The Authors
Rochus Voeller, MD (left)
and
Mario Castillo-Sang, MD (right)
Two Heart Surgeons and friends who trained together at Washington University in Saint Louis/Barnes-Jewish Hospital looking to positively impact the public’s knowledge on mitral valve disease and the therapeutic options available to them across the United States.
About the authors
As cardiac surgeons caring for persons who seek help with their mitral valve problems we found some concerning commonalities to their adversities.
The first is the shock of being told they have a heart problem that needs surgical intervention or in the least a form of intervention, or follow-up. This information can be crippling for some. We saw how these news paralyzes some, while others seek out and inform themselves. Every mind is different and the different reactions are understandable. The anxiety and fear brought on by such news cannot be judged, but by the person living through it.
The second challenge we recognized is the paucity of factual succinct information presented in layman's terms for the everyday person. Knowledge is power or at least it empowers us to make the best decisions possible. When buying a car there are so many reviews on a particular brand and model as well as resources to find the best deal and the friendliest car dealer. When it comes to healthcare we are behind in being able to provide the same level resources on the pathology/problem, the people/surgeons that specialize in the problem, and finally the best approach/operation for the problem. We thought this needs to change and this website is our attempt in improving at least one, hopefully two of these deficiencies.
With this online tool we hope to provide the factual information regarding mitral valve disease, its symptoms, its long-term outcome and the most up-to-date way of treating the different problems that plague persons with mitral valve disease. All of this within what in medicine is known as evidence-based therapies, and those therapies approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States.
With all the above in mind, this is not intended to become or substitute medical advise, but rather provide information about diseases of the mitral valve as well as the available approved therapies for these conditions. Because the main objective is to inform non-medical persons the language use is not necessarily medical parlance. The information contained here is based on the most accepted therapies with the strongest evidence of success within the specialty of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery. Few citations are used, as the data presented does not portend to present the scientific basis supporting a therapy, but merely making the person aware of its acceptance.
Within this website you will find links to professional associations and other relevant websites that provide factual information on mitral valve care including the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, The American Heart Association, and the American College of Cardiology.