Heart Valve Voice Canada

Robotic valve surgery shows exciting results

A new robotic surgery program was launched this year at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, focused on mitral valve repair to treat degenerative mitral regurgitation. Surgeon Dr. Derrick Tam (pictured) uses robotic arms to control the fine instruments that perform the surgery. “What has surprised me most is how quickly patients recover,” Dr. Tam says. “Many are walking the same day, and most go home in only a few days with very small incisions.”

He is tracking outcomes including recovery, quality of life, and long-term results. “The patient feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and it has reinforced how meaningful less invasive surgery can be to people’s lives,” Dr. Tam says.

Quiz: Are you at risk for diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for many kinds of heart disease, and can lead to worse outcomes for people who have been diagnosed with valve disease.

This interactive quiz from Health Canada helps you assess your risk of diabetes and pre-diabetes. It also provides helpful tips for reducing that risk.

Danny’s story: Growing up with valve disease

Danny Covey was born with two malformed heart valves. His childhood was marked by frequent trips to the emergency room and three open-heart surgeries.

Learn how he overcame these challenges to live a full life, raising a family, pursuing a career and realizing his dream of training in martial arts.