Garys 2 consults today with Drs Griepp and Tolis

[Chrisandgary]

Hi - I waited anxiously for today and now I am confused! Really liked both Dr.George Tolis and Dr. Griepp. Tolis is at Lenox Hill and Griepp is at Sinai. Griepp is much older and Tolis is much younger. Tolis trained under Griepp and said " I will give you some other surgeons names - Drs Griepp and Girardi" I said "We are on our way to Griepp after you and Girardi on Monday!" Tolis said if he needed this surgery he'd go to Griepp.
Tolis was very nice - sat with us for 1 hour - explained everything so we could understand - then came the question "Would you do this surgery" He took a deep breath and said "I am ready for the challenge" The risk is 10% due to #1 This is the 3rd time and "#2 Gary had the Ross procedure. That means they have to reattach the coronary arteries for the 2nd time. If there is any calcification of these arteries - he'll have to do a triple bypass.
Tolis said to say "Hi" to Griepp when we left and I asked if he was really confident in doing this procedure and he said "yes"
Griepp was nice too and insisted on making the pulmonic valve a mechanical also so we NEVER have to have OHS AGAIN. I was very happy about this. (I have to ask Tolis this - to make it mandatory as he stated he would have a looksee and decide when he got in). I told Griepp we had seen Tolis today and he said "Hi" and I asked for his feelings on Tolis doing the job. Griepp replied with " I am the man for the job"
Now we are confused. We liked both very much - Griepp has much more experience and is much older. Tolis has never done a Ross redo. He seems very young - but did train under Griepp.
Tolis said 10% risk
Griepp said 2-3% risk
Any thoughts???
Griepp is not on our plan - Tolis is. We'd have to pay major $$$ for Griepp which we will do if need be.
Thank you all - you have been such great help through this experience.
Also - anyone know of a Swedish doctor at Cleveland Clinic?He is supposed to be an aortic specialist and an expert in Ross redos.
Christine (I have his name here someone just cant find it at the moment!)

 

[coryp]

Hi - I waited anxiously for today and now I am confused! Really liked both Dr.George Tolis and Dr. Griepp. Tolis is at Lenox Hill and Griepp is at Sinai. Griepp is much older and Tolis is much younger. Tolis trained under Griepp and said " I will give you some other surgeons names - Drs Griepp and Girardi" I said "We are on our way to Griepp after you and Girardi on Monday!" Tolis said if he needed this surgery he'd go to Griepp.
Tolis was very nice - sat with us for 1 hour - explained everything so we could understand - then came the question "Would you do this surgery" He took a deep breath and said "I am ready for the challenge" The risk is 10% due to #1 This is the 3rd time and "#2 Gary had the Ross procedure. That means they have to reattach the coronary arteries for the 2nd time. If there is any calcification of these arteries - he'll have to do a triple bypass.
Tolis said to say "Hi" to Griepp when we left and I asked if he was really confident in doing this procedure and he said "yes"
Griepp was nice too and insisted on making the pulmonic valve a mechanical also so we NEVER have to have OHS AGAIN. I was very happy about this. (I have to ask Tolis this - to make it mandatory as he stated he would have a looksee and decide when he got in). I told Griepp we had seen Tolis today and he said "Hi" and I asked for his feelings on Tolis doing the job. Griepp replied with " I am the man for the job"
Now we are confused. We liked both very much - Griepp has much more experience and is much older. Tolis has never done a Ross redo. He seems very young - but did train under Griepp.
Tolis said 10% risk
Griepp said 2-3% risk
Any thoughts???
Griepp is not on our plan - Tolis is. We'd have to pay major $$$ for Griepp which we will do if need be.
Thank you all - you have been such great help through this experience.
Also - anyone know of a Swedish doctor at Cleveland Clinic?He is supposed to be an aortic specialist and an expert in Ross redos.
Christine (I have his name here someone just cant find it at the moment!)

I am a really to the point person. Here is how it sounds to me. Tolis sighed and said 10% and told you GRIEPP if it were him. Griepp told you 2-3% and he was your man. Ross redos are very dangerous especially if it is the third time in. I would go with your gut and the info provided to you.

