looking for mvp recommendations

[kataboom]

hello, my fiance' has mitral valve prolapse & just underwent her 3rd (over 5 years) traditional surgery a few months ago. her condition is not getting better so ive been looking for alternatives. i have been researching mitral valve prolapse on the net for sometime & basically, i would like a recomendation for the "best" center or hospital that specializes in MVP. location is not a factor. our only guideline is finding the highest recommended surgeon or mvp center. please post freely. thank you. ek

 

[Ross]

Hello and welcome to the forums Kataboom.

You might want to get someone from the Cleveland Clinic or Mayo Clinic to look her records over and give an opinion and perhaps a consult. Cleveland is rated the #1 Heart Surgery Center and they do have world class doctors there. There is nothing wrong with Mayo either. Just a thought. Dr. Cosgrove at Cleveland would be an excellent start. Here is a link to him:
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/staff/getstaff.asp?StaffId=237

 

[kataboom]

thank you ross, for the quick recommendation & the welcoming! i feel at home already. well, what can i say? so much information which makes everything so confusing. not to mention the stress everyone is experiencing. so the cleveland clinic or the mayo clinic huh? i guess i havent told too much, she is a medical student here in the U.S. but she is from overseas & is there right now with her family. she had the surgery in sydney, au. right now, im actually getting some information together for her father who has the final say since we havent officially tied the knot. it has to be very convincing as far as being the best in the world. any help in this endeveour would also help. edward kennington

 

[kataboom]

wow, the cleveland clinic has a great site ross. i was digging for some milestones info & found it deep in the site! just what i need. ek

 

[Ross]

Doctor Cosgrove is one of the best, if not the best when it comes to Mitral Valve Repair of any type. There are a few members here that had him as their surgeon and most would recommend him. I'm sure you'll get other responses also, so just hang in there for a day or two.

I had Dr. Patrick McCarthy for a surgeon when I was there. I can tell you that you get first rate surgery with just about any of them at Cleveland.

 

[kataboom]

ross, thank you again. the site is great. dont worry about me hanging here for a few days cause i already love this forum! i hope everyone else can post information for me. its scary enough confronting the woman you love's father...but imagine confronting him with a medical suggestion about his "princess"! help me out everyone! ek

 

[Ross]

Here is a link to U.S. News and World Reports on the top ranking hospitals for Heart Surgery. Notice slots #1 and #2.
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/nycu/health/hosptl/rankings/specihqcard.htm

Well, I'm outta here for tonight but when everyone else wakes up and gets moving, I'm sure others will pick up on this thread. Talk to you soon and again, welcome to the family.

 

[hensylee]

Mornin kat and welcome to our cyber home. There is so much to learn here. So many others will be along soon to welcome you, as well, and give you the benefit of their experiences. This is a site that you want to stick with - wonderful caring folks to listen and swap thoughts with you any time 24/7. (as Ross has in the middle of the night - sorry you are not sleeping, Ross). God bless

 

[terry40]

cleveland is the best...

cleveland is the best...

I've known about the cleveland clinic shortly after being diagnosised with MVP, they have the latest technology, and there rating is four stars, the best!

There are quite a few on this site who have had surgery done there, that's where you can find a surgeons name.

Welcome, and good luck to both of you

Terry40

 

[kataboom]

wow, thank you again for the great welcome hensylee & terry. i plan to stay here & also to check out the information here every evening. the cleveland clinic sounds like its recommended & considered the best. is there any listing besides what ross posted from u.s. news about ratings of hospitals? it doesnt have to be anything official, maybe a posted opinion or something. im still gathering information for the "suggestion". thanks again! lunch break is over...back to work! eddie

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi edward!
welcome to this site. although i am not able to help with that particular question, i 'm sure_ as you can already see_ taht others will come forward. i do know, from having read so many posts, that dr. cosgrove has a reputation taht is phenomenal.
you must be a wonderful fiance and must love your future wife so very much to be doing all this legwork and have to present it to "el exigente" (her dad)- lol. i'm glad it brought you here to us.
wishing you all the best in your search and please keep us posted.
be well, sylvia

 

[kataboom]

thank you! lol el exigente! thats funny but so true! my background is spanish/italian & i know exactly what you mean! i do love her very much, & we have been through some of the hardest times...but we have always come back together. i better not forget to mention the best times of my life as well! for her efforts already in our relationship she has won my heart forever! it will be 3 years in february. wow. speaking about my assignement...her dad is tough but her mom is even tougher! yikes! im still doing lots to make it the best report ive ever done!thank you again sylvia for your support. eddie

 

[Gail in Ca]

I have had 2 open heart surgeries at Stanford Hospital and will be going there when I need my 3rd, hopefully way down the line.
My surgeon, Dr Craig Miller is one of the best for valve surgeries.
When my mitral needs attending to,( it is leaking mod to severe at this time) he will go in thru the rib not the sternum, and replace it. Even with a cardiac cath it was thought that I could have it repaired and it was just mitral valve prolapse, but when I was in surgery, Dr found that it was odd looking, probably congenitally deformed, not just prolapsed. Anyway, I was at death's door before my avr and he chose not to replace the mitral and I am hoping it will be a long time before it needs doing.
Dr. Miller is my guy!
Gail