Loveland girl’s life saved after automobile crash revealed coronary heart situation

Marcie Mastropaolo, a Loveland mom of two, was in her 20s when she was in a automobile crash. Whereas on the hospital, docs observed she had a coronary heart murmur, which in the end led her to endure a uncommon type of open coronary heart surgical procedure, referred to as the Ross Process, on Thursday at Christ Hospital.

The process, usually carried out in younger kids, is turning into extra frequent amongst younger adults underneath the age of 50. The extraordinarily technical surgical procedure is barely carried out by a handful of surgeons within the Tri-State.

“A coronary heart murmur is simply the noise that they hear.” mentioned Mastropaolo. “It is just like the blood circulation going again they usually don’t essentially know precisely what’s going on so we took these subsequent steps discover out. An echo-cardiogram, the place you’ll be able to truly see your coronary heart and that is the place they take a look at all of the valves they usually came upon that I do have that Bicuspid valve.

Docs found she had coronary heart illness, a bicuspid aortic valve.

On the time, Mastropaolo was instructed her situation would solely must be monitored yearly all through her life and that there might be a chance of surgical procedure in her 70s.

As a substitute, she not too long ago discovered her valve was failing and if she did not act quickly, she will not be alive in 5 years.

After a number of medical opinions she wound up in entrance of Christ Hospital surgeon Dr. J. Michael Smith, who mentioned she was an awesome candidate for the Ross Procedure.

Within the process, a surgeon takes the diseased valve and replaces it with the sufferers wholesome pulmonary valve. The pulmonary valve is then changed with a valve from a cadaver.

“Previously 5 years as extra proof has come out displaying that that is actually a greater operation, a greater valve substitute for youthful sufferers, the variety of ross procedures being carried out in the US, Canada and Europe is basically rising,” mentioned Smith.

Mastropaolo’s first heart specialist mentioned the best choice she had was to obtain a mechanical valve, however as a result of she must be placed on blood thinners for the remainder of her life, Mastropaolo was involved in regards to the high quality and size of life the choice would offer.

Mastropaolo mentioned she is sharing her story to encourage others to get their hearts checked out.

“If it hadn’t been for the automobile accident I do not know once I would have been recognized,” she mentioned.