he noted that my Ross procedure would need to be a Ross-Konno, meaning that my left ventricular outflow tract would also have to be enlarged due to severe calcification of my valve. Dr. Chikwe also redid all my preoperative scans, as Cedars has all of the most up-to-date equipment that not all hospitals have. At the other hospital, I woke up in the middle of a trans esophageal echo scan because of inadequate sedation. But there were no such problems at Cedars.
Dr. Chikwe’s nurse practitioner, Vivian, was another game changer. Vivian always answered all our calls and acted as though she actually wanted to hear from us. At the other hospital, our calls would be brushed aside as if they were just waiting to see us during our paid consultation so they could collect our insurance. Vivian took care of all my medication issues immediately and even called on weekends.
Dr. Chikwe was so calm, confident, and reassuring. She told me that I’d make it through. And sure enough, when I awoke in recovery with a ventilator in my mouth, I knew I had survived. I was also astonished to not be in pain. The nurses on Dr. Chikwe’s team at Cedars were also wonderful and checked on me constantly. I give Dr. Chikwe an “A+” in knowledge, class, empathy, and approach. Vivian and the rest of Dr. Chikwe’s care team also score at the top of the class. The difference between Dr. Chikwe and her team and the prior surgeon and hospital is like night and day. It’s as if Dr. Chikwe is a professional, and the others were amateurs.
I am a pillar for my family and had I not been alive to provide for my wife and kids, they would have lost their home and my kids could not have gotten the education they are getting. I went from feeling that I was going to die leaving my wife as a widow and my kids without a father to having a rich, full life, with decades of hope and expectations. And my kids are only ages 3,5, and 6 — which made my concerns even more critical and deeply felt. I was being chewed up with worry about the thought of my wife being left alone without me. Because of Dr. Chikwe, the apprehension that had consumed my world was replaced with optimism for the future of my wife and children. In saving my life, I could not ask Dr. Chikwe for a greater gift.
I recommend Dr. Chikwe and her team to anyone who needs surgery, and I’ve already recommended her to a friend who has his own challenging heart diagnosis. And as much as souls can be judged by how much others love them, I can say that when I was on my walks during my recovery at Cedars, that when I would tell the nurses that it was Dr. Chikwe who did my surgery, that they would answer, “oh, we just love Dr. Chikwe!” Dr. Chikwe truly is the best that humanity has to offer. I’ve never met a finer doctor or a more empathetic, supportive person. Dr. Chikwe has restored my life and my faith in doctors."
-- Timothy Fitzgerald, Aortic Valve, Pulmonary Valve, Root Replacement, Ross Procedure, 08/07/2022
"Dr. Chikwe’s bedside manner was very calming and comforting. She made me feel completely relaxed and that if I had surgery with her that I was going to be completely taken care of. My experience with the entire staff was so comforting from Dr. Chikwe to her entire team of doctors and nurses. Even the maintenance staff and janitors were so friendly and made me feel at home.
I never took pain pills and a month after the surgery I felt great.
Before the surgery, I was having trouble breathing and had felt that that was normal. But after surgery with Dr. Chikwe, I feel like a whole new person with a whole new life. I can breathe and take walks and not be out of breath. I can truly say that Mavis’s got her groove back! Dr. Chikwe and her team made me feel like part of a family and I would definitely come back if I ever needed care again."
-- Mavis White, Mitral Valve, Maze Procedure, 08/02/2022
"When I met the first surgeon referred by my cardiologist, this is how I feel about him: I am a surgeon, so I will do the surgery the way I think is right for you regardless of your concerns.
So, I looked for the second opinion and thank God that I met Dr. Chikwe. She listened and answered all of my concerns and questions. Then, she also introduced me to the 'Ross' procedure as the third option which I didn't even know existed, and it was the perfect choice for me.
It is a bit more complex procedure than tissue or mechanic value but it has the benefit of both. If you are a younger patient like me (46-years-old on the surgery day), you will be faced with the dilemma: a short life span of tissue valve with no blood thinner or relatively longer life mechanic valve with blood thinner which may cause blood clot or stroke.
With the Ross procedure, you will have longer life span with NO blood thinner. I am taking just 2 baby aspirin tables daily. That's it!!
Since it is a complex procedure, it has to be performed by the best surgeon and guess who can do it? Dr. Chikwe does!! She did it on my heart, and "MY HEART WILL GO ON" If you need a heart surgeon, you should consult with Dr. Chikwe and you will be so glad you meet her.
By the way many kudos to the nurses at ICU. Thank you so much for taking good care of me!!! "
-- Jay Kim, Aortic Valve, Ross Procedure, 07/26/2022
"I first discovered Dr. Chikwe on the Adam Pick’s website: https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/ which is a welcoming wealth of information for those facing open heart surgery.
After listening to her very educational and informative videos, plus reviewing her bio I knew she would be my surgeon of choice for my open heart surgery. Dr. Chikwe and her whole team gave me a sense of security and you knew this is where excellence happens! Like a well orchestrated symphony, Dr. Chikwe's team assures a level of ease.
