One of the most common questions of patients is to know what activities they can do after heart surgery. I tell them no driving for 4 weeks, no lifting more than 10 pounds for 10 weeks, but often I quip that once they are healed, “they can do handstands.”
Apparently, this patient took my advice to heart! With permission from the patient to post, this 40-year-old man underwent mitral valve repair surgery via a sternotomy only 10 weeks prior and decided to send me this video today of him doing a handstand! Amazing!
Once again, it underscores my advice that conventional open-heart surgery remains the gold standard and can be performed with outstanding results and early recovery to “normal” activities.
Recent Posts
Hibernating Myocardium
Hibernating myocardium is a condition where a part of the heart muscle has difficulty contracting due to reduced blood flow. It can occur over days, months, or years, and can be reversed with revascularization. With permission from the patient to post, this video...
Triple Valve Surgery and Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is often described as either valvular AFib or nonvalvular AFib. AFib is considered valvular when seen in patients who have a heart valve disorder or a prosthetic heart valve in place. Nonvalvular AFib maybe caused by medical disorders such as high...
Respiratory Care Week
Respiratory Care Week is a special time to honor the hard work and dedication of respiratory therapists. Their impact on patient care is truly invaluable. As key members of our collaborative heart team, they play a crucial role in caring for our post-operative...
Beautiful Hospitals Impact Healing
I’ve been fortunate to work at aesthetically beautiful hospitals for my entire career. It’s important to understand that beautifully-designed hospital spaces do have a positive impact on healing, from allowing in natural light, to the construction of healing gardens...
How Safe are GLP Medications?
Drugs known as GLP-1 medications are being widely prescribed in the United States. The most well-known are Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy, Cagrisema, and Rybelsus. In this video, I explained the basics, including how they work, their impact on the heart, and some of their...
Tricuspid Valve Repair
With permission from the patient to post, this active 77-year-old man from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was troubled by severe tricuspid valve regurgitation secondary to chronic atrial fibrillation. His symptoms included extreme tiredness, shortness of breath with...
Featured
Pages
- Learn about heart valves. Heart Valves
- Read testimonials. Testimonials
- Did you know I have a consulting firm? Singer Heart/Lung Consulting
- Check out my TedTalk! Defining Success
Links
- Links page with more information about your heart. Links
- Dr. Adam Pick's Site: heart-valve-surgery.com
