Recurring Breathlessness: Mr. Hermanto’s Heart Valve Surgery

Mr. Hermanto, from Semarang, had dealt with a major blood vessel problem before. About two years before this video was recorded, he underwent Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR) at a hospital abroad. TEVAR places a stent graft, a fabric tube with a metal frame, inside the aorta through a blood vessel, without open surgery. When a heart problem arose, this time he chose to have his operation at Heartology.

The First Symptoms

It started with shortness of breath during light activities such as bathing or using the toilet. He would be out of breath as if he had just done heavy exercise. For three nights he could not sleep, waking up breathless, as if he were drowning. He also felt panic when the breathlessness came in the morning.

He was admitted to the ICU of a hospital and advised to have an ablation for a heart rhythm problem, but the procedure was later judged unsuitable for his condition. He was hospitalized again for about a week. Through this series of treatments, he learned that he had a problem with his heart valve, in addition to the hypertension he already had. “It turns out hypertension can spread its effects everywhere,” he said.

Choosing Heartology

This time Mr. Hermanto wanted to be treated closer to his family. His earlier experience had shown him that being far from home made recovery feel harder. “At the very least, I wanted to be in Jakarta,” he said. He also took into account the young doctors, whom he considered experienced, as well as cost efficiency.

At Heartology, he underwent a range of supporting tests to anticipate risks after surgery. He was cared for by doctors from several specialties, including Dr. dr. Faris Basalamah, Sp.JP (K) and dr. BRM Ario Soeryo Kuncoro, Sp.JP (K), together with the Heartology thoracic and cardiovascular surgery team. During the operation, his heart valve was replaced with a biological valve, a replacement valve made from tissue rather than a mechanical one. In the same operation, the team also placed a graft, an artificial tube, on the main blood vessel.

Recovery

After surgery, Mr. Hermanto was cared for in the HCU and monitored by eight doctors. To protect his kidneys, the team used continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), a form of dialysis that runs slowly and continuously. This attention stayed with him. “During my time at Heartology, I felt like an important person,” he said.

When the video was recorded, he was still recovering. The stitches on his chest still ached, and he had to hug a pillow when he coughed. From his experience, Mr. Hermanto urges people not to take hypertension lightly. In his view, it is not an ordinary problem and must be treated seriously. He also encourages everyone to look after their health.