★★★★★
Today, I want to share something incredibly meaningful. I recently had my mitral valve repaired -- a valve that was dangerously close to failing -- and I am truly grateful to say I'm on the road to recovery.
A huge thank-you to Dr. Jayakar and the entire cardiac team for their skill, dedication, and compassion. The care I received was nothing short of exceptional. Knowing my heart was in the hands of someone so talented and committed made all the difference during one of the most challenging times of my life.
★★★★★
I had a quadruple bypass (CABG) in September of 2023. I consider Dr. Jayakar to have saved my life with this surgery. As virtually of of the males in my father's family had passed away by their mid-70s, (I am 74) I believe Dr. Jayakar's care was a Godsend. He and his staff were incredibly attentive and professional during the entire process and I do not hesitate to recommend Dr. Jayakar to anyone needing cardiac surgery. I am in his debt.
★★★★★
My Mitral Heart Valve replacement surgery with Dr. Jayakar went very well.
Dr. Jayakar was able to replace my valve utilizing the least evasive procedure possible (without having to completely split my chest).
He completed the surgery by only going in through the right side of my upper chest area which greatly reduced my discomfort and recovery time as compared to completely opening my chest.
He did a wonderful job!
★★★★★
Jimmie Langston's
Heart Valve Surgeries
In early 2001, I was preparing for a Boy Scout hiking trip in New Mexico with my youngest son. Before we could participate in the hike, we had to have a physical by a doctor. My doctor noticed a slight heart murmur at one of my past visits. During my exam, he said the murmur was worse. He wanted me to have an echocardiogram done as soon as possible and I had another one done 6 weeks later. I knew something was wrong when I received a call from my doctor's office on Friday afternoon to meet him at his office at 5:00. After both echos were compared, he told me that my aortic heart valve had severe stenosis, and I needed a new heart valve soon. I asked him where I would need to have it done and he gave me the options. I asked where he would go, and he said Houston Methodist Hospital since they knew more about the procedures. After several visits to Houston, surgery was scheduled. I was given several options to think about for replacing the valve. We decided that for my age (40), a homograft (cadaver valve) would be best. This meant I would not need blood thinners for the rest of my life. I had an aortic valve transplant in May of 2001. I received a valve from a 20-year-old male that had been deceased for about 6 months. Recovery went well, and I was back at work in about 6 weeks. This valve lasted for about 16 years.
In the summer of 2017, I had 2 hernia surgeries. After the second surgery, I was not gaining my strength back and I was extremely exhausted. My cardiologist examined me, and I had an echo. My heart valve had deteriorated. He sent me to the Methodist Hospital for more tests. I was advised that I was a candidate for a TAVR procedure. The TAVR procedure was done in late 2017. This valve lasted until May of 2024.
On the morning of May 18, 2024, I started having severe pains on both sides of my chest and in my upper arms. I called my son to take us to the hospital (my wife had just had back surgery in March and was not yet clear to drive). After being examined in the ER, a pain pump was connected so all I had to do was push a button when the pain started. After many episodes throughout the rest of the day and the next, the cardiologist did a Cath. He contacted Houston Methodist to transfer but there were no beds available. We asked friends and family to reach out and help find a doctor. Dr. Jayakar's name came up many times so that was who we picked. We began the process of getting transferred to Longview Regional Hospital.
Upon arrival, I was examined by Dr. Jayakar, and he said that I needed to have open heart surgery. I had an aortic valve replacement (Bovine valve) which included the removal of the cadaver valve which had calcified and the TAVR valve which had turned sideways and was blocking the blood flow to the heart. This procedure was done 4 days after the onset of my pain. After the surgery, Dr. Jayakar told my wife that if we had not been transferred and had the surgery when we did, I would have died within two days.
I am so thankful for the knowledge, training, and expertise of Dr. Jayakar. He, his staff, the ICU and The Cardiac Unit, took excellent care of me through this very difficult time. I highly recommend Dr. Jayakar and Longview Regional for anyone experiencing heart problems. It was a very traumatic time, and he and the staff helped to alleviate the fears involved with this type of surgery.
Through each of these events, God carried me and my family through the difficult times. I thank him all the time for watching over me and guiding the surgeons and staff.
★★★★★
My husband, Steve, underwent a quadruple bypass "Beating Heart" surgery performed by Dr. David Jayakar and his cardiovascular team on April 2, 2025. The journey to the procedure began; however, in mid-February with an ambulance ride to the ER and hospitalization as a result of what was called a "stress related" heart attack. This, along with a urinary tract infection, embedded kidney stones, and pneumonia led to a series of planned medical procedures--one of which was a heart cath attempt mid-March.
After the cath attempt failed, due to the massive amounts of calcifications and blockages, Dr. Jayakar and his team stepped to the forefront, and Steve was scheduled for the "Beating Heart" quadruple bypass to repair the front area of his heart, which basically was not functioning at the time.
We checked into the ICU on the evening of April 1 in preparation for the surgery to occur the next day at 10:00 a.m. Early on the morning of April 2, Dr. Jayakar began running the "lines" for the operation, and I walked into the ICU as the procedure was taking place. Dr. Jayakar greeted me (at approximately 5:30 in the morning), and I was escorted by one of the team members to the ICU waiting area while the procedure was completed, and I joined Steve in the ICU suite to await surgery time once the lines were in.
As that 10:00 time rolled around; however, Dr. Jayakar and his team were called into a number of emergency operations, and his surgery time was pushed to a 2:00 start time. That 2:00 start came around, and so did another emergency heart surgery. . .so we continued to wait with friends and family members throughout the day.
By 5:00 p.m., the scrub team finally arrived, and Steve was escorted to the operation suite, and I awaited the completion of the procedure in the Heart and Vascular Institute waiting area along with my daughter and a good friend.
Throughout the surgery, I received hourly updates of Steve's progress and given assurance and comfort from his precious surgical nurse--who informed me on her final phone call that Dr. Jayakar would be the next person to give me an update face-to-face once the surgery was completed. Dr. DJ came to that waiting area at 11:44 p.m., and Steve was rolled into the CICU for the evening. I was able to see Steve at around 12:00 midnight and left him in the care of his CICU nurses for the remainder of the night.
The next morning, Steve had already been moved back to ICU, and when I arrived, I found that one of his CICU nurses had accompanied him to the ICU. She remained with him throughout that April 3rd.
Dr. Jayakar, and his entire heart and vascular team at Longview Regional, painstakingly cared for my husband throughout his stay, and have continued to support and assist in his cardiac rehab throughout this heart journey. As a result, Steve is now able to breathe for the first time in years and is continuing to gain more strength and endurance daily. This excellent team has literally taken a "dead man walking," and by the grace of God, have given him a new life through their exceptional care at Longview Regional, and we are eternally grateful for the God given talents each of these individuals used with Steve, and in daily service to their surrounding community, We consider them ALL a part of our family. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Longview Regional Heart and Vascular Institute and Dr. David Jayakar!
