Who doesn’t know somebody with a heart murmur? For most of his life, Kurt Salziger of Corpus Christi considered his murmur a common condition and a topic for light conversation — not a serious subject. During a routine check-up, however, the 52-year-old writer and public relations professional discovered that his heart murmur, also known as mitral valve prolapse, was something far more serious.
Kurt’s mitral valve, the “in-flow” valve for the left side of the heart, was leaking severely. Without surgery, he could die. Kurt traveled to Houston where renowned surgeon, Dr. Gerald Lawrie of the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center (MDHVC), performed a robotic-assisted procedure to repair the damaged valve. Dr. Lawrie, a pioneer in valvular surgery, invented the technique known around the world as “The American Correction,” which has proven extremely successful in repairing diseased mitral valves. In 2007, Dr. Lawrie was also the first to use a surgical robot to successfully repair a mitral valve using this advanced technique.
Just two weeks after his surgery, Kurt was back at work and resuming his normal activities, including fishing at the beach in Corpus Christi. Instead of having a fatal heart condition, he now has a repaired heart, more energy, and a renewed zest for life. He credits it all to Dr. Lawrie and Methodist.
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