Shirley

Shirley Kearney was first diagnosed with a mild heart murmur 40 years ago. Despite her condition, Shirley was able to live an active life, walking at least three miles a day, five to six times a week. Then, in 2020, she had a panic attack. She made an appointment with her primary care doctor, who conducted an EKG test. When they got the results, she was referred to Huntington Hospital-affiliated cardiologist Vyshali Rao, MD.

After a battery of additional tests, Dr. Rao determined that Shirley’s murmur had worsened. She was diagnosed with mitral valve regurgitation, where the valve between the left heart chambers does not close fully. Dr. Rao carefully monitored Shirley’s condition, checking in every few months.

For a while, Shirley needed no further treatment. However, in 2023, she started to feel tired all the time. “I couldn’t walk uphill without catching my breath,” she says, “and even mild exercise made me feel winded.” Dr. Rao ordered more tests, which showed that Shirley’s condition had progressed. 

Shirley was referred to Robbin Cohen, MD, medical director of cardiothoracic surgery for Huntington Health and professor of Cardiac Surgery in the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai, and Dominic Emerson, MD, director of Robotic Cardiac Surgery and associate professor of Cardiac Surgery in the Smidt Heart Institute, for evaluation. Ultimately, it was determined that Shirley’s mitral valve needed to be repaired, and, in the spring of 2023, she underwent surgery at Huntington Hospital. 

Dr. Emerson performed Shirley’s procedure using a surgical robot. Robotic-assisted mitral valve repair typically involves less blood loss and less chance of infection. It also often requires a shorter recovery time than traditional open-heart surgery. Dr. Emerson accessed Shirley’s heart valve through small incisions between the ribs — avoiding the need to cut the sternum (breastbone). “I was actually the very first patient to have robotic mitral valve repair at Huntington Hospital,” says Shirley, “and I have Dr. Emerson to thank for that.” 

Robotic-assisted mitral valve repair has a 100% success rate at Huntington Health and Shirley’s case was no exception. She went home after just a few days in the hospital. “I was blown away,” she says. “I didn’t have any pain, and I bounced back so fast!”

Shirley also notes that she was back to regular exercise routine within six weeks. “I’m certain that’s because the procedure was done robotically,” she says. Today, at age 78, she continues to walk almost daily and even sees a trainer two times a week.

“I’m so grateful for Huntington Hospital,” says Shirley. “Dr. Emerson and my cardiac team are the reason I can stay so active and keep doing what I love.”

To learn more about expert cardiac care at Huntington, click here.