Whatever your decision you must be happy with it knowing it could be life or death.

Cory

 

[Mary]

I am a really to the point person. Here is how it sounds to me. Tolis sighed and said 10% and told you GRIEPP if it were him. Griepp told you 2-3% and he was your man. Ross redos are very dangerous especially if it is the third time in. I would go with your gut and the info provided to you.

Whatever your decision you must be happy with it knowing it could be life or death.

Cory

I think Cory just gave you a sound reason to go with Griepp.

 

[Phyllis]

Amen- I would go with the teacher, rather than the student! With age comes experience and expertise.

 

[Debster]

Hi! If it was me, I would probably go with Griepp...When my mom(who btw-is a Chris...and she is married to my stepdad Gary-ha!) had her triple bypass and mitral valve replacement-I quizzed her surgeon big time. I asked him if he"had done a lot of these procedures" and he said "Yes ma'am, it's what I do." For some silly reason that comforted me, his calm, confident manner. Griepp sounds confident to me-but go with you gut instinct. My mom was high risk too-she was in full regurgitation and has had many, many health challenges in her life. Her surgery was in April and she is doing well except for bouts of a-fib.
Will keep you both in prayer...best wishes for a great outcome-Debster

 

[Chrisandgary]

Just to clarify Tolis said if he could operate on himself he would otherwise Griepp would be his first choice.
He didnt mean and I didnt mean to write it the way it sounds - that Griepp should do it and he shouldnt! Oh my goodness I need to go to bed!
Christine

 

[Debster]

That sounds like a clincher for Griepp I asked my mom's nurses their opinions of my mom's surgeon and they ALL said that they would let him work on them and their moms

 

[coryp]

Just to clarify Tolis said if he could operate on himself he would otherwise Griepp would be his first choice.
He didnt mean and I didnt mean to write it the way it sounds - that Griepp should do it and he shouldnt! Oh my goodness I need to go to bed!
Christine

It sounded just fine, relax and take a deep breathe everything will be fine.

As I mentioned on a past email the PROCEDURE called total circulatory arrest will have to be done during the surgery and Griepp was the first to do it 18 yrs ago. That would be enough for me. Did you talk about that with the dR's today?

My surgeon was trained by Griepp as well 18 yrs ago @ Sinai (my surgeon was 53 at the time of my surgery) and was the first to bring and utilize total circulatory arrest to the west coast (Ca).

Regards,

Cory

 

[perkicar]

Thank you all - you have been such great help through this experience.
Also - anyone know of a Swedish doctor at Cleveland Clinic?He is supposed to be an aortic specialist and an expert in Ross redos.
Christine (I have his name here someone just cant find it at the moment!)

Svennson or Petterson? Check the website www.clevelandclinic.org, go to the heart center and you should be able to find him. Lytle does alot of repeat OHS and aortic "stuff" but I don't know about the Ross procedure, and, LOL, he's not swedish.

It was Dr Petterson, Gosta Petterson. LOL, I thought I had totally botched the last name.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

EXPERIENCE COUNTS !!!

Especially the Third Time Around!

The more they do, the better they are.

Find a way to make the insurance cover the best man for the job. Will a referal from and in-plan surgeon do?

'AL Capshaw'

 

[EVELYN]

For me, it would be a no brainer.....Griepp....I'd fight like heck with my insurances and if not, pay it off......go with the best.

Evelyn

 

[Nancy]

Anyone who says, "I am the man for the job." has my vote. That's the kind of confidence you need here, plus he has vast experience and trains others. Go with him.

 

[Karlynn]

So far you have a 100% for Griepp here. Tolis has not done a Ross redo yet. That was the clincher for me.

 

[Chrisandgary]

Thank you guys! I am calling Griepp today and my insurance company for all the details.
Thank you Thank you Thank you!
Christine

 

[catwoman]

Christine:

Have you heard anything from your insurance company yet?

My guess is that, since this is a complicated situation, they would lean toward springing for an out-of-network doctor with experience in an unusual/difficult procedure.