Open Heart Surgery Adds Nearly 20 Years to Man's Life

It was a surgery like many others. Bill Rohwedder closed his eyes for a moment, and it was complete. But this wasn’t a minimally invasive procedure.

This was open-heart surgery.

Specifically, Rohwedder had his sternum opened and aortic valve replaced, which required his care team at UnityPoint Health – Waterloo, Allen Hospital to stop his heart and execute a cardiopulmonary bypass.

“This wasn’t one of those surgeries where it’s not that big of a deal,” Rohwedder says. “It was scary going in. But when I came out, I don't think I've ever seen a nicer bunch of people. I really can’t say enough good things about Dr. Bhavik Patel, Brianna Rolf, PA, the nurses and the rest of that team.” 

Undergoing Open-Heart Surgery for Aortic Stenosis

Rohwedder was referred to Dr. Patel by his provider at the cardiovascular center. The 65-year-old had severe aortic stenosis, a situation that develops when the aortic valve narrows and blood can’t flow normally from the left ventricle to the main artery.

“In the office, Dr. Patel told me how things would go and what I should expect,” he says. “He laid out my options for me. He was very black and white, and that's what I like. He made it clear he would do whatever I chose to do, and I really appreciated it.”

"Bill’s surgery went exceptionally well,” Rolf says. “He had a quick recovery in the hospital and continued to make incredible progress after discharge. He took everything in stride and had such a great attitude.”

By replacing the bad valve through open-heart surgery, Dr. Patel estimates Rohwedder added 15-20 years to his life. And if he needs another valve at that time, he’ll be better situated to do a minimally invasive TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement).

A Remarkable Recovery After Open-Heart Surgery

Rohwedder’s recovery was as smooth as one would dare imagine. He was off opioids the same day as surgery and hasn’t taken more than Tylenol since leaving the hospital.

“I can walk a mile and a half now, and I don’t even feel like I’ve been through surgery,” he says. “We walk the sidewalks here, and there’s a hill in the middle of a park where I used to have to stop three or four times. Now, I can walk straight up the hill and back home, and I don’t even know it’s there. I mean, that’s the difference. That’s what surgery did for me.”

Gratitude for Exceptional Cardiac Care

Rohwedder shared his gratitude in his post-surgery survey.

“Allen Hospital is second to none,” he wrote. “I was truly amazed at the caring professionalism shown me during my stay, surgery and follow-up care. To all involved, thank you for giving me a new lease on life. You’re remarkable people.”

“It’s incredibly rewarding to get the chance to follow patients throughout their recovery,” Rolf says. “We strive to support our patients during this difficult journey, and it makes me happy to know Bill felt we did that for him.”