After having three open heart surgeries, six cardiac catheterizations, five blood clots and two valve replacements at the age of 13 yearsSeth Wharton has overcome many obstacles and has celebrated multiple achievements in his life. Now, at the age of 44, Wharton has a new achievement under his belt: a Guinness World Record for oldest survivor with a double heart valve.
Guinness World Record: Harton received double heart valve replacement on October 2, 1990
Wharton, a former patient at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, was recently named the world record holder Guinness. This, for being the oldest survivor of a double artificial heart valve replacement. Wharton, a resident of LaVale, Maryland, received a replacement double heart valve at the UAB Hospital on October 2, 1990.
What made him the survivor oldest with a double heart valve at 31 years and 238 days, according to Guinness World Records.
“Living this long after double heart valve replacement is a remarkable result for Mr. Wharton,” said James Davies, MD, director of the UAB Cardiovascular Institute and Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. “Cases like Mr. Wharton’s are why our cardiothoracic surgeons work to provide the best possible care for each of our patients. We are happy to know that he is doing well.”
Wharton’s heart problems started when he was 4 days old
Wharton’s heart problems began at 4 days old when doctors at her local hospital in Maryland discovered she had the heart enlarged. Doctors performed a procedure to repair her narrow heart valve when he was only a month old. Five years later, his pediatric cardiologist referred him to UAB for an aortic valvotomy, a procedure that widens narrowed heart valves.
At the age of 11, Wharton was diagnosed bacterial endocarditis subacute, an infection of the lining of the heart and a blood clot that had formed in his kidney. Two years later, she began experiencing chest pains as well, after further examination. Her doctors decided it was time for a double replacement of heart valve.
His double heart valve replacement was performed by Albert D. Pacifico, MD, a former UAB cardiothoracic surgeon. The Surgical technique de Pacifico dramatically reduced surgery times and increased patient safety, reduced hospital stays and shortened recovery periods.
Before his retirement in 2006, Pacifico performed more than 28,000 cardiovascular surgeries in patients of all ages.
After Wharton underwent his third surgery to open heart, the Wharton family feared that he would not be able to live the normal life of a teenager. A year after his surgery, he earned his black belt in karate, started playing basketball, and even won an award for being the world’s greatest athlete. brave. Years later, he was participating in weightlifting meets, running 5Ks, and playing college basketball.
“I am so thankful that God saved my life and for the role UAB played in that,” Wharton said. “I am living proof that you can have a full life after this procedure, and I hope that people can find comfort in that.”
Today, Wharton is a husband, father of four children…
Today, Wharton is a husband, father of four, and chaplain of palliative care at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in western Maryland. Wharton says that he has lived what many would consider a normal life without being affected by the heart conditions his childhood. She has made it her mission to use his purpose to help others get through tough times.
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