Newswise — David Adams, MD, Chairman of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center, has earned a sought after position in New York magazine's Best Doctors in New York issue due on newsstands Monday, June 6. Dr. Adams will be profiled in the 2005 issue that focused on physicians who have impacted the life of their patient through life-saving treatment.
Dr. Adams, chosen from large group of the best physicians in NYC, has been a major contributor in the field of cardiothoracic surgery. His specific expertise in valvular heart surgery helped save the life of a patient and young mother-to-be. This patient's story was a driving force in his selection as 'top doc' in the Issue.
In March 2003, actress Liana Pai was in the midst of doing a pilot program for NBC. During a routine check-up, she discovered she had a heart murmur. She was 36 years old and pregnant. Her resting heart rate rose to 104 beats per minute, and follow up with a cardiologist confirmed that she had mitral valve regurgitation. Hoping to avoid surgery during her pregnancy, she continued to have monthly checkups with her cardiologist. After some blood tests and an echocardiogram, cardiologist Dr. Jose Mellor determined she needed surgery immediately.
Dr. Adams performed the high-risk surgery on Liana at six months into her pregnancy. It was a life or death situation. Dr. Adams removed Liana's diseased mitral and aortic valves and replaced them with two bovine pericardial tissue valves. These valves were the best choice for Liana because valve repair was not an option due to the special circumstances, and mechanical valves with their requisite blood thinning medication could lead to serious complications if Liana were to have more children in the future. Liana recovered quickly, her symptoms disappeared, and there was no impact on her baby. In September 2003, three months after Liana's successful double valve surgery, her daughter Ima was born.
Dr. David Adams and patient Liana Pai will be available for interviews.
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