Houston Dr. recommendations?

[Gnusgal]

I just got a phone call from my BIL. He said his mom went in to the doctor yesterday and found out that she has two blood vessels in her neck that are 50% blocked. Needless to say, my BIL is freaking out. Unfortunately, his father is of the mind that "Doctors are evil. They'll tell you something's wrong just so they can get money out of you..." So my BIL is trying to find 3 good cardiologists to take his mother to so that they can present his dad with all three opinions (he's fairly certain he would reject the opinion of just one or two). He asked me if I knew anyone I could recommend. However, it's been years since I saw a doctor in Houston, besides the fact that mine have all been pediatric or ACHD cardiologists.

SO, I told him I'd post to this list and hopefully have some recommendations to offer to him soon. I realize that most of us don't deal with blocked arteries, but hoped that maybe some of you knew of a good cardiologist that I could put on the list.

Thanks in advance!

 

[cday]

I'm guessing you are talking about her carotid arteries. A Vascular surgeon is the one that does that -- my FIL just talked to one about his. The VS gave my FIL stats like at 50% blockage you have X% chance of having a stroke, etc. The surgery itself has a X% chance of causing a stroke.

Anyway, I think they need a Vascular surgeon.

 

[Duff Man]

I would be trying to go to the Texas Heart Institute or the Baylor College of Medicine (which might be synonymous anyway). Cosellli is the best surgeon there, as far as I'm concerned. Are you thinking she needs an atherectomy?

http://www.debakeydepartmentofsurge...oc_name=Carotid+Artery+Disease&content_id=272

 

[Gnusgal]

I would be trying to go to the Texas Heart Institute or the Baylor College of Medicine (which might be synonymous anyway). Cosellli is the best surgeon there, as far as I'm concerned. Are you thinking she needs an atherectomy?

http://www.debakeydepartmentofsurge...oc_name=Carotid+Artery+Disease&content_id=272

I have no idea. I would assume she would need SOMETHING done. I can't imagine leaving it the way it is. My BIL says that she's been getting light headed and stuff. That's what finally got her to go to the doctor, even though her husband is completely against doctors. Apparently HER father died of this very thing, so I'm glad they've caught it. But if her husband won't let her do anything about it, what good does that do???

I'd already recommended the Texas Heart Institute. I wasn't sure if anyone knew of a specific doctor to recommend. Thanks for the surgeon recommendation. Back when I lived in Houston (as a kid) my surgeon was Dr. Cooley, so I no longer have "connections" since he doesn't practice anymore.

Thanks also for the link. I think I'll print it off to show my BIL. I know he knows nothing about the heart and is a bit freaked about all of this, and especially angry at his father for not wanting her to get treatment.

 

[Gnusgal]

OMG! I just went to the Texas Heart Institute web site and see that Denton Cooley IS still practicing! Wow. I wouldn't have guessed that!

 

[Gnusgal]

Dr. David Samuels is the cardiologist who followed me when I was in Houston for my surgery with Dr. Coselli. Dr. Samuels is now with Houston Cardiovascular Associates at 6400 Fannin, Suite 3000, Houston TX 77030. The telephone number is (713) 790-841. If she needs a surgeon, I would definitely try to get Dr. Coselli to do it. I recommend both of them.

Thanks. I'll pass this on to my BIL. I knew I'd find out what I needed to know from you all.

I also will be printing up some articles concerning the issue to give to him so he won't be so in the dark. I'm the only person he knows with "heart trouble" and my issues are COMPLETELY different from what his mom is going through. As my husband said, it's vascular, not heart... I'm hoping it will help him rather than scare him!

 

[Lisa in Katy]

Dr. Cooley doesn't actually practice much anymore, although he still oversees lots of surgeries. He's about 90, I think. He was already "old" when I saw him at Texas Children's back in 1976. By "old", I mean that I was 14, so he could have been anywhere from 45-75! She would probably need to see a cardiologist first, who would either perform the procedure himself, or refer her to the correct type of surgeon.

CVCP - Cardiovascular Care Providers is Dr. Cooley's group. Dr. Coselli is in the same group. The group has cardiologists, vascular surgeons, and cardiovascular surgeons and is the most respected group in the area. Here is the link to their website. http://www.cvcpdocs.com/

There are good cardiologists all over Houston. Most trained with Dr. Cooley or Dr. DeBakey.

Who is the cardiologist that she already saw?

 

[Gnusgal]

Dr. Cooley doesn't actually practice much anymore, although he still oversees lots of surgeries. He's about 90, I think. He was already "old" when I saw him at Texas Children's back in 1976. By "old", I mean that I was 14, so he could have been anywhere from 45-75! She would probably need to see a cardiologist first, who would either perform the procedure himself, or refer her to the correct type of surgeon.

Yeah, that's what I figured. He did my caths in 1976 and 1979 surgeries in 1981 and 1983... My VR was performed by his son-in-law Dr. Charles Fraser in 2002!