With Mary Alvardo, the Patient Service Representative handling the scheduling and all of the questions and the very helpful hand and beautiful smile of Vivian Burkhart, Dr. Chikwe's NP. You just know having the world’s experts at your bedside you would have the best possible outcome. They are truly pros giving you 5 star treatment. In return, I give Dr. Chikwe and her entire team and the staff at Cedars-Sinai the stars of the galaxies! Thank you saving my heart!
"
-- Stan Waltemyer, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, 05/19/2022
"Can’t say enough about Dr. Chikwe! There is a reason she has the reputation that she does.
She specializes in mitral valve repair with minimally invasive robotic surgery. Her bedside manner is outstanding. Such a kind and caring doctor. I am extremely happy with my results thus far and highly recommend her.
After all, you want the best of the best when it comes to the heart surgery and that she is!"
-- Scott Wallace, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 05/04/2022
"I highly recommend watching Dr. Chikwe online videos. They offer a glimpse into her world. You can see how smart she is, and how clearly she explains the process of robotic Mitral valve repair, the risks and the benefits. You can also get a sense of how friendly, nice, kind and humble she is. Of course nothing comes close to spending time with her in person.
For several years I suffered from mild Mitral Valve regurgitation with no need for any intervention. In February I contracted Covid. Though fully vaccinated, my Mitral valve regurgitation became severe, only a few weeks before my highly anticipated trip to Israel for my daughter’s wedding. As soon as I was Covid clear I had a Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE), and a 3 days later I met with Dr. Chikwe. She needed to tell me that I could not go to the wedding, and that robotic Mitral valve surgery was needed as soon as possible. She was super sensitive and supportive when she told me this very sad news.
As a curious engineer I spent endless hours researching this procedure, and then asking very detailed questions. Dr. Chikwe had all the time and patience to answer my questions and alleviate my concerns. The hours of research, her impressive education and academic record, her vast experience in robotic Mitral valve repair, as well as the recommendation from another senior cardiologist paid off. I was clearly in very good hands.
I was very lucky to have the surgery within a week due to another patient’s cancelation. During this week my condition deteriorated significantly. I counted the days till the surgery. I knew that Dr. Chikwe most likely saved my life by not allowing me to wait till after my daughter’s wedding.
The surgery went very well. After the procedure there was no mitral valve regurgitation. My recovery was very fast. I was released after 5 days, and a week later I was already doing 5 miles on my treadmill. Throughout my recovery in the hospital there were frequent visits by Dr. Chikwe and her team. The first days after the surgery were not easy, but having her and her team there made me feel very well take care of and eased my worries.
One month after the surgery I am back to driving, working full time at the office, and enjoying even better health than before I contracted Covid.
Dr. Chikwe is a very special person. I consider myself very fortunate to have chosen her as my surgeon."
-- Ilan Paz, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, 03/17/2022
"I couldn’t be happier with my surgery with Dr. Joanna Chikwe. Dr. Chikwe’s abilities and expertise are surpassed only by her kindness. I had been diagnosed with aortic valve stenosis, mitral regurgitation, and an aortic aneurysm. Although my symptoms were still mild, I wanted to have the surgery as soon as possible because I knew that allowing my symptoms to get worse could mean difficulty breathing and the threat of a fatal rupture of my aneurysm.
This was not going to be an easy surgery. So, I interviewed surgeons at leading hospitals in California and other parts of the country. I chose Dr. Chikwe because she is the only surgeon who gave answers that really made sense. I have a friend who is a doctor and along with my wife, we conference-called the surgeons that I was considering. Dr. Chikwe was upfront in saying that she didn’t want to keep me on the heart-lung machine for very long, and that she could insert something to reduce the possibility of blood clots. When we asked about the risks of mortality, Dr. Chikwe said that if we had replaced the aortic valve in a minimally invasive way with a procedure known as a “TAVR,” that this could put dangerous pressure on my aneurysm. Dr. Chikwe made me realize that having an incision in my chest really was the safest option for me.
Dr. Chikwe’s nurse practitioner, Vivian, is also great. Vivian called me on weekends to check on my progress. The nurses were also outstanding during my five-day stay. The were very, very attentive. There was always someone there to talk with me at all times. And the nurses were all so enthusiastic and positive despite the very tough job that they all have to do. After surgery I had a normal complication called a pleural effusion, which is when fluid builds up in the lungs. I had to have my lungs drained twice after surgery. The staff handled this well and got me through it and my recovery continued normally. They also helped me to manage my pain following surgery. I also had cardiac rehab after leaving the hospital and this helped my recovery very much.
As I recovered and came to feel well again, I was so appreciative of the care given to me by Dr. Chikwe, Vivian, and the entire team that I made financial contributions to Cedars-Sinai in their names. My care takers were all great. I want to support their work and research so that they can help other patients as they helped me."
