William Wisener
Just weeks after having a minimally invasive aortic valve replacement surgery at the University of Maryland Heart Center, 80-year-old William Wisener can notice the improvement in his heart. He breathes easier and he acknowledges that his circulation has improved because he no longer has tingling in his fingers or stiffness in his hips.
Mr. Wisener suffered from severe aortic stenosis, a condition that impairs the aortic valve from opening properly and therefore causes an obstruction in blood flow. Mr. Wisener knew there was a problem with his heart because he often had shortness of breath.
Right now, as part of his recovery, Mr. Wisener is undergoing physical therapy close to his hometown on the eastern shore. On one particular day, he needed a stress test. When he got the results, he was told that he did better than a recent person who was only 27 years old. “I said to the therapists, you do realize that I am 80?" recounts Mr. Wisener.
“I am glad I went through the surgery. I have no complaints and only praise for the University of Maryland,” says Mr. Wisener.
He continues, “Actually, my one complaint is that they got me out of bed to walk too quickly! I was eating my breakfast on the first morning after surgery when the man came in and said it was time to get out bed and walk.”
"We attempt to get every patient out of bed and taking steps soon after surgery," says Mr. Wisener's surgeon Jamie Brown, who is a cardiac surgeon and head of the aortic valve surgery program at the Maryland Heart Center and an associate professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. "This greatly helps in the recovery process."
Mr. Wisener has made a great recovery according to Dr. Brown.
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