Albert's Emergency Cardiac Surgery Is a 'Story of a Lifetime'

Timely rescue and emergency aortic dissection surgery at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital saved Albert’s life.

Updated November 15, 2024

The winter holidays were nearly not so joyful for Albert Di Prospero and his family.

On Christmas Eve 2023, Albert was heading out to dinner to meet his family at a Moorestown restaurant when he began experiencing intense pain behind his right ear and double vision in his right eye.

“I parked outside of the restaurant and shut the car off. I opened the car door, and I collapsed,” he said. “My family members were starting to arrive, and my son-in-law’s brother helped me to a bench about 30 feet away. As I was sitting there, my daughter arrived, saw how I looked, and told her husband to call an ambulance.”

Tests at Virtua Mount Holly Hospital revealed the 77-year-old Mount Laurel resident had a tear, or dissection, in his aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body. Conscious and still able to talk to his caregivers and family, he was rushed to Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, where the cardiac surgery team was waiting.

Challenging Heart Surgery

“The aorta is like a pipe with multiple layers. When there’s a dissection, blood flows between the layers, weakening the overall artery wall, and reducing blood flow to the rest of the body,” said Virtua cardiothoracic surgeon Eden Payabyab, MD. “If you don’t take care of it, the aorta inevitably will rupture, which is fatal.”

During a more than six-hour heart surgery early Christmas morning, Dr. Payabyab removed the damaged section of Albert’s aorta and replaced it with a synthetic fabric tube, or graft.

“Dissections are challenging because of how delicate the tissue is,” said Dr. Payabyab. “Our cardiac staff is well-trained and knows how to care for problems like these.”

Albert returned home after five days in the hospital—just in time to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

“I was contemplating not going to the restaurant that evening because we were all going to be over for a huge Christmas dinner and celebration at my daughter’s house. Thank goodness I did,” said Albert, a retired School District of Philadelphia employee and car salesman. “At the hospital, they explained that it was fortunate that I went, or I would have died.”

Experts aren’t sure why some people develop an aortic dissection. However, Albert had chronic high blood pressure and aortic valve disease, two conditions that can increase your risk.

Today, Albert is taking care of himself. He exercises daily, eats a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish, and spends time with family and friends.

“It’s a story of a lifetime,” he said. “I was very fortunate that Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital is in South Jersey, with the great surgeons, doctors, and nurses overseeing my care. I guess you can say that it was just not my turn to go. Thank you, Our Lady of Lourdes and Dr. Payabyab.”

Virtua’s team of more than 100 cardiac experts provides comprehensive cardiac care, from medical cardiology to interventional procedures to advanced cardiac surgery. Appointments are available within 48 hours. Schedule an appointment online with a Virtua cardiologist.