Robin Williams to undergo heart surgery

[sabra]

Source: CNN

(CNN) — Robin Williams will undergo heart surgery, according to his publicist.

The 57-year-old comedian postponed his one-man show tour and entered a hospital for testing earlier this week after suffering a shortness of breath.

Williams will undergo an aortic valve replacement, the publicist said.


Read more: http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/05/robin-williams-to-undergo-heart-surgery/

[Warpy]

1. He is young enough to do well

but it's a difficult operation for anyone.

Get well soon, Robin!

[Pastiche423]

4. Why is is difficult?

Is it because it's the aortic valve or because it's an open heart surgery?


Please be well, Robin!

[musette_sf]

6. it's difficult because

you're basically dead, hooked up to a heart-lung machine, and your body is cooled down considerably, for the amount of time it takes to perform the surgery. ppl who have this surgery look blue for the first few hours in post-op cardiac ICU.

[Pastiche423]

16. Thank you for the info

I just read that babs b**** had the same surgery and was up and talking soon after. Robin is 26 years younger than her, so I'm hoping he will get the same or better results.

[musette_sf]

17. my mom had this surgery early last year

she was 76 at the time, and she was talking several hours afterwards in cardiac post-op ICU.

of course, she doesn't remember a bloody word she said right then, but by the next day she was completely compos mentis.

[Posteritatis]

12. Open-heart surgery's about the most traumatic procedure in medicine

They amount to controlled absolutely-fatal injuries which you're then brought back from. The healthiest person on the planet would probably have a rough time with one, even though they are relatively common/survivable these days. A heart transplant, or a hemicorporectomy (exactly what it sounds like) would rate higher, but at that point you're splitting hairs, but a valve replacement would be hard on anyone at all, even if the procedure was a breeze.

Some of the surgeries performed these days boggle me to say the least.

[Warpy]

19. A little of both, actually

It involves cutting into heart muscle, unlike bypass operations, and that means causing caridac irritability. Heart rhythm problems are common postop. If he needs an artificial valve, he'll need to be on anticoagulants, which means walking a very fine line postop between clotting off the new valve and allowing incisions to clot and heal.

Then there's the bit about having his chest sawn open and being put on a bypass machine for a couple of hours. Memory problems are common and some persist. A period of depression is normal after such a drastic surgery. Recovery from an op like an appendectomy takes about six weeks. Recovery from a valve surgery typically takes a good six months.

It just beats the alternative, being a cardiac cripple.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Same surgery as Barbara Bush.

Get well fast Mr. Williams.

[Hugin]

3. I'm sorry to hear that.

I hope it all turns out well.

[No Elephants]

5. I did not realize he is only 57. Best wishes. Recommended.

[Kurovski]

7. Prayers and best wishes. (nt)

[sandyj999]

8. Best Wishes to One of My favorite Crazy People.

I just heard this morning that they are working on a procedure that will enable them to do this with a catheter and a replacement valve. My brother had a heart transplant and cracking the chest open was probably one of the most difficult parts of it.

[FloridaJudy]

9. Get well soon, Robin!

The world needs all the laughter it can get!

[fascisthunter]

10. damnit... I hope he does alright

what an amazing comedian

[Bette Noir]

11. Godspeed, Robin.

[gauguin57]

13. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Charlie Rose and Garrison Keillor all had this kind of procedure

... and they all look fine today.

[Robb]

14. To say nothing of Dadbat and Mombat

...Both came through, I'm happy to report.

Rough, though, I'm glad they had their surgeries a year apart. Recovery's a bitch.

[Mind_your_head]

18. "Dadbat and Mombat"....

:rofl:

Robb you're a treasure, for sure! You must KNOW we love you (all kidding aside) :hug: :hi:

[TlalocW]

15. Ho, open heart surgery

(Yosemite Sam voice) We're a-comin' in, varmint! (Scarlett O'Hara voice) Oh, no, whatever shall I do! (Humphrey Bogart voice) I'll tell you what you're gonna do... you're gonna get on that plane and order the vegetarian meal! (Normal voice) Ho, open heart surgery!

Get well, Robin.

TlalocW

[ThisThreadIsSatire]

20. Hope they don't give him

Barbara Bush's old (read as 'former') valve.

[Gregorian]

21. Do well, Robin! Now you'll actually be part machine, part human.

I have actually been in on several aortic valve replacements. Big stuff!

Don't worry, they just saw you in half and use an elevator to lower in a new valve. No problema.

I think the whole world is holding their breath for you buddy.

