With permission from our patient to post, Thomas is sitting in a chair doing crossword puzzles, just two days after major reconstructive heart surgery, replacing his mitral valve and repairing his tricuspid valve, radio-frequency bi-atrial maze procedure for atrial fibrillation, clip occlusion of his left atrial appendage to reduce his lifelong risk of stroke from afib, and replacement of his ascending aorta for a large aortic aneurysm that was found incidentally during his workup for his valvular heart disease! Now that’s a large puzzle!

Thomas is doing great on postoperative day 2 and reports no pain! We have restored his heart valve function and he is no longer in atrial fibrillation, and we prevented the possibility of an aortic rupture that most certainly put his life at great risk. He will remain on blood thinners for only a few months, so long as his heart rhythm stays normal.

Congratulations to Thomas, and to our collaborative heart teams at Jefferson Einstein Montgomery Hospital!