Reviews
I went in hospital twice with repeated pneumothorax, each instance was considerably worse, however the doctors did not want to operate as I was a high risk patient. On my 3rd admittance, surgery was the only option. Mr Bittar carried out the surgery - it was a high risk surgery, but it all went to plan. I feel so much better - considerably improved breathing and I am able to walk much further than previously. I would like to thank Mr Bittar and his team for all they did for me.
I was originally diagnosed with aortic stenosis in 2013 and just prior my operation Mr Bittar gave me a TOE procedure to find more information regarding the state of the valve -he did this after listening to me mention that I had no symptoms despite running and playing tennis on a regular basis. Thanks to his wise and informed decision making I was then put on a yearly observation program. Finally by late 2019 the valve had deteriorated to a severe state and his decision was to operate on December 5th.I will continually be grateful for the professionalism and attitude of Mr Bittar and his team following a successful aortic valve replacement using I believe a keyhole technique which made my recovery so much better.He enlisted me on the heart rehab program which I would strongly recommend .Due to covid delays no doubt, my final meeting with Mr Bittar was in September 2020. Following an ECG he gave me the all clear (which included no longer having to take edoxoban or amioderone)the only pill I am now on is one aspirin per day. I am able to run twice weekly now on routes I did some years ago. I feel very fortunate to have been referred to Blackpool Victoria under Mr Bittar and his team and would recommend to anyone with concerns about their heart condition that you can put your life in their hands.
What is great about Professor Bittar is that he successfully operated on me. I know next to nothing about medicine, though more than I did last year, so am not compatent to comment further.
Very good care by the team. Recovery has gone well.
Professor Bittar performed double heart bypass surgery on me on the 5th June, in the midst of the Covid outbreak, which was a very stressful time for all parties concerned. The pre op care, the operation itself and the time I spent in CICU (which was extended by my reaction to the anaesthetic) was excellent in all respects, I have made a good recovery, with none of my previous symptoms now present, so a huge thank you to all aforementioned persons.
Post op care however, (ward 35) in my opinion, fell short of the previous excellence by some way, mainly due to the attitude of a health care assistant I felt moved to complain to the then acting Ward Sister about. Apologies I cannot leave a perfect review for my entire experience but again, a huge thank you to Professor Bittar, ward 33 and CICU.
Profile
I am a cardiothoracic surgeon, my practice is mixed. In cardiac surgery I have a special interest in aortic surgery, minimally invasive aortic surgery, I also perform the general cardiac operations ( CABG, OPCAB and valve surgery). In thoracic surgery, I deal with chest wall, lung, pleural and mediastinal surgical diseases. I have special interest in the minimally invasive approach (video assisted thoracoscopic procedures-VATS lobectomy) and fractured ribs fixation.
I am interested in research; my qualification is a Medical Doctorate M.D. from Manchester University in 2007. My thesis was based on inflammatory response to the use of cardiopulmonary bypass in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. This response was linked to certain genotypes of a certain polymorphisms.
My current affiliation is with the University of Salford, I am collaborating with researchers studying the myocardial cell dysfunction, the inflammatory response and its effect on the conduits that used in cardiac surgery.Recently I was appointed as a professor (Hon)@ the University of Salford.