[Raine]

22. Wishihg him all the best! nt

[KatyaR]

23. Be well, Robin--we need you!

One of my absolute favorite people in the world--get well soon!!!

[Solly Mack]

24. Warmest wishes!!!

[Botany]

25. Robin Williams to undergo heart surgery

Source: CNN

(CNN) -- Robin Williams will undergo heart surgery, according to his publicist.


The 57-year-old actor and comedian postponed his one-man show tour and entered a hospital for testing this week after suffering a shortness of breath.

Williams will undergo an aortic valve replacement, the publicist said.

"I'm so touched by everyone's support and well wishes," Williams said in a statement. "This tour has been amazing fun and I can't wait to get back out on the road after a little tune-up."

The publicist would not say when or where the surgery will take place.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/05/robin.williams/

---

Get well soon Mr. Williams!

[SharonRB]

26. Robin and Barbara Bush

I think it's the same surgery. My grandmother had that surgery in her 80s.

[MADem]

27. Is that the new "fashionable" operation? Bar and Rob, both?

They used to do angioplasties (ka ching, ka ching) all the time, until they realized they didn't do much good.

I hope this sort of repair has genuine efficacy, and isn't just the Prada Bag of heart operations.

[Posteritatis]

30. Uhhh, I'd never call a *valve replacement* "fashionable"

If you're comparing those to angioplasties you at least need to spend a few minutes with Google. Gah.

[MADem]

34. I'm not "equating" them at all. It just seems that they're in the news with TWO high profile

people having them.

Certainly, the angioplasty is a quick-n-dirty compared to this procedure. As far as valve replacement goes, the last "famous" one I heard about was AHNULD, and now, two in one week?

http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/arnold-schwarzenegger.php

I'm wondering if there is a trend developing.

[LakeSamish706]

28. Speaking of Robin Williams, and I do wish him well.... I suppose most here...

have watched this video.... This is funny if your a golfer...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d967F7Lh8oU

[MADem]

36. That's hysterical...

And not just from a golfer's perspective, from the perspective of anyone visiting Scotland!! Talk about "separated by a common language" at times--and I have a REALLY good ear. I can pick up accents and languages quicker than most.

[sandyj999]

29. On ET tonight they said it was a rumor. So who knows and I still wish him well. n/t

[Sun45]

31. Robin Williams

I hope Robin does well, comes through Surgery without any problems. We all wish him the Best and hope he is better soon. Good Luck and God Bless You!! We need your type in our World, now more than ever. Hang in there!! We love you!!

My Husband had his aortic valve replaced, in '99. He was 54. He did fine, he had a great Surgeon, all went well. He did have depression for a while. I had to keep talking to him, reassure him he would be fine. And he was. It took him a while to get used to the LOUD ticking of the Synthetic Valve, he could hear it and feel it. He was in Physical Therapy for 6 months i believe. Off work for same. He is on Coumadin, has his blood checked, protime, every 6 weeks. He also has an EKG every 6 months. His diet stayed the same, they recommend low fat, low salt, etc. His Cholesterol is perfect. He is healthy every other way. No blockages, etc.

His Surgeon advised him not to eat Salads or dark greens, he does once in a while, Vit K thickens the blood. When he does, he has a Beer to offset the Salad greens lol. Alcohol thins the blood. He does not drink but once in a while, if that is different with someone else, that could have an effect on the blood, by thinning it. His is supposed to stay between 2.5 - 3.5.

He is slim, is able to eat whatever he wants without gaining, before and after surgery. So as long as he takes his blood thinners, doesn't drink but now and then, has checkups, if he has the Synthetic Valve, St. Jude is what my Husband has. Made out of Titanium. He wears a necklace and the info is registered so if in an emergency situation, they will have all the info on it.

Barbara Bush had the Pig Valve. She is older than either Robin or my Husband, so therefore picked that one, she will not have to be on Blood Thinners. But it will only last 10 yrs or so??? It will eventually have to be Replaced. I believe Schwarzenegger has the Pig Valve also.

If older that is the way but if younger, do not want to be opened up again, to have it replaced, then the Synthetic is best. But the Coumadin is bad, he does well but some have problems with it, it is not good for you, at all.

[izquierdista]

35. Pig valves for Repubs??

Sounds appropriate, wouldn't have to worry about rejection problems.....

[Sun45]

32. Coumdain, have to take it as directed

http://www.heartpoint.com/coumadin.html

This explains Coumadin. Large quantities of it is used for Rat Poisoning. That is why some go with the Pig Valve. You do not have to take Coumadin, Warfarin, if have the Pig Valve but it does have to be replaced eventually.

[ExExGOP]

33. We love Robin Williams