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Maryland Heart Center

Patient Success Stories

Joseph Rouse Now Walks Two Miles a Day After Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery


In the early 90's I was diagnosed with aortic stenosis. At the time, my cardiologist said he couldn't get an aortic valve for me. I had a heart murmur for many years.

More recently, my cardiologist, who used to work at University of Maryland, tested me and he told me I needed an aortic valve replacement. My main symptom was shortness of breath. I used to run, but I got so out of breath I couldn't run anymore, so I started to walk. I also had a breathing problem at the doctor's office and then they discovered it was problem with my aortic valve.

My cardiologist told me about [cardiac surgeon] Dr. Jamie Brown because he couldn't do the surgery minimally invasively and Dr. Brown could. So I went to Dr. Brown. He said he was going to do a minimally invasive aortic valve replacement using a small incision between the ribs.

I had the minimally invasive aortic valve replacement surgery on July 4, 2005. I recovered very well. The surgery was completely successful and the valve has held up well. Now I can walk two miles a day.

Dr. Brown is great. I gave him a big reward -- a pen with his name inscribed in it. My son runs a pen store so he made the pen for me.

My new valve works well. I feel better and everything's fine.


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