-- Viktor Failiba, Aortic Valve, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Valve Replacement, 02/22/2022
"My name is Brenda and I had mitral valve repair and a double bypass heart surgery with Dr. Joanna Chikwe at Cedars hospital in February of this year. Dr. Chikwe also saw and repaired a hole in my heart during surgery. It’s an amazing story how I ended up in the operating room with her. But first let me say how happy I am that Dr. Chikwe was my surgeon. What I loved about her is that she made me feel safe. I wasn’t afraid. We met and she explained every part of the procedure and assured me that my heart would get the much-needed repair. I knew she was going to have to perform open heart surgery, cut my sternum, and harvest veins for the bypass, but I was not afraid. I was ready and wanted to get the surgery as soon as possible. Dr. Chikwe made me feel completely safe. I also did my homework and discovered that in 2019, Dr. Chikwe was named the Founding Chair of Cardiac Surgery at Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Dr. Chikwe is supported by an amazing staff. Vivian Burkhart, her nurse practitioner, called me at home on Friday night February 4, at 7 pm to inform me that my CT angio showed that my main coronary arteries were 90% and 100% clogged. Then, on Saturday, February 5, I received calls at home from both Vivian and my Cedars cardiologist, Dr. Janet Wei, to discuss the urgency of my situation. Dr. Wei had already diagnosed me with severe mitral regurgitation, and we knew that I would need to have my mitral valve repaired. Because we first only thought that it was the valve that needed surgery, Dr. Chikwe had planned to repair it robotically. But she wanted to have the entire heart checked before surgery is performed. This is when the blockages were found, and I realized that I would have to have a chest incision with a heart-lung machine used for my surgery. On Monday, February 7, Dr. Wei and Vivian had a heart cath test run to determine the exact location of my blockage. And when I met with Dr. Chikwe and Vivian on Friday, February 11, to plan my surgery, her surgery scheduler, Mary Alvarado, came in to tell us that there was a cancellation in the OR and she could schedule me for surgery right away on Tuesday, February 15. I will never forget how Mary tried to get me in to the OR so quickly.
Following the surgery, my care team at Cedars was awesome. I have a newfound respect for nurses because of my experience at Cedars. The nurses were so kind, so patient, and so helpful in the ICU (Emily and Gio) and on the regular patient floor too. I am amazed at how kind and helpful the nurses are and yet — they are dealing with sick people all day long and their tubes, x-rays, charts, medications, and other patients all at the same time! I also had the nicest talks with nurses from all over the world. I recall nurses from the Philippines and Russia who were especially nice.
I also want to mention how all of this started. I saw Dr. Christine Shufelt in the Women’s Menopause Program for hormone therapy for the first time in September 2021. When Dr. Shufelt looked at my stress echo test results, cholesterol, and blood pressure readings from four years earlier with another doctor, she immediately referred me to Dr. Janet Wei as my cardiologist. So, if I hadn’t met with Dr. Shufelt for something unrelated to heart issues, I never would have been referred to either Dr. Wei or to Dr. Chikwe. And I might not be here now, either. I credit Dr. Shufelt with saving my life, just as I credit Dr. Wei and Dr. Chikwe. Care is truly a team effort at Cedars.
Seven months later, I feel great. My heart is stronger, and I am back on the tennis court playing tennis with my friends. I also want to put in a plug for cardiac rehab. I first turned it down because I thought I’d exercise on my own. But I changed my mind. I went three times per week for a total of 23 sessions. It was so amazing to be with other heart surgery patients. As we exercised, we were hooked up to monitors so that nurses could look at our hearts. And I cannot describe how helpful and reassuring this was. We also received nutritional counseling and learned about how our hearts work. I cannot advocate cardiac rehab strongly enough.
I am so glad that Dr. Chikwe was my surgeon and that I had the entire team at Cedars including Vivian, Dr. Wei, Dr. Shufelt, and all the other nurses and doctors. I was lucky to have Dr. Chikwe and her team because the right people MATTER. And Dr. Chikwe, Vivian, Dr.Wei, Dr. Shufelt — and all the nurses and caretakers at Cedars ARE the right people. They don’t mess around at Cedars. I am still so impressed that Vivian and Dr. Wei both called me at home on a weekend. Both my husband and I agree we’ve never seen care like this before. Dr. Chikwe and the team of doctors and nurses at Cedars saved my life!"
-- Brenda Sternthal, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, 02/15/2022
"I was first diagnosed with severe mitral valve regurgitation at another hospital. My primary care physician at the other hospital noticed a heart murmur during a routine checkup, and I was referred to a cardiologist at the other hospital for tests and diagnosis. My primary care physician was great, but my main frustration with the process during and following the diagnosis was poor communication, bordering on dismissiveness. At first, I was told I most likely had several years to deal with my mitral valve prolapse before it became a concern. But then, suddenly, less than a year-and-a-half later – as if they had missed that I had severe mitral valve regurgitation – I had just 6 months before it would begin to affect my life dramatically. And through it all, the cardiologist at the other institution never adequately addressed key considerations about treating my heart’s condition to ensure the best possible outcome, nor discussed it in a manner which provided any comfort. My confidence was shaken to say the least. They insisted that a valve replacement was the likely course of action, and even after speaking directly with their head of surgery to ensure I could get my heart valve repaired instead of replaced, it wasn’t clear how likely it was that they could carry out a successful repair instead of replacing the valve.
