Juwan Howard undergoes successful heart surgery, back in 4-6 (12?) weeks
Juwan underwent a scheduled heart procedure this morning, repairing an aortic valve and resecting an aortic aneurysm. He should be back with the team in 4-6 weeks, and back to full health in 6-12. Glad to see that a routine medical exam caught what could have been a big problem for him in the future.
Daily Article:
Juwan's Statement:
https://mgoblue.com/news/2023/9/15/mens-basketball-juwan-howard-undergoes-successful-heart-surgery
September 15th, 2023 at 4:26 PM ^
"Resecting an aneurism" basically means they caught that he was at risk of rupturing his aorta and did a pre-repair. "This pipe is at risk of busting in the future, let's fix it now".
Aortic aneurisms (and/or dissections) are no joke, my grandfather survived one the same day that John Ritter didn't. (edited) Survival rates for aortic aneurisms are very low (/mortality rates are high). Get your ticker checked, you've only got one!
September 15th, 2023 at 4:35 PM ^
Yep, John Ritter's family started a foundation dedicated to catching it early.
https://med.uth.edu/internalmedicine/medical-genetics/research/john-ritter-research-program/
And the late, great Bill Paxton died because his treatment to repair an aortic aneurysm was botched.
Serious stuff that we've gotten better at treating. Sounds like Coach Howard is in good hands and wish him the best.
September 15th, 2023 at 4:38 PM ^
Unfortunately survival rates after repairs aren't even that good, if they can even get to do the repair.
Catching it in the state that Howard had it is by far a better outcome.
September 15th, 2023 at 4:41 PM ^
A total aside, but I initially read your URL as "meth.edu" and thought that Walter White had started his own university.
September 15th, 2023 at 5:29 PM ^
Wow, thank you for the info. What kind of procedure is it? Is it open heart surgery (pardon my ignorance; I'm not sure if that's a technical term or not)?
September 15th, 2023 at 7:13 PM ^
Both endovascular and open approaches are possible depending on what the pathology is and it’s extent.
September 16th, 2023 at 5:09 AM ^
Not for what Juwan underwent. He probably got a Bentall or elephant trunk done.
Endovascular approaches are generally for abdominal aneurysms so far.
September 15th, 2023 at 8:24 PM ^
My first witnessed death during clinical rotations was an aortic dissection...it seems like a tough one to survive without immediate surgical intervention
September 15th, 2023 at 4:27 PM ^
Wow, be well, stay well Coach Howard. We're pulling for you!
September 15th, 2023 at 4:28 PM ^
pray a speedy and successful recovery. puts things into perspective sometimes.
September 15th, 2023 at 4:33 PM ^
Hadn't heard this; great that he was diagnosed and fixed before anything bad happened. Get well, Coach.
September 15th, 2023 at 4:40 PM ^
this hits home as aneurysms run in my family and I am getting scanned (abdominal and aortic) soon.
get well coach … heal up fast for your family
September 15th, 2023 at 4:43 PM ^
Glad you can get scanned and take care of it. With my family heart history I get my cholesterol checked regularly and assume that scans are in my future too.
September 15th, 2023 at 4:48 PM ^
Yea. Always thought I had a healthy family history, and in the last 6 months I’ve found out prostate cancer, colon cancer, and aneurysms run in my family like Usain Bolt.
Needless to say, annual scans and colonoscopies are in my future and I’m in my mid-40s
edit: bonus is I live near Cleveland, so I can go to Cleveland Clinic
September 15th, 2023 at 6:05 PM ^
This also hits home for me too, as Coach Howard and my mom share a cardiologist.
I had my annual checkup this morning. My doctor is a Michigan marching band alumnus. I probably shouldn’t have chosen him because of that, but it gives us something to talk about.
September 15th, 2023 at 4:40 PM ^
Wishing a speedy recovery for Coach Howard. Amen to this paragraph...
"I feel so grateful and blessed that this surgery was performed at University of Michigan Health," Howard said in the release. "My wife, Jenine, and our family appreciate the world-class care that has been provided to us. Dr. (Kim) Eagle, Dr. Patel, Dr. (Stanley) Chetcuti, and all of the staff at the Frankel Cardiovascular Center are so talented and performed like champions throughout this process.