CVCP - Cardiovascular Care Providers is Dr. Cooley's group. Dr. Coselli is in the same group. The group has cardiologists, vascular surgeons, and cardiovascular surgeons and is the most respected group in the area. Here is the link to their website. http://www.cvcpdocs.com/

There are good cardiologists all over Houston. Most trained with Dr. Cooley or Dr. DeBakey.

Thanks. I will pass on the info...

Who is the cardiologist that she already saw?

I have no idea. I'm not even sure if she was seen by a cardiologist or not. Or what treatment was suggested. Only that she has the 50% blockage. Now that I've done a bit more research I plan on asking my BIL some of these questions. Also, my husband is a nurse on a cardiac floor and has said he will talk with him (and her husband) and let them know what he knows about it from a medical standpoint. Hopefully we'll be able to convince her husband that this is something that needs to be treated and not taken lightly.

Thanks for all the responses! You're awesome!

 

[lcwhitney]

I would have to agree with Aaron Dr. Coselli is the best in Houston. He was trained by and pa rtnered with Dr. DeBakey.

Lettitia

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Do Cardiothoracic Surgeons (the guys who change out our valves) really do VASCULAR surgery (i.e. clean out carotid arteries in the NECK)?

I'm guessing she needs a VASCULAR Surgeon.

 

[njean]

I have no idea. I would assume she would need SOMETHING done. I can't imagine leaving it the way it is. My BIL says that she's been getting light headed and stuff. That's what finally got her to go to the doctor, even though her husband is completely against doctors. Apparently HER father died of this very thing, so I'm glad they've caught it. But if her husband won't let her do anything about it, what good does that do???

I'd already recommended the Texas Heart Institute. I wasn't sure if anyone knew of a specific doctor to recommend. Thanks for the surgeon recommendation. Back when I lived in Houston (as a kid) my surgeon was Dr. Cooley, so I no longer have "connections" since he doesn't practice anymore.

Thanks also for the link. I think I'll print it off to show my BIL. I know he knows nothing about the heart and is a bit freaked about all of this, and especially angry at his father for not wanting her to get treatment.

Dr. Cooley is STILL VERY MUCH THE MAN there at St. Luke's, believe me, I know. In 2007 when I flew to St. Luke's because it was thought that I needed a 4th OHS ASAP, Dr. Cooley is who I met with & then he in turn turned me over to some of his best surgeons & best cardio's there. In fact, I have his email address & his telephone number if you wish to PM to get that info. I'd be glad to share. Dr. Cooley doesn't operate any more because of his age of course, but he's still very much in command & highly respected by all there at Baylor & Texas Heart Institute.

 

[Gnusgal]

Do Cardiothoracic Surgeons (the guys who change out our valves) really do VASCULAR surgery (i.e. clean out carotid arteries in the NECK)?

I'm guessing she needs a VASCULAR Surgeon.

Yes, she does. Which is why I recommended that they contact the Cardiovascular Care Providers that Lisa suggested. I don't think they quite understand that what I've gone through is completely different from what she's going through. But anything I can do to help...

 

[Kathy McCain]

Hello, My surgeon was Dr. David Ott. He is listed with this group. I have been told by more than one medical professional he is one of THE BEST SURGEONS. He has an incredible pair of hands. He is sixty one now and I am assuming he must have at least 15-20 yrs experience. He does not have much of a bedside manner, but he is in high demand.

Best of luck! Kathy M.

 

[Gnusgal]

Hello, My surgeon was Dr. David Ott. He is listed with this group. I have been told by more than one medical professional he is one of THE BEST SURGEONS. He has an incredible pair of hands. He is sixty one now and I am assuming he must have at least 15-20 yrs experience. He does not have much of a bedside manner, but he is in high demand.

Best of luck! Kathy M.

Dr. Ott did my pacemaker replacement surgery in 1990. He was fairly new then if I recall (learning under Cooley). So yes, he's certainly got experience!

 

[Gnusgal]

I talked with my BIL yesterday. He wants me to talk to his mom and let her know she shouldn't take this lightly. My husband (a nurse) has also offered to talk to her, but he seems to think it would come better from me because I've "been there." I don't think he quite grasps that my situation is different, but I don't mind helping out in any way I can. I gave him the Cardiovascular group's web site. Hopefully he can take it from there...

I'll let you know what happens. Thanks again for your help!

 

[Duff Man]

This might not be something she should take any action on other than monitoring it. My grandmother has both carotid arteries ocluded at something like 45% but they're not doing anything.

 

[Diana]

Hi, you may have all the information that you need but I thought I would mention a few things. Generally speaking you would see a vascular surgeon instead of a cardiovascular surgeon for carotid blockage. There have been quite a few studies, two of which being the NASCET study and the ACAS study (if you google these you should fine quite a bit of information) that have set the guidelines in carotid disease and the proper treatment (at least these are the guidelines that my doctors use).

The vascular surgeons that I work for usually do not perform stenting or an endarterectomy unless the patient is symptomatic and have a blockage of over 70%. At the 50% range in women, they use aspirin therapy and careful monitoring mostly, sometimes not even the aspirin therapy. I hope this information can be helpful to you in this.