Message from Dr. Bolman

We have operated on our first three patients. The first had a mitral commissurotomy, and is doing well. Yesterday, we did two double valves- a mitral and tricuspid repair, and a mitral replacement-tricuspid repair. All are doing well.

The stepdown team has arrived and is setting up today to receive their first patient. Today, are doing a double valve in a 16 yo 65 # girl. The team is a bit concerned regarding her size, but she is very sick and we are going ahead. This afternoon, we are actually doing a familiar case- an aortic valve replacement in a middle-aged woman with calcific aortic stenosis. Everyone is working very hard.

Yesterday, the events in the OR included a brief loss of electrical power, which is expected and was extremely well handled. Fortunately, it was very brief, as we were sewing in a tricuspid ring at the time. At Mike's behest, however, we did proceed to finish expeditiously. Seems the oxygen system is fixed, but the electrical system is a bit spotty. Oh, well. No place is perfect.

All-in-all, the experience has been very positive. Everyone is much more comfortable, and it just feels smoother, as everyone has some sense of what we can and cannot do. The patients are quite a bit sicker than last year- many more double valves, etc. It is such a privilege for all of us, and it is still pretty overwhelming to be doing this. Everyone feels that this is the best thing that we get to do in our lives. That's about all you can ask. Hope everything is good at home. More to follow.