MY RELATIONSHIP TO DA VINCI SURGERY: Patient

MY CONDITION: Other Cardiac Condition

TYPE OF PROCEDURE I HAD: da Vinci Mitral Valve Repair

DATE OF PROCEDURE: Jul 17, 2008

MY SURGEON: Dr. Richard J. Shemin

HOSPITAL WHERE MY PROCEDURE WAS PERFORMED: UCLA Medical Center

OTHER TREATMENTS I CONSIDERED BEFORE DA VINCI SURGERY:
Standard mitral valve repair with opening the chest

THE BIGGEST CONCERNS I HAD ABOUT TREATMENT:
That it was equal medically to the scanner procedure

WHY I CHOSE DA VINCI SURGERY:
The shorter recovery time, less pain and lack of invasiveness. I did not want my chest opened up, and experience all the ramifications from that procedure.

HOW LONG I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL:
6 days

MY PAIN AND/OR DISCOMFORT LEVEL:
Zero pain and some discomfort

ABOUT MY RECOVERY TIME:
In seven days I was home taking care of myself; in two weeks I was driving a car; in four weeks I was lawn bowling; in five weeks I was rollerblading; in six weeks I was playing tennis with no restrictions at all.

WHEN I RETURNED TO NORMAL ACTIVITIES:
Resumed all activities and sports within seven weeks

ABOUT MY SURGEON AND/OR FACILITY STAFF:
They were absolutely outstanding. Dr. Shemin's staff was great. Dr. Shemin is one of the best heart surgeons in the world, and also an extremely nice person which is a rare combination. The care and competency level of the UCLA nurses and doctors was absolutely the best. If any visit to the hospital can be fun, this visit to UCLA Medical Center and the subsequent surgery was that.

HOW DA VINCI SURGERY COMPARED TO MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES OR PRECONCEPTIONS OF SURGERY:
I had an ACL replaced 25 years ago by Dr. Steadman, which was also a fabulous operation by a very competent physician.

I WOULD RECOMMEND DA VINCI SURGERY TO MY FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS!

The Veterans Administration, which has treated me well throughout the years, became aware that the mitral regurgitation was getting worse and requested in a very forceful manner that I get an echocardiogram to see what was going on. After my second echocardiogram the VA cardiologist, Dr. Donald Chang, said that I needed to get my mitral valve repaired or replaced. At first I thought I was going to have my chest opened up, but upon extensive research on the Internet, I found the da Vinci System and its capabilities.

There is absolutely no sense--if you are a viable candidate-- to go in through the chest and all the pain, invasiveness, recovery time and everything else involved in that surgery. You may get a slightly better closure of the valve, but certainly not worth the aggravation, pain and recovery time that that involves. This is absolutely the best procedure, if you qualify.

Through Intuitive Surgical's web site, I found the name and phone number for Dr. Shemin and subsequently checked out his qualifications, which were impeccable. I also checked out UCLA Medical Center's qualifications, which was rated third in the country.