Michelee's Posts

I did mitral valve repair at Cleveland Clinic, but I know that there are recent aortic valve/root patients on this site. Catie B comes to mind, but there are others. As for the treatment before and after surgery, they are very comprehensive in their approach to making surgery as comfortable as possible for both the patient and their support people.

Michelee, my Cleveland Clinic surgeon who operated on my aortic aneurysm and aortic root and replaced my aortic valve on 9/29/16 was Gosta Pettersson. My enlarged aortic root was one of the reasons he was recommended to me, and several nurses while I was in Cleveland told me they would pick Dr. P if they needed a similar surgery. Lars Svensson and Eric Roselli are also much admired there. It sounds like you have some lead time, and that is a great thing. I didn't meet Dr. Pettersson till the night before surgery. That is one thing I would have changed, but they set everything up for one trip in my case. My aneurysm was at 4.8/4.9 and I'm petite at 5'4". You're probably very well aware that they factor in body size when determining the right time for surgery. My planning, surgery and travel experience was completely on my own. Cleveland Clinic is awesome in a myriad of ways, but I did encounter some administrative headaches along the way leading up to the operation. I felt that the care I received while there and afterward (I had a few complications) was very attentive and high quality.

I had my ascending aorta graft/repair surgery 2 years ago... I truly admired my cardiologist at CC and he immediately consulted with Dr.Svennson. I met with Dr.Svennson beginning of Feb. and had my surgery scheduled once we finished my appt for Feb 22. Dr.Svennson is an amazing surgeon... gentle man of few words, but he knows exactly what to do in the operating room. He checked on me every single morning. I had complications that ended me me back in the hospital for almost 3 more weeks, which required another surgery. He stepped up and continued to watch over me again every single day. Overall... nursing staff was good, Dr.Svennson’s nurse, Sandy, was an angel, but some of the step down unit cardiologist I grew frustrated with as they didn’t take into consideration my full medical background ( I have Turner Syndrome, which is starting to fall under a connective tissue disorder. My asi was 4.0 but I am 4’10” tall). Good luck and best wishes as you travel through this. We are all here for you.

July 2016 I had a bicuspid valve repair and most of my aorta replaced by Dr Roselli at the Cleveland Clinic. I cannot say enough good things. I travelled from Portland for the surgery. I know people on this board had some good experiences here in Portland, but I felt most comfortable with surgeons who do this kind of thing day in and day out. I wanted them to be working on muscle memory. :) I really cannot express my gratitude or communicate how impressed I was with CC staff.