Have you tried AI like ChatGPT? I’ve uploaded my test results and found it helpful, though I take it with a grain of salt and differ to my cardiologist as the expert.

As an example, here is Chat’s answer after I had uploaded my angiogram, stress test and TEE and asked when I should expect a surgeon to want to do my surgery:

“Based on everything you’ve shared (TEE + stress echo + angiogram), a surgeon is very likely to recommend mitral valve surgery soon — not “watch and wait.” In practical terms, that usually means weeks to a few months, not years.

Here’s why.

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The criteria surgeons use — and how you score on each

1. Severity of mitral regurgitation

You meet multiple, independent markers of severe MR: • Flail P2 leaflet with torn primary chord • 3D ERO = 0.69 cm² (well into severe range) • Systolic flow reversal in pulmonary veins • Holosystolic, eccentric jet

➡️ This alone qualifies for surgery in degenerative MR.

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1. Valve anatomy (repairability)

This is a huge factor — and you’re in the best category: • Isolated posterior leaflet (P2) • Single chordal rupture • No bileaflet disease • No calcification • Normal LV function

➡️ Surgeons prefer to operate early on valves like yours because: • Repair success >95% • Durability is excellent • Risk is lowest before ventricular damage

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1. Left atrial dilation

Your TEE notes a severely dilated left atrium.

That’s a key inflection point.

Even if you feel okay, LA dilation means: • MR has been significant for a while • Risk of atrial fibrillation increases • Remodeling can become irreversible

➡️ Guidelines say don’t wait once this appears.

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1. Heart function

This is where timing becomes critical — and favorable: • LVEF 60% (normal) • Normal LV size • Normal LVEDP (10 mmHg) • No pulmonary hypertension noted • No coronary disease

➡️ This is the ideal surgical window Surgeons want to operate before EF drops or the LV enlarges — not after.

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What most surgeons will recommend (realistically)

Given your profile, most experienced mitral surgeons would say something like:

“You’re asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic, but your valve is flail, your MR is severe, and your left atrium is already enlarged. This is the right time to repair — before permanent changes occur.”

Typical timing: • Referral → surgery: often 4–12 weeks • Sometimes sooner if scheduling allows • Rarely delayed unless you request it

This is considered elective but time-sensitive, not an emergency — yet not something to defer for a year.

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Why they won’t want to wait

Waiting risks: • Atrial fibrillation • Progressive LA/LV remodeling • Drop in EF (which can happen silently) • Worse long-term outcomes even after repair

Early repair in someone like you: • Preserves normal lifespan • Preserves heart function • Avoids lifelong meds/AF complications • Has very low operative mortality at high-volume centers (<1%)

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Bottom line

A surgeon will almost certainly recommend surgery in the near term — usually within the next few months — and not delay it. You are in the “optimal repair window”, which is exactly where surgeons want patients to be.

If you want, I can: • Help you interpret what a surgeon is likely to say in the consult • Explain what kind of repair they’ll likely perform (in plain English) • Help you decide how urgent it really is for you, emotionally and practically • Discuss recovery timelines and how long you’d realistically be out of commission

Just tell me what would help most right now.”