September 15th, 2023 at 4:45 PM ^
Wow, I hope he has a complete recovery. Does anyone know if there are symptoms to look for, or is it something discovered during a cardio exam (or scan)?
September 15th, 2023 at 5:04 PM ^
Pretty nonspecific unless it ruptures, generally. Can be a mass felt in the abdomen, but usually just back, abdominal, or neck pain. Secondary implications can be things like fatigue, weakness, lightheadedness or fainting, chest pain, all especially during exercise. shortness of breath on exercise or when you lie down.
Thorough cardiac exams will catch it, but it isn't as common without being a bit older than middle age, having hypertension, being a smoker. They usually grow progressively over time. Something to watch out for if those risk factors apply to you.
Glad he got checked out in time. That's a really serious condition.
September 15th, 2023 at 5:20 PM ^
I had exactly the same procedure one year ago. The main symptom of the aortic stenosis is lack of any stamina and shortness of breath, mine was discovered during a routine exam that I had developed a heart murmur. This led to a visit to a cardiologist that, through an echocardiogram, diagnosed that I had aortic stenosis (calcifying of the valve). During preliminary procedures to see if my arteries were up in good enough shape to endure the surgery, the onset of an aortic aneurism was discovered during a CATSCAN. They operated on both successfully during the open-heart procedure and I was cleared for all activities in roughly eight weeks.
September 15th, 2023 at 5:26 PM ^
I could make a joke about having an aneurysm after dealing with Admissions, but instead I will laud another UM department. The Frankel Cardiovascular Clinic is top notch, and one of the key reasons I was willing to move back to the Ann Arbor area. Coach Howard is being treated by a 5-star staff. I'm super glad this was found before it turned into a tragedy.
September 15th, 2023 at 10:11 PM ^
My wife had tetralogy of fallot surgery in 1971 at UM (she was 2). It' still fine. She has to get checked regularly and it never fails with each new cardiologist - they always comment how amazed they are at how well it's holding up and how she must have had a fantastic surgeon to be able to do that so well in 1971. Go Blue Medicine.
September 15th, 2023 at 5:32 PM ^
Thank the Lord, get well soon coach Howard! Basketball is not that important at this point. Take your time.
September 15th, 2023 at 6:46 PM ^
4 to 6 weeks? Will admissions allow his heart repairs into U of M?
September 15th, 2023 at 7:58 PM ^
do better.
September 15th, 2023 at 10:17 PM ^
K
Bad joke that didn't land.
September 15th, 2023 at 7:02 PM ^
Holy shit! Glad they found it early. Get well soon, coach!
September 15th, 2023 at 7:33 PM ^
Hoping for the best recovery, coach. Need to have that ticker in top notch shape to get through the B1G and NCAA tourneys as Champions of both!
September 15th, 2023 at 7:49 PM ^
Great to hear that it was successful. Get better Coach!
September 15th, 2023 at 8:36 PM ^
I had an aortic valve done this summer, it is truly incredible what a good surgeon can do.
I just hope that Jenine can make Juwan stay away from work for a few weeks. He'll almost certainly be up and walking in no time, and it won't be long after that that he'll feel like he can work. But even with the smoothest recovery possible it's going to be several weeks before he's really full go. Maybe a bit less if they were able to do it without going full open heart, but still. Let Phil Martelli run things, get fully recovered coach!
September 15th, 2023 at 8:37 PM ^
I can always count on a medical thread here to be educational.
The MGoBlog Difference.
September 15th, 2023 at 10:46 PM ^
Had bacterial endocarditis which necessitated an open-heart mechanical aortic valve replacement while I was in business school. Ended up having some complications and now have a pacemaker. But was back in school (gingerly) within 6 weeks.
September 17th, 2023 at 6:08 AM ^
Interesting that they repaired his Aortic Valve. Typically when we do an aortic valve on a patient we opt to replace it almost always. I’ve known some guys who repair them and have seen them do good repairs, but it’s not a common thing. Hoping he has a smooth recovery!