We continue to monitor COVID-19, flu and other respiratory viruses in our communities. Read the most current information about prevention, testing and where to go if you're sick.

COVID-19 Information

Mitral Valve Replacement

Tina receives heart care close to home.

Dr. Missler uses the model of the human heart to explain Tina’s procedure
Dr. Missler uses the model of the human heart to explain Tina’s procedure.

When Tina needed a new mitral valve, she benefited from BJC HealthCare’s collaborative approach to care that connected her with a multidisciplinary team of heart specialists. Her journey included seamless coordination between medical teams at two BJC HealthCare facilities: Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital and Missouri Baptist Medical Center (MoBap).

As part of her annual heart care, Tina sees BJC Medical Group physician Michael Missler, MD, a cardiologist on staff at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital.

During her yearly heart checkup in January, Dr. Missler used a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) to evaluate Tina’s heart and mitral valve. “The TEE results showed that her mitral valve was leaking, inhibiting blood flow to the left ventricle,” he says. “The valve couldn’t be repaired and needed to be replaced.”

Dr. Missler referred Tina to James Scharff, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon on staff at MoBap, for consultation and mitral valve replacement

Besides having an office on the MoBap campus, Dr. Scharff has a clinic at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital to bring complex cardiac surgical care closer to home for St. Charles County residents

“When patients come to BJC, they have access to the region’s top specialists. Our team approach combines patient-centered care and state-of-art technology where our patients call home.” Dr. Missler and Dr. Scharff

Before Tina’s valve replacement surgery was scheduled, she had a diagnostic cardiac catheterization at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital. This procedure would give Dr. Missler more information about the heart’s blood vessels and help Dr. Scharff determine the best type of surgery: open heart or smaller incision.

After the procedure, Dr. Missler told Barbara and Tina that there were no blockages in the heart’s arteries. Dr. Scharff determined that the valve replacement could be done through a small incision under Tina’s arm without cutting through bone.

When choosing where to have the surgery, Dr. Scharff talked to Barbara and Tina. Because mitral valve surgeries aren’t performed at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital, he recommended MoBap. “MoBap is close by and has dedicated operating rooms and surgical teams specializing in heart and vascular care.”

Barbara agreed with Dr. Scharff but was nervous about going to a new hospital. “We trusted Dr. Missler, had confidence in Dr. Scharff and know that the BJC HealthCare system provides great care.”

On April 4, Tina was admitted to MoBap. As she prepared for Tina’s surgery, Barbara was impressed with how easy it was to move between hospitals within the BJC HealthCare system. “It was seamless,” Barbara says. “Everyone knew Tina’s details, and there was constant communication

During the surgical procedure, Dr. Scharff replaced Tina’s mitral valve with an artificial pig valve. After the operation, Tina recovered at MoBap for four days before being discharged home. Barbara was by Tina’s side during her recovery. “The nursing staff was wonderful and welcomed my involvement.” Four weeks after surgery, Tina saw Dr. Scharff for follow up. “Her surgery was successful, and the valve has restored normal heart function,” Dr. Scharff says.

With the surgery behind her, Tina will continue her annual heart care with Dr. Missler. As Barbara and Tina reflect on the experience, Barbara says, “We were always part of the decision-making process. It was such a positive experience.”

Discover more: Call 314-996-5433 or visit missouribaptist.org/heart.

Related Heart Content

Find a Doctor or Make an Appointment

Our new search tool will help you choose a doctor or health care provider that is best for you or your family.

Search Now

Stock photo of young family in kitchen preparing healthy meal

Online Heart Health Assessment

Are you at risk for a heart attack? Learn about your risk factors with our online heart health assessment tool and find help for improving your results.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Mitral Valve Replacement

When Tina needed a new mitral valve, she benefited from BJC HealthCare’s collaborative approach to care that connected her with a multidisciplinary team of heart specialists. Her journey included seamless coordination between medical teams at two BJC HealthCare facilities: Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital and Missouri Baptist Medical Center (MoBap).

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Washington University Heart Failure Center at Missouri Baptist

At the Washington University Heart Failure Center at Missouri Baptist, we use a team approach to develop an individualized plan of care for you to manage your disease.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Heart Matters: Father-Son Heart Surgery Strengthens Bond

When the need for surgery arose, this close-knit family made the decision to travel to St. Louis for a second opinion and care at Missouri Baptist Medical Center (MoBap). However, Matt and Bill never expected to be in the hospital at the same time, much less have heart surgery on the same day.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Dr. Stewart Gets a “Second Chance at Life” After Heart Attack

Todd Stewart, MD, is no stranger to critically ill patients and life-saving procedures. As a spinal neurosurgeon and chief of neurosurgery at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, it’s all in a day’s work. But it came as a shock when he suffered a life-threatening heart attack last year.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Cardiac Testing at Missouri Baptist Medical Center

Diagnosing a heart condition often requires a combination of cardiovascular diagnostic and screening tests. These advanced tests can often determine the existence, type and severity of heart disease.

