Perry County resident Susan Cover calls her heart doctors heroes. And she should know. Susan's had a lifelong heart condition and has had two minimally invasive procedures at UPMC Harrisburg in the last ten years.
Her experience at UPMC Harrisburg was a positive one.
"I don't think I could get any better care at another hospital," says Susan. "Everyone I encountered, from housekeeping to dietary, was so kind."
Her doctors never appeared rushed; Susan remembers,
"They always listened and took the time to answer my questions."
A Mitral Valve Murmur
Susan had experienced a mitral valve murmur for most of her life. A mitral valve murmur is when blood flows backward through the mitral valve from the left ventricle to the left atrium. It can cause shortness of breath, fatigue, and an irregular heartbeat.
Susan first noticed her murmur during her training to become a nurse. To monitor her heart, she regularly visited UPMC cardiologist Todd Bokelman, MD.
A few years ago, her shortness of breath became more bothersome. Her doctors suggested Susan get surgery to repair her heart. Worried about open-heart surgery, Susan asked about her options.
Dr. Bokelman reassured her that additional treatment options were possible thanks to the expertise of the experts at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute.
Minimally Invasive Robotic-Assisted Surgery
In 2017, Susan met with Mubashir Mumtaz, MD, a cardiac surgeon at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC Harrisburg. They discussed her options and scheduled her procedures.
"I was impressed with how patient-oriented Dr. Mumtaz was," Susan said. "I never felt like a number to him."
Dr. Mumtaz performed robotic heart bypass with a mitral valve replacement. The benefits of robotic cardiac surgery include smaller incisions, a lower risk of infection, less scarring, and reduced hospital time.
Susan had some pain right after surgery, but to her amazement, doctors discharged her about six days later. A few weeks following the surgery, she felt noticeably better.
"The scar from my robotic cardiac procedure is so faint that no one could tell I had heart surgery," said Susan.
Once Dr. Mumtaz cleared her, Susan completed cardiac rehab. Cardiac rehab is a supervised outpatient program to improve the strength of your heart. The sessions are about an hour, three times weekly, for 6 to 12 weeks.
Cardiac rehab may include exercising, such as walking on a treadmill or pedaling a stationary bike. It also includes a risk factor assessment and developing a dietary plan.
Cardiac rehab will also support the patient with the emotions they may feel after surgery, such as fear, anxiety, or depression. A team of nurses, dietitians, and exercise specialists developed a plan based on Susan's unique and specific needs.
A Leaky Aortic Valve and TAVR
In 2021, Susan needed to have an aortic valve replacement. She was a candidate for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a minimally invasive procedure that replaces a narrowed and unopened aortic valve.
Hemal Gada, MD, structural interventional cardiologist, performed a repeat heart catheterization before her TAVR. This procedure ensured the surgical team had the imaging they needed before the TAVR procedure.
As a nurse, Susan was amazed at how well Dr. Gada and Dr. Mumtaz stay current with cutting-edge research while being incredibly attentive doctors.
"Words cannot express my gratitude and appreciation for the care and concern I got from the physicians who took care of me. I credit them and UPMC for saving my life – literally," said Susan.
Susan's treatment and results may not be representative of similar cases.