This concerned me because I had done my own homework and had read that mitral valve repairs are preferable to replacement because repairs mean fewer complications, such as stroke from clotting. And replaced mitral valves also must be replaced again in yet another operation after a period of years. I wanted a mitral repair because it had a greater chance of being permanent. But I felt that my concerns were being belittled. When I tried to be proactive in understanding my own care as patients are encouraged to do, the prior institution scolded me and sneered “we have all you need right here so don’t go looking elsewhere.” It seemed that the prior surgeon just wanted to pop in a new valve because the surgery would be quicker, easier, and would require less skill. And even if they did repair instead of replace the valve, they didn’t instill confidence that they would do it to the standards I was hoping for. Frustrated with the other hospital, I sought a second opinion with Dr. Joanna Chikwe at Cedars-Sinai. Even though the other institution’s insurance meant paying out of pocket for Dr. Chikwe, my decision to come to Cedars-Sinai to consult with Dr. Chikwe turned out to be the best decision I could have possibly made.
Sitting down to consult with Dr. Chikwe at Cedars was transformative for me. What drew me the most to Dr. Chikwe was her sense of calm coupled with complete competence. She conveyed the most amazing sense of knowledge about my surgery – yet she had no ego. When people are truly great at what they do – and Dr. Chikwe is – they have nothing to prove to anyone. Where the prior surgeon had been aggressive and competitive, Dr. Chikwe was simply calm and reassuring. Great surgeons like Dr. Chikwe have nothing to prove and can just calmly explain it like it is. What really won me over is that Dr. Chikwe showed the greatest concern for every one of my questions and feelings. I had never experienced such empathy from a doctor before in a situation as sensitive as this. She was completely patient with all my questions and answered each one in detail. Dr. Chikwe said in the most comforting manner that she could, in fact, repair my mitral valve when the other institution appeared to say “yes” only to appease me in hopes of getting my business. Even better, Dr. Chikwe said that she could repair my valve robotically, so that she could save me the additional pain and extended recovery time associated with having my chest cut open and my ribs spread. The other hospital didn’t even have the robotic option. As we talked, Dr. Chikwe could also tell how scared I was. But her combination of deep knowledge and concern for my feelings helped me to feel more relaxed and took me to a more Zenlike place, where I felt a sense of perspective about how the surgery could be manageable and help me to get my life back on track.
When the surgery day came, both Dr. Chikwe and her team helped me to feel prepared. And from this team, another star emerged, and that was my nurse practitioner: Vivian Burkhart. Throughout the entire experience, Vivian was great. She explained to me before the surgery that there would be tubes in my mouth (which came out right after surgery), chest (these stayed in a few days), wires from an external pacemaker (these also stayed in a few days), and a urinary catheter (this came out after a day or so). Vivian was honest that there would be some post operative pain, and she explained what my options were with pain meds. She emphasized that exercise was also part of the process, and Vivian let me know that a big part of recovery was using an inhaler and taking walks in the hospital to get my lungs and legs back in to shape. Then, Dr. Chikwe’s entire care team helped me to recover.
The rest of Dr. Chikwe’s team and the hospital staff showed the same ongoing nursing care that Vivian shared. The nurses were so amazing in how they took care of me. I was always asking a lot of questions in order to navigate the challenges of post-op recovery, and just as Dr. Chikwe had, the hospital doctors and nursing team were always patient and answered every single one. Like Dr. Chikwe, the other doctors and nurses always acknowledged my feelings and were never dismissive. They talked through my questions in detail with me, adjusted my meds as needed, and always showed respect by explaining medications and procedures with a caring and patient tone. Their care for me caused me to respect them as well - and made me want to be a better patient. Dr. Chikwe also came by to check on me and saw that my pain was managed. The nurses frequently took me on walks to get my strength back so that my lungs could gain back their full capacity (walking along the indoor hospital bridge with a view of the street was a nice highlight of my day), and this allowed them to remove my chest tubes one by one until all three tubes had been removed. By exercising, I was also preparing to walk up the two flights of stairs to my apartment when I got home.
Looking at Dr. Chikwe’s work upon returning home from the hospital, I was immediately impressed by how carefully she had cut. It was as if an artist had operated on me. And I was home in just five days because robotic surgery is minimally invasive – and I put in the work to recover at a pace to be discharged fairly quickly. Since the sternum does not need to be cut and the ribs do not have to be spread, the smaller incisions make healing faster and the hospital stay shorter. Surgery was in the morning of the 26th, and I was home in the evening of the 30th. My wife was also part of my care team. For the first week at home, which was my second after surgery, my wife helped me to get in and out of bed. But by the third week post-surgery, my pain was much better and I was able to get in and out of bed on my own. One of my concerns prior to surgery had been that my wife and I want to have a baby. But by that third week, Vivian said that it was OK for my wife and I to try to start conceiving. And now I am happy to report that my wife and I are expecting a child! Amazingly, it appears that we did conceive about three weeks after the surgery!
