Bishop Moynihan of Syracuse undergoes open-heart surgery

Published: 2006-08-17

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (CNS) -- Bishop James M. Moynihan of Syracuse was recuperating at the Loretto Health and Rehabilitation Center after being released Aug. 11 from St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center, where he had open-heart surgery Aug. 3. "The bishop did very well" were the first words from Dr. Mehdi Marvasti at a press conference held the same day as the bishop's surgery. Marvasti is the cardiac surgeon who performed the valve replacement on the bishop's leaking mitral valve and repaired his tricuspid valve during the more than three-hour procedure. The mitral valve is actually named after its shape, that of a bishop's miter. The valves are designed to control the direction of blood flow through the heart. It is the opening and closing of the valves that produce the sound of the heartbeat. The doctor explained that Bishop Moynihan, 74, had been experiencing symptoms of congestive heart failure including shortness of breath, swelling and fatigue. The surgery, Marvasti said, will alleviate his symptoms and prevent further deterioration of his heart function.

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