At Missouri Baptist Medical Center, our Cardiac Diagnostics Center is equipped with advanced technology and expertly trained staff to conducts these tests. Your test results will be evaluated by a board-certified cardiologist on staff at MoBap and discussed with your physician to tailor a treatment plan for your specific condition.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery Helps Tom Return to the Basketball Court

Tom Caspari thought he was too healthy to have a heart attack.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

MoBap Celebrates 1,000 TAVR Case Milestone

On December 6, 2022, Missouri Baptist Medical Center performed its 1,000th transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

“We are proud to reach this milestone,” says Michael Mauney, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon on staff at Missouri Baptist. “MoBap was among the first medical centers in the nation to adopt this procedure following FDA approval in Fall 2011.”

TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure for replacing a stenotic (tight) aortic valve in which the aortic valve narrows, reducing blood flow from the heart to the aorta. This procedure can also replace failed artificial aortic and mitral valves. TAVR is a treatment option to be considered for those with severe aortic stenosis, including many with worn-out surgical valves.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right
Tina, a MoBap cardiac surgery patient, has always been active and enjoys walking, biking and being outdoors.

Repairing a Broken Heart: A New Diagnosis Helps Heart Pump at Peak Efficiency

Although she had lived with a heart condition her entire life, Tina Lybarger Ledyard knew a few months ago that something just wasn’t right. As a nurse and a stroke network consultant, Tina noticed she was feeling more fatigued than usual. Read more here about her diagnosis and how she has renewed energy after heart surgery.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

New Technology for Treating Cardiac Arrhythmias

The new technology at MoBap — robotic magnetic navigation (RMN) — introduces the benefits of robotic precision and safety to cardiac ablation, a common, minimally invasive procedure used to treat arrhythmias

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Recipes for Your Health

Tasted, tested and analyzed by dietitians at Missouri Baptist Medical Center

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Understanding Arrhythmia

We want to help you understand everything there is to know about arrhythmia, why they occur, how they are diagnosed and treated, and what options may be right for you.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right
Dr. Higano continues to follow up care with Ira.

An Alliance to Save Lives by Saving Time

On Dec. 5, 2017, 57-year-old Ira Schalk began to feel nauseous on his job at a lead mining operation near Viburnum, Mo. For days he had felt tired, but thought it might be the flu. It wasn’t.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Heart Health Tips

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.  There are several risk factors that contribute to heart disease.  Some risk factors, including gender, age and family history are uncontrollable, while other risk factors can be modified with lifestyle changes.  Learn how you can make changes to improve your heart health.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Saving Heart Muscle, Saving Lives

In 2008, cardiologists at Missouri Baptist Medical Center developed the Heart LifeLine Alliance in partnership with rural hospitals, medical helicopter and ambulance services.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Cardiac Surgeons Discuss Valve Disease and New Treatment Methods

Cardiac surgeons at MoBap talk about valve disease and new treatment methods, including minimally invasive surgery.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Did You Know?

As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes more widely available, many people wonder whether it's right for them. BJC HealthCare wants you to have the information you need to make the right decision for yourself and your loved ones.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right
Melissa and Chris post on the sofa with family photos all around.

Early Intervention Makes the Difference

Melissa Ham’s voice is still a little shaky when she recalls being told that her husband, Chris, had about a 1-in-3 chance of surviving the heart attack that occurred at their home on July 13, 2016.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Recovery is a Journey

Scott Winder had been having trouble breathing and wasn’t sleeping well. Like many people do, he dismissed the symptoms until one day at work, his suddenly racing heart, sweating and worsening breathing problems sent him to the  Emergency Department at Parkland Health Center in Farmington.

Scott walked through the doors of the emergency room and collapsed.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Getting Clara to the Beach

Clara Freeman anxiously anticipated attending her oldest granddaughter's beach wedding.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Starting Your Heart Health Journey

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for "men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States." However, heart disease can be present with no symptoms until a significant event happens, like a stroke or heart attack.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Palliative Care: Helping Patients Live Their Best Lives

Lynn’s husband Steve was diabetic and diagnosed with end stage renal disease 11 years ago. Without warning, Steve’s condition turned critical three years ago. Desperate for guidance and strength, Lynn was connected to April and the Palliative Care team at Missouri Baptist Medical Center.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right
Dr. Mauney and team work to improve heart rhythm

Reducing Risk, Improving Rhythm: Treating Atrial Fibrillation

At Missouri Baptist Medical Center cardiac surgeons have treated atrial fibrillation surgically since 2001.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Early Heart Attack Care

Did you know that heart attacks have beginnings and these beginning signs occur in more than half of all heart attack patients? Learn the important early signs and symptoms.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right