As I think back to my mitral surgery with Dr. Chikwe several months later, I have many good memories of how Dr. Chikwe and her team helped me through what is a challenging experience for anyone. I keep recalling my post-operative meeting with Dr. Chikwe when she sat down and quietly studied an echocardiogram of my heart and chest on a video monitor. Dr. Chikwe keeps reaffirming my impression of her as an artist who pursues her work with consummate care for every cut, every stitch, and every result. As she looked up from the monitor after carefully assessing the outcome, Dr. Chikwe smiled softly at me and said, “you had a really great result.” As she said this, I felt touched by her care for me as a patient. Dr. Chikwe impresses me as a paragon of balances: of the knowledge of a scientist with the care of an artist; of consummate skill and no ego; of world class respect and complete accessibility to patients; of deep pride in her work — yet dignified humility in being absolutely certain that her patients are happy. And I am indeed a satisfied patient. I give Dr. Chikwe and her entire care team including Vivian and the nurses five out of five stars. Heart surgery is never fun for anyone. But if you do get the diagnosis, then Dr. Chikwe and her team are who you want to be with, and Cedars-Sinai is where you want to go."
-- Jonathan Orner, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 01/26/2022
"You couldn’t ask for a better surgeon! From the moment we met, all the way through post-op, Dr. Chikwe was amazingly caring, kind and genuinely attentive.
She is so humble which was unexpected for a chief surgeon at Cedars-Sinai. She visited me every single day at the hospital and listened like my situation really mattered to her. She updated me on my progress and explained what to expect next. Her anesthesiology team, the lovely nurse practitioner, Vivian, all nurses and caregivers contributed to an experience that was beyond anything I had expected.
Dr. Chikwe calmed all my reservations and I am forever grateful."
-- Leila Saedi, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, 11/18/2021
"Dr. Chikwe replaced my Aortic valve 10 months ago.
Under tough circumstances, it was a pleasure to work with Dr. Chikwe and her Physician's Assistant, Vivian Burkhart. From the start, my wife and I felt great confidence in Dr. Chikwe. That confidence was the product of her confidence, honesty, directness and humor.
During our consultation my wife and I had few questions. Dr. Chikwe asked a couple which focused our attention: "What were our key concerns?" and "What I did I hope to gain from the surgery?" The second question stumped me. I was completely asymptomatic and hoped only to maintain what I had. But, I saw her questions got to the essence of what was important.
The results have been remarkably excellent. As time goes by, I must remind myself how quickly I recovered. I need to check the App “Map My Walk” to confirm that within 3 weeks I was taking a 3-mile walk which included a significant hill. A couple of months after the surgery, after being cleared to enter the water, I returned to my regular swimming routine.
For others considering the surgery, I should add that post-surgery I felt discomfort but little pain. The biggest source of my discomfort was intense soreness in my back chest and shoulders. That lessened over time and disappeared in a few months.
I feel as well as any 69-year-old has the right to feel. For that I owe Dr. Chikwe much thanks."
-- Gary Reiss, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, 09/08/2021
"Words alone can not express my gratitude and appreciation for Dr. Chikwe's superior skills, compassion and dedication for my well-being before, during and after surgery.
Dr. Chikwe and her team performed my robotic mitral valve repair surgery not only successfully but without any complications or even need for pain medications once discharged.
I chose Dr. Chikwe and traveled out-of-state for this procedure because of her vast successful experience and would absolutely recommend her to anyone in need of cardiac surgery."
-- Steve Rudack, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, Maze Procedure, 08/04/2021
"I scheduled my surgery at the Cleveland Clinic with a rock-star, but God had a different plan. In view of my mild aortic insufficiency, I was offered a mini-sternotomy to repair my severely-prolapsed mitral valve.
I wished for a robotic repair so I could return to work and the gym quickly. I did not want a destabilized rib cage due to lifting weights in the gym. I scheduled a telemedicine second opinion with Dr. Chikwe hoping that she would offer me a robotic repair.
On the consultation day, my office internet went down for the first time in 18 years. I drove out 3 hours to meet Dr. Chikwe in person. When her nurse practitioner was walking me into the exam room, she said "Oh, there is Dr. Chikwe." I turned around to see Dr. Chikwe and I saw a white halo around her entire body. I had never seen a halo before.
Immediately, I felt calm and comfortable with my God-chosen surgeon. In the consultation, Dr. Chikwe said her passion was robotic mitral valve repair and it's 80 percent of what she does. She was humble, patient, and compassionate. She said she could repair my mitral valve, which had severely prolapsed P1 and P2 segments robotically.
I asked her if she was the best surgeon for my repair, which did not phase or affront her. She said there are about 6 people in the country that do a lot of robotic mitral valve repairs, including the surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic that I had my surgery scheduled with, and talked up each one. I was super impressed with her humility, not a trait I expected of a heart surgeon. She further informed me that I could not wait until my surgery date because I was symptomatic and needed to have my surgery sooner.
