A lot of folks have been asking what Rob’s surgery entails.

In short, open heart surgery to repair a dilated ascending aorta, dilated aortic root and also replace his 25-year-old mechanical aortic valve while they are in there.

The longer version is that Rob was born with a bicuspid aortic heart valve. The condition was diagnosed when a ROTC physical detected a heart murmur. After a few years of monitoring, it was determined that it was necessary to replace his valve and he underwent open heart surgery to replace the valve. A mechanical valve was put in and he has been on blood thinners since (to lessen the risk of clotting a strokes associated with the mechanical valve).

Commonly with a bicuspid valve, a person will also have a dilated ascending aorta and/or aortic root. That dilation can cause a dissection (rupture), which is very often fatal. Since that surgery 25 years ago, he has regularly seen a cardiologist for monitoring for this and other issues. At this spring’s visit with the cardiologist, it was determined that he had reached the point where his ascending aorta is dilated to a point that surgery is recommended (>5.5cm).  There is also something going on in the aortic root – could a blob on the imaging, could be a contained leak or dilation. They won’t know until they get in there. But their goal is to repair everything and give him a new valve while they are at it. If all goes to plan, this could be his last heart repair (insert prayers here).

The surgery is being performed at Tufts Medical Center by Dr. Frederick Chen. It is currently scheduled for tomorrow morning. Rob has been in the hospital since yesterday so they could take him off of blood thinners and thicken his blood up safely. If they cannot get his blood “thickness” to the point where they like it, there is an outside chance he surgery will get pushed out a day.

Fingers crossed surgery can happen tomorrow – I think he’s ready to get this done and get back out on the golf course!

xo