John's Profile

Ross procedure in 1993 for aortic stenosis (bicuspid valve) at Cleveland Clinic with Delos Cosgrove surgeon. Aortic and Pulmonic valves replaced again in 2018 due to pulmonic stenosis and both valves leaking. Replaced with Edwards cow tissue valves, both size 29 mm. Heart was enlarged and up against my ribs so they did the heart bypass through my shoulder and groin to avoid cutting into a beating heart. Surgery was 12 hours. Recovery was way easier the second time, probably just because I knew what to expect. Everything healed up well in six weeks. I tried to run at six weeks out and found my aerobic capacity much reduced compared to pre-surgery. Could only go half a block. I work out every day trying to get back into shape. After my first surgery I was able to do a 500 mile week long bike ride six months after surgery. I'm not there this time but working on getting there. LV Ejection fraction before second surgery = 51% from MRI from Echo: LV EF (M-mode): 56.4 % LV 5/6 AL EF 62.9 % LV EF 5 weeks after surgery = 45% from Echo Another echo planned for August = 10 months post surgery. Back to 55% ejection fraction after that one and the same on the next one a year later. It took a year and a half to get back to running a mile without stopping. Since then I have done a couple 14 milers.