I asked her who would be performing my surgery since Cleveland Clinic uses fellows to open and close. She informed me that she put together a dream team that she works with and reassured me that she hand-picked everyone in the OR who works with her.
I scheduled my surgery with her but wanted my wife to be on-board with change of plans. When I told my wife that when I saw Dr. Chikwe for the first time, I saw a white halo around her... My wife shared that she has been praying for God to give us a sign for my surgeon. "
-- Vadim Gurvits, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 07/27/2021
"Dr. Chikwe is a brilliant surgeon, as well as, a caring and kind physician. I am extremely grateful that I was able to have her as my lead surgeon."
-- Lorrie Wright, Mitral Valve, Tricuspid Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, Maze Procedure, 07/27/2021
"Let me start by saying I don't post on social media at all but in this case I felt it was important. I had mitral valve repair June 9th at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. My surgeon was Joanna Chikwe, also chair of the Cardiac department of the hospital.
I had the privilege to meet Dr. Chikwe while avidly researching my condition and the best surgeon for it. I came across Dr Chikwe's writings on mitral valve disease and thought I would seek her expertise. I left a message for her in the hopes she could give me surgeon recommendations on the East Coast as I live in Florida and she was familiar with North East facilities.
That led to an hour long telehealth video call with her personally. By the end of the call, I felt I completely understood my condition and what I should expect of the impending surgery. I also knew Dr Chikwe was the only surgeon for me.
Any anxiety I or my family might have had of the long trip to California was subdued as we were reminded that this surgeon was so very qualified and the reason for the journey. My expectations were so exceeded by Dr. Chikwe, her team, and the hospital.
This lovely physician inspired such confidence in a "We've got this!" feeling. She is meticulous in her surgery and the pre-op and post-op treatment. The Cedars-Sinai cardiac unit has some of the most professional, knowledgeable and compassionate staff I have come across. They are the most hard working - from the ICU nurses to the nurse assistants on the cardiac ward.
I was discharged in four days, I am four weeks post-op, I have had no complications other than being sore as expected, and I know so much of it is attributed to the very skilled and caring Dr. Chikwe."
-- Wendy Spector, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 06/09/2021
"I had a great experience with Dr. Chikwe. My recovery was quite fast, just 5 days hospital stay and surgery was successful. Dr. Chikwe is a good surgeon. She had good bedside manners and she is so caring. Highly recommend her!"
-- Fatima Diop, Mitral Valve, Valve Replacement, 05/21/2021
"Dr. Chikwe did a mitral valve repair on my prolapsed heart valve. Before the procedure she described what I could expect from the moment I woke up in the ICU to the various phases I would go through in my healing and then back to my normal life.
Dr. Chikwe has the rare ability to create a loving supportive atmosphere. She exudes enthusiasm for her work along with humility of her special skills. I sensed in speaking with her the enormous privilege she feels towards those of us who trust our hearts and lives to her skill. I have never felt such a sense of deep loving commitment toward me as a patient. Her team of doctors and nurses that took care of me in recovery were equally committed to the best care I could hope for and repeatedly expressed their admiration for her skills. With Dr. Chikwe you will always have the "A" team at your side."
-- Mark Kimball, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 04/28/2021
"Dr. Chikwe was awesome! She is also very nice. After my mitral valve surgery, I feel much better than when I first came to Cedars. I feel like a new person!"
-- Robert Henner, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, 04/28/2021
"My cardiologist recommended Dr. Chikwe, and then I used HeartValveSurgery.com to learn more about Dr. Chikwe. I was impressed with her education, experience, numerous accolades, and awards. I used her video (from this website) prior to surgery, for both my education, and also to send to my friends and family to put their minds at ease. She is a superstar and I knew I wanted her as my surgeon.
Dr. Chikwe is confident yet modest. She always made sure to credit her whole surgical team, never taking credit for her excellent surgical skills. She explained everything in detail at my consultation. From my initial consultation with her, until my post surgery appointment she always put me at ease and took the time to answer all my questions. She visited me everyday in the hospital and genuinely cared about my comfort and well being. I would highly recommend her! I also want to mention that her whole staff both in the office and at the hospital were very helpful. They made what could have been a difficult process, seamless. You are in excellent hands if you select Dr. Chikwe. My experience at Cedars Sinai was also a pleasant one. I am 3 weeks post surgery and am surprised what I am physically able to do given the nature of my surgery."
-- Sophie Arguello, Mitral Valve, Tricuspid Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, Maze Procedure, 04/25/2021
"I feel very fortunate to have been operated on by Dr. Joanna Chikwe on March 2,2021. Her entire team from Mary Alvardo (her administrative assistant) to Asma Hussaini(PA) guided me in preparation for the repair. Dr. Chikwe answered all my questions and her calm and professional style left me feeling minimal pre-surgical anxiety. Luckily, my surgery took place 2 weeks after my second Pfizer vaccination.
