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Shortness of Breath on Tennis Court Leads to Life-Saving Quadruple Bypass for Parkland Man 4

Larry Dorety {Broward Health}

What began as a subtle shortness of breath on the tennis court led to a life-saving quadruple bypass surgery for an active 81-year-old Parkland resident.

Larry Dorety, a retired Silicon Valley computer industry executive, is known for staying active, playing tennis several times a week, and traveling frequently with his wife to visit family across the country. But in December, he began noticing a gradual decline in his stamina.

“I found myself running out of breath and unable to continue playing tennis,” Dorety said. “I’d tell my friends, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t do a second set.’ That’s not like me.”

The symptoms developed gradually, without the classic warning signs of chest pain or sudden collapse, making them easy to overlook.

Concerned, Dorety sought medical evaluation and underwent a treadmill stress test and echocardiogram on Jan. 2. When follow-up imaging was delayed until mid-March, he and his family pushed for quicker answers.

“That didn’t feel right,” he said. “It felt more urgent than that.”

Dorety soon underwent a CT angiogram at Broward Health North under the care of cardiologist Dr. Andre Landau. The scan revealed significant blockages in his coronary arteries.

On Jan. 12, he returned for a cardiac catheterization procedure, where doctors initially hoped to treat the condition with angioplasty and a stent. However, the blockages were too severe.

“Dr. Landau would not let me go home,” Dorety said.

Within hours, he was transferred to Broward Health Medical Center, where cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Kenneth Herskowitz scheduled emergency surgery for Jan. 14.

“Larry’s symptoms were subtle, but the blockages we discovered were significant,” Herskowitz said. “Cases like this are a reminder that heart disease doesn’t always present with dramatic warning signs. Paying attention to changes in stamina or breathing can lead to earlier diagnosis and better outcomes.”

Dorety underwent quadruple bypass surgery to restore blood flow around blocked arteries. During the same operation, surgeons also performed an ablation to treat an abnormal heart rhythm and removed the left atrial appendage to reduce stroke risk.

He later described the procedure as “a three-way tune-up.”

Dorety spent eight days in the hospital and has since been steadily recovering. Seven weeks after surgery, he has completed in-home physical therapy and resumed light exercise, with plans to return to tennis in the coming weeks.

“Dr. Herskowitz said I can do anything I want after eight weeks,” Dorety said. “I’m not going to be quite so bold as to hit tennis balls on the 57th day, but I’ll be back.”

Doctors said his heart muscle remains strong, noting that the issue stemmed from extensive calcified plaque buildup that created dangerous blockages.

Dorety credited the care teams at both Broward Health North and Broward Health Medical Center for his recovery, including staff in the cardiovascular intensive care unit who encouraged early movement.

“They helped me get up, walk the halls and do the things that are important early in the recovery process,” he said. “I was well cared for in both hospitals.”

Now back home in Parkland, Dorety is focused on returning to the activities he enjoys most — tennis, travel, and time with his family.

His message to others is simple: “Listen to your body. If something feels different, don’t ignore it and don’t wait.”

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Sharon Aron Baron

Sharon Aron Baron is a Parkland resident and editor of Talk Media. She has been covering Parkland news since 2012. Parkland Talk was created to provide News, Views, and Entertainment for the residents of Parkland.