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Dr. Allan Stewart, MD

Bio

I earned my medical degree from the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, where I was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha. I received this Postgraduate training in General Surgery from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where I also spent two years researching human gene therapy for cardiac illness. During this time, I was the five time recipient of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Annual Surgical Scholar Award, the 1999 AHA Vivian Thomas Young Investigator Award, the 2000 Institute of Human Gene Therapy Young Investigator Award, and the 2000 AATS C. Walton Lillehei Young Investigator Award. After completing my residency, I trained in Cardiothoracic Surgery Training at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.


Upon the completion of my training, I remained on the faculty of NYP/Columbia, where I serve as Director of Aortic Surgery.  As an attending surgeon at Columbia, I have co-authored over 50 manuscripts and book chapters, and lectured and/or operated on five continents in over 20 countries about valvular heart disease.  I have created a variety of innovative and minimally invasive approaches to valvular heart disease, and am actively involved in clinical trials of transcatheter valve therapy. Additionally, I am a member of our specialty’s most prestigious societies including the American College of Surgeons, the Society of Thoracic Surgery, and the American Association of Thoracic Surgery. I serve as a reviewer on both of our specialty’s most prestigious journals: the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and the Annals of Thoracic Surgery, as well as an expert for your website and for aorticdissection.com. I have served as a medical correspondent for Fox News and the Rachel Maddow show.


On a personal note, I become an advocate for patient recovery after heart valve surgery. I have recently completed three triathlons with a former valvular heart disease patient and ran the NYC marathon with another one of my patients, who celebrated the one-year anniversary of his valve sparing aortic root replacement on the day of the marathon!


 



Specialties:

Affiliation:

  • Columbia University Medical Center

Location:

Activity

  • Missey Moe-Cook
    Missey Moe-Cook is now following Allan Stewart, MD
  • Allan Stewart, MD
    Allan Stewart, MD of Columbia University Department of Surgery answered:
    What is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?
    Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are a group of genetic disorders that share features such as easy bruising, loose and flexible joints, fragile skin, and weakened connective tissues. Among the subgroups of the syndrome is the vascular type, which is characterized by rupture of the arteries and...  Full Post
  • Allan Stewart, MD
    Allan Stewart, MD of Columbia University Department of Surgery answered:
    What is heart valve disease (valvular heart disease)?

    Valvular disease is a general term for problems with any one of the four heart valves. The problem may be congenital, infectious (rheumatic heart disease, endocarditis), or acquired (aortic stenosis, mitral valve prolapse). In heart valve disease, problems arise when a valve fails to

    ...  Full Post
  • Allan Stewart, MD
    Allan Stewart, MD of Columbia University Department of Surgery answered:
    What is congestive heart failure?
    Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to maintain an adequate circulation of blood in the tissues of the body. This weakening of the heart prevents it from circulating oxygen to the body's tissues. It is called congestive heart failure mainly due to the symptoms of fluid accumulating...  Full Post
  • Allan Stewart, MD
    Allan Stewart, MD of Columbia University Department of Surgery answered:
    How is a mechanical valve conduit used?

    The valve leaflets and aortic aneurysm are completely removed. A mechanical valve conduit is selected after appropriate sizing has been performed. The valve is sewn into the circle (annulus) remaining after the old valve was removed. The coronary arteries are reimplanted into the graft. The

    ...  Full Post
  • Allan Stewart, MD
    Allan Stewart, MD of Columbia University Department of Surgery answered:
    How is a transcatheter aortic heart valve used?
    The Edwards Sapien transcatheter aortic heart valve integrates balloon-expandable stent technology with a replacement tissue heart valve.

    During the procedure, a catheter is advanced to the aortic valve, either through the femoral artery or through a small chest incision and through the left ve...  Full Post
  • Allan Stewart, MD
    Allan Stewart, MD of Columbia University Department of Surgery answered:
    How will the doctor decide whether to repair or replace my aortic valve?

    When a patient has an aneurysm of the aortic root, the aortic valve may also be damaged. Depending on how well the valve is functioning, it may need to be replaced or repaired when the aortic root aneurysm is repaired.

    Consideration of valve repair begins with examination of the valve on

    ...  Full Post
  • Allan Stewart, MD
    Allan Stewart, MD of Columbia University Department of Surgery answered:
    How is type A aortic dissection treated?

    Type A dissection is an emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and surgical intervention.

    An Aortic Surgery Center provides immediate triage, direct transfer to the operating room, medical stabilization, and definitive repair with innovative procedures involving surgery, stents, and trans

    ...  Full Post
  • Allan Stewart, MD
    Allan Stewart, MD of Columbia University Department of Surgery answered:
    How is type B aortic dissection treated?

    The traditional therapy for type B aortic dissections is aggressive control of blood pressure, with the hope that the dissection will not progress. Surgery is generally reserved for patients with complications including malperfusion syndrome or active hemorrhage.

    With endovascular stent

    ...  Full Post
  • Allan Stewart, MD
    Allan Stewart, MD of Columbia University Department of Surgery answered:
    What is valve sparing root replacement?
    During valve-sparing root replacement (also called the David Procedure), the patient's aortic valve is kept, although it may be repaired and reimplanted, and reconnected to a graft. By preserving the native aortic valve, patients avoid the need for lifelong anticoagulation therapy with Coumadin and...  Full Post
  • Allan Stewart, MD
    Allan Stewart, MD of Columbia University Department of Surgery answered:
    How is a valve-sparing root replacement done?

    The patient is placed on the heart-lung machine (cardiopulmonary bypass), which takes over the function of the heart and lungs during the operation.

    • Step 1: The heart is cooled and stopped, and a clamp is placed across the aortic valve. The aorta is transected (divided) just above where the
    ...  Full Post
  • Allan Stewart, MD
    Allan Stewart, MD of Columbia University Department of Surgery answered:
    What is a homograft root replacement?
    A homograft (human tissue) root replacement follows the same basic steps as the David Procedure, except that the aortic valve tissue is also removed. An appropriately sized donor aorta is selected based on the measurement of the aortic annulus (ring of tissue surrounding the valve). The donated valve...  Full Post
  • Allan Stewart, MD
    Allan Stewart, MD of Columbia University Department of Surgery answered:
    How is a mechanical valve conduit used?

    The valve leaflets and aortic aneurysm are completely removed. A mechanical valve conduit is selected after appropriate sizing has been performed. The valve is sewn into the circle (annulus) remaining after the old valve was removed. The coronary arteries are reimplanted into the graft. The

    ...  Full Post
  • Allan Stewart, MD
    Allan Stewart, MD of Columbia University Department of Surgery answered:
    How is a transcatheter aortic heart valve used?
    The Edwards Sapien transcatheter aortic heart valve integrates balloon-expandable stent technology with a replacement tissue heart valve.

    During the procedure, a catheter is advanced to the aortic valve, either through the femoral artery or through a small chest incision and through the left ve...  Full Post
  • Allan Stewart, MD
    Allan Stewart, MD of Columbia University Department of Surgery answered:
    How will the doctor decide whether to repair or replace my aortic valve?

    When a patient has an aneurysm of the aortic root, the aortic valve may also be damaged. Depending on how well the valve is functioning, it may need to be replaced or repaired when the aortic root aneurysm is repaired.

    Consideration of valve repair begins with examination of the valve on

    ...  Full Post