As a retired Cedars-Sinai RN, I know that things do not always go smoothly and it is even more important to have a great team in place - just in case. And I was one of the fortunate ones. At the end of my repair I required a pacer. The hope was that in a few days the inflammation would subside and I would no longer be in heartblock. Dr Chikwe was there every morning and in consultation with the electronic cardiologist. On March 5th I received a temporary pacemaker and, because I was still in total heartblock, on March 8th I received a permanent pacemaker. I was home the next day.
In April, I had a relapse of my auto immune disease and was placed back on prednisone which caused my blood pressure to go up. So my blood pressure medication has been doubled. I feel terrific now. I'm exercising, gardening, back in classes and chorale. Visiting with friends, children and grandchildren has been wonderful. I'm so grateful to Dr. Chikwe and the entire team at Cedars- Sinai Medical Center for the comprehensive and coordinated care that I received - "just in case"."
-- Jo Friedman, Mitral Valve, Tricuspid Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 03/02/2021
"Dr. Chikwe successfully performed a challenging robotic mitral valve repair surgery on my dad, whose concave chest bone structure posed a unique challenge.
Dr. Chikwe masterfully navigated the surgery despite the challenges posed by my dad's bone structure and was able to successfully make the repair. Few doctors know how to perform the minimally-invasive robotic heart surgery, so we were very fortunate to have Dr. Chikwe, and to have her expertise regarding this surgery.
I cannot imagine having a better surgeon for my dad than Dr. Chikwe, she really prolonged his life with a fantastic surgery and we could not be more grateful. "
-- Marie Abajann, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, Maze Procedure, 01/13/2021
"To my surgeon Dr. Chikwe and her Team, I'm truly thankful and humbled by the outstanding care and lifesaving skills that were used to literally save my life and repair my mitral valve. Dr. Chikwe is an attentive, caring and dedicated surgeon that I'll always be indebted to. Sincerely to Dr. Chikwe and Team Thank You! Peace & Blessings!"
-- Reginald T. Dorsey, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, 11/20/2020
"I decided to have a consultation with Dr. Joanna Chikwe of Cedars Sinai in Beverly Hills, CA who is one of the top minimally invasive, robotically assisted cardiac surgeons in the country and the founding Chair of the Department of Cardiac Surgery at the Smidt Heart Institute.
I called her office and was scheduled for an immediate consultation a few days later at the Smidt Heart Institute with Dr. Joanna Chikwe, Asma Hussaini (DR Chikwe's P.A.) and Mary Alvarado, the Patient Service Representative. Upon arriving at the Heart Institute I was greeted by a caring and understanding staff who made me feel safe and comfortable while talking through my options.
Dr. Chikwe was confident that she could repair my mitral valve and a replacement would most likely not be necessary as my Cardiologist had told me. I was in the Hospital for emergency Mitral Valve Surgery within a few days. The entire Cedars-Sinai hospital staff made me feel very comfortable leading up to the surgery and in the days following the procedure. I was discharged from the hospital after a few days with minor discomfort and a new outlook and hope for my life.
It has been about 3 1/2 weeks since my surgery on 10/22/20 and I am feeling great! Recovery has been surprisingly easy due to the minimally invasive procedure, and I returned to work a few days ago. As I write this, my new heart is filled with gratitude and my eyes are filled with tears for the caring and very capable Dr. Chikwe and the entire staff at Cedars-Sinai for saving my life.
I hope that each and every person reading this, who must face this unsure and frightening challenge in their lives, can take some comfort in knowing that there are special people like Dr. Joanna Chikwe and her staff that are there for us in our biggest time of need."
-- Brandon Hammer, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 10/22/2020
"I am very grateful to Dr. Joanna Chikwe and Dr. Alfredo Trento as well as the surgical team, physician’s assistants, and nurses for the excellent professional care I received during my stay from March 19 through 22 for my mitral valve repair.
Our prior research informed us that it is very important to choose a team with extensive valve repair experience, both for the surgeons and the technical support team. Drs. Chikwe and Trento are world class surgeons with extensive expertise in robotic repair of mitral valves and this team ranks as one of the best on the west coast.
Dr. Chikwe is a strong advocate for valve repair as opposed to replacement whenever possible as this leads to a more durable outcome. I came to surgery with significant regurgitation that was completely corrected by the robotic surgery. Dr. Chikwe explained the surgical outcome to my wife after the surgery in very clear terms.
I was impressed with her bed side manner and follow-up care of me. The nursing staff was exceptional in their kind care of me after surgery. I had very little pain afterwards and was up and walking the day after surgery. At two months after surgery, I was walking 10,000 steps per day. I would advise anyone needing mitral valve repair to consider Dr. Chikwe’s team for the surgery."
-- Richard Maki, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 03/19/2020
"I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse and regurgitation but was asymptomatic. In December 2019, after my last echo stress cardiogram, my left ventricle enlarged and my cardiologist recommended it was time for repair surgery and referred me to Dr. Joanna Chikwe, Professor & Chair of the Department of Cardiac Surgery Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars Sinai.
