After viewing Matthew's heart on the Echocardiogram screen, Dr. Mayman was pleased. The pressures in Matthew's pulmonary artery have not risen any higher. Dr. Mayman thinks Matthew will need his next heart surgery in February or March. He also highly reccomended Dr. Ciccolo, the Cardio-Thurasic surgeon here in town. We have an appointment in a couple weeks to meet him in person. Dr. Mayman thinks they will use a cow or pig artery rather than something artificial because living tissue is less likely to calcify. Also, he believes there is a good chance the surgeons will be able to close Matthew's chest immediately following the surgery instead of several days later. This will greatly decrease Matthew's time in the hospital and lower the chances of infection.