A leaky valve and a minimally invasive option

Shortness of breath and fatigue were the first signs that something was wrong for Laura May.

Then, she was driving to work one day and suddenly began feeling very sick. A visit to the doctor found her blood pressure to be extremely high, and additional tests discovered a heart murmur and a leaking mitral valve.

After getting referred to cardiovascular surgeon Sanjay Tripathi, MD—and even more tests—surgery turned out to be May’s best treatment option, and the news sent her into a whirlwind of worry.

“That’s not something you want to hear, because the first things that went through my head were my kids, my grandson, my family—what's going to happen?” shares May as tears fill her eyes.

Amidst the overwhelming emotions and tough decisions, May found comfort in the care and support she received from Tripathi and his team, who affectionately call her Ms. May.

“This condition with her symptoms, if left untreated, can cause serious long-term damage to the heart, which is hard to recover from,” says Tripathi. “The best thing is to fix the mitral valve.”

May appreciated how clearly and patiently Tripathi explained all her options, helping her understand the process and feel supported every step of the way. In the end, she opted for a minimally invasive robotic operation rather than the traditional open-heart surgery.

Minimally invasive robotic surgery involves making several small incisions around the chest, instead of the traditional surgery’s single long incision that requires dividing the breastbone.

“There is less pain, less discomfort, a lower risk of infection, and overall, the recovery is much faster,” explains Tripathi.

The surgeon has performed over 100 robotic cardiac surgeries throughout his career, and May was excited to be the first Bloomington patient.

“The experience, outside of being scary, was amazing,” says May, who is now one month post-surgery and feeling more alive and energetic again. “The people were amazing and so supportive. It's just an experience that I've never experienced before. I’ve been in the hospital before, and it was nothing like it was here.”