Eye on Health: Minimally invasive heart valve surgery restores patient’s active life

Life changes when you can breathe again. An avid walker for years, Al Cover noticed his energy slipping away until an ultrasound revealed a serious heart condition.

Al was diagnosed with aortic valve stenosis – a condition where calcium buildup on heart valves can become deadly within two years if left untreated. Common symptoms include chest pain, fainting spells, a drop in blood pressure and neurologic symptoms—all warning signs that shouldn’t be ignored.

Al underwent a minimally invasive heart valve procedure last fall at Elkhart General Hospital. “I’m back to where I was before, walking hills,” the 62-year-old proudly describes. “And in my work, my business partners recognize the increase in my energy again, too.”

Dr. Walter Halloran, the cardiothoracic surgeon at Beacon Medical Group who performed Al’s procedure, warns that this condition can be more lethal than many cancers. But thanks to modern surgical techniques, most patients can return to normal activities within a few weeks.

Watch our latest Eye on Health on WSBT to learn the warning signs and treatment options that could save your life.