I was told she was an excellent surgeon and top in the field of micro-robotic mitral valve repair. I researched her background and found she was indeed one of the nation’s top surgeons. Her background, education and experience was remarkable and I felt lucky to have one of the best known cardiac surgeons.
Because of her notoriety, she could have been very egotistical like some of the doctors that I know, but she was so down to earth and more importantly very easy to talk to. She was informative but very personal. I was confident going into surgery knowing I had her as my surgeon.
After surgery, while I was in the hospital, Dr. Chikwe visited me every day and made me feel at ease showing interest in my recovery. Also, the nurses, staff, and Dr. Chikwe’s assistants were all very professional and cordial.
Anybody who is treated by Dr. Chikwe will be very lucky. Cedars-Sinai was very smart to recruit her from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York to head the Smidt Heart Institute. Thank you Dr. Chikwe."
-- Albert (Joey) Nakazawa, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 03/03/2020
"How fortunate I was to have Dr. Joanna Chikwe as my heart surgeon. I was suffering from an ascending aortic aneurysm, leaky aortic valve, and blocked coronary arteries. To my surprise and delight, Dr. Chikwe was able to repair the valve, rather than replace it. She also resected the aortic aneurysm and performed a coronary bypass graft on three arteries.
My father was a brain surgeon and I had a checklist of things I admire in surgeons. Dr. Chikwe met all my criteria. First, what a pair of hands she has—long and lithe fingers in perfect shape, well suited for quick and careful suturing of vessels. But more importantly, she is confident yet modest with an exemplary sense of empathy.
Almost immediately upon meeting her she put me at ease and I never worried about the result—I had a full and quick recovery. I also appreciated her post-operative care and her frequent checks on me while I was in intensive care. I recommend her highly and can’t say enough about the high quality of the care I received as a result of her skill and under her supervision at Cedars Sinai."
-- Chris Fager, Aortic Valve, Valve Repair, Median Sternotomy, 01/15/2020
" Excellent!"
-- Patricia Reuter, Mitral Valve, Tricuspid Valve, Valve Repair, 05/14/2019
"Truly the very best surgeon. She possesses extreme skills and is very friendly and knowledgeable. The top surgeon in her field. Thanks, Dr. Chikwe."
-- Robert Crowley, Pulmonary Valve, 11/13/2018
"Dr. Chikwe is a national treasure. I would have a much shorter life had it not been for. Explaining the procedure, and the healing is understanding. She explains details. Personally, she’s my "Dr. Princess" who had my heart in her hands. Wishing you many years of success in your career and then again many more. I would not hesitate recommending a consult with her. ♥️"
-- Maureen Ahad, Tricuspid Valve, Valve Repair, 05/14/2018
"Dr Chikwe took her time to explain everything in detail, she exudes confidence and even when my Mitral Valve proved to be a "challenging" repair, she took the time to repair rather than replace, she also repaired my Aortic valve while she was in there. If you are faced with a valve problem, see her for consult, she is an expert in repair in my book and her credentials are second to none."
-- Arthur Hall, Aortic Valve, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, 08/15/2017
"I have never had such confidence in a Doctor as I had with Dr. Chikwe. The most reassuring smile at all times. Dr. Chikwe was born to be a great surgeon and I was lucky to have her for my procedure. Thank you and the wonderful nurses that supported you."
-- Harry Vaughn, Aortic Valve, 10/06/2016
"Dr. Joanna Chikwe is a cardiac surgeon treasure find! A superb heart surgeon who effectively saved my life. Dr. Chikwe thoroughly explained with care to my wife, Jean, and I the details of the surgery and what to expect in recovery and rehabilitation. She has a very reassuring and comforting presence."
-- Arthur Lozeau, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, Maze Procedure, 09/07/2016
"Dr. Chikwe gave Joe's heart back, and stole ours! She was magic. Perfect."
-- Anthony Bly, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, 01/31/2015
"The best kind of professional, Dr. Chikwe was supportive and encouraging and kept me reassured while she did a great job. Five years later and all is well!"
-- Gavin Masterson, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, 07/23/2014
"Dr. Joanna Chikwe was extremely knowledgeable and very patient answering our questions. Dr. Chikwe was very available for discussion of any concerns before and after surgery."
-- Nancy Cruz, Aortic Valve, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Valve Replacement, 09/14/2011
"My experience with Dr. Joanna Chikwe was exceptional. Within a few minutes of meeting her I knew that she would be the surgeon to repair my mitral valve. She did not disappoint. Her warm, caring personality won me over. She was approachable,responsive and caring right up to the days before surgery. Not only was my surgery and immediate recovery uneventful thankfully, but she came to my hospital bed twice daily. Dr. Chikwe was a ray of sunshine with her warm smile and cheerful encouraging words. She was like a friend coming to cheer me on in my recovery. "
-- Bonnie Perman, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Mini-Thoracotomy / Port Access, 10/04/2010
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