Page 10 - Journal of Structural Heart Disease - Volume 1 Issue 1

Historical Perspective
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have been replaced with metals with memory. Large bore delivery systems have been replaced with much smaller systems. And while our procedure significant- ly decreased hospital stays for surgical closure, tech- niques today have allowed procedures to be done on an outpatient basis.
I contend that those 5 patients are the true heroes. They, like the thousands that have followed, put their faith and trust in us to first “do no harm” and in doing so, forged a path for others to come. I eagerly antic- ipate the day that the ultimate ASD closure device or procedure arrives. I agree with Dr. Bailey who said back in the early 1950’s that a perfect closure won’t leave a foreign object behind.
I am reminded of the Hippocratic Oath that states I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to fol- low. One measure of success is the caliber of people who choose to follow you. In this, I have achieved great success. I tip my hat to those who continue to advance this technology. For what I have found to be true in these 40 years, it is the relationships with my patients and my colleagues that have become my treasured memories.
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Structural Heart Disease, May 2015
Volume 1, Issue 1: 3-4
Cite this article as: Lasala JL, Aquino A. Building a Structur- al Heart Disease Team: How to Integrate people. Structural Heart Disease 2015;1(1): 3-4. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12945/j. jshd.2015.0101-14