Need a Value Surgeon in New York City

[pearl]

I have received 2 conflicting views about my mother having surgery. One doctor said no, because she is at extreme high risk, dialysis patient, stroke, cancer in 94, needs eye surgery, etc. Another said, that the surgery wouldn't be a problem even with her multiple illnessess. However, both have said if she doesn't have the surgery, she will continue to have breathing attacks and one of the times it will be fatal.

I need to get another opionion of another surgeon in New York City. Not from Columbia Pres. We saw one Doctor there.

Please, does anyone have a suggestion for a Surgeon in New York City??? She can not travel to Cleveland and does not have the money for an evaluation through the mail which costs $500.00 and is not covered by insurance.

Please help.
Thank You
Glenda
(Pearl's Daughter)

Please email me at [email protected]

 

[Shine_on_Syd]

I highly recommend Dr. Paul Stelzer
at Beth Israel Hospital
317 East 17th Street
New York NY 10003
Telephone (212) 420-2584
Fax (212) 420-2321

http://www.docnet.org/physicians/phys_bios.asp?phys_id=139

He is a very skilled and experienced cardiac surgeon and absolutely the most thorough and personable doctor I have ever know. I live in New Hampshire and went to New York for my AVR by Dr. Stelzer. I can't say enough good things about him.

 

[pearl]

Need the best Surgeon for Aortic Stenosis surgery for a high risk 77 year old woman

Need the best Surgeon for Aortic Stenosis surgery for a high risk 77 year old woman

Thank you for your response. However, I believe that your Doctor at Beth Israel is a specialist in the Ross Technique. My mother is not going to have the Ross done if she is able to have the surgery.

It is still not determined if she is able to have the surgery. We received two totally opposite evaluations. So, we must get another opionion and find a surgeon that she is a specialist in high risk surgeries . (She is on dialysis 4 times a week and has other illnesses)

Thank you. Do You HAVE ANY ONE ELSE YOU COULD RECOMMEND IN THE NEW YORK CITY AREA... (NOT IN COLUMBIA PRES) WE SAW DR. SMITH .

I THANK YOU AND EVERYONE ON THIS SITE FOR HELPING ME.

Glenda
(Pearl's daughter)

 

[Shine_on_Syd]

Dr. Stelzer is not soley a Ross surgeon. He is skilled in all valve surgeries. He did a porcine valve on me and does mechanical as well. He is worth talking to. During my orginal consult with me he spent over an hour just viewing my latest echo tape and explaining it to me.

Best of luck

 

[heartyone]

Is it possible to travel to Boston with your Mom? Dr. Eric Isslebacher at Mass. General is reportedly one of the best valve gurus in the nation. Best of luck with this search.

 

[pearl]

In response

In response

Thank you. I don't know if she can travel. It is very difficult. I am very discouraged. I thought I would get more responses to Doctors in the New York Area. But,only one person responded. He is a specialist in the Ross technique , so I don't think he is the person to see. Our time is very limited, so I must be very selective.

I will talk to her about Dr. Isslebacker. Any ideas about finding someone in New York.
Thank you
Glenda
(Pearl's Daughter)

 

[pearl]

Response

Response

Thank you
I checked the internet for the Doctor at Mass General Hospital. I found no such Doctor. Maybe the spelling is wrong or a different Hospital. Can you get back to me. thanks

 

[Phyllis]

If you are willing and able to get to Boston, Dr. Lawrence Cohn did my husband's bovine aortic valve replacement at the Brigham and Women's hospital in Boston. He is head of the dept. and one of the best. The website is: http://www.brighamandwomens.org/ We can't rave enough about the medical care and service that Dick received at Brigham. The attention they give to family is as wonderful as the attention they give to the patient.

 

[tobagotwo]

Both Columbia and Beth Israel are excellent hospitals. I wouldn't give up on the whole hospital based on one doctor. See if you can talk to someone in their cardio-thoracic surgery area, and see who they recommend.

Brigham and Women's is a top-rated valve center. That is an excellent choice of locations.

In New Jersey, there is Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, in New Brunswick. My surgeon is chief of cardiothoracic surgery there, and I trust him completeley, but have I never looked into their record or interest in extreme difficulty patients.

 

[Nancy]

Here is a link to heart valve surgeons in NY State, showing their volume, according to the city they practice in and the hospital. It's from the year 2002, but should give you some important guidelines.

http://www.medicalconsumers.org/Performance_Reports_2002/NY/Valve_Replacement2002_NY/page7.html

 

[heartyone]

Not sure why Isselbacher didn't show up on Mass. General listing, he's the head of cardiology there, telephone number 617-724-1994. I noticed you spelled his name with a K, maybe that was the problem, and also on my original post I reversed a couple of letters. The spelling in this post is the right one, sorry, minimal typing skills here. There are many good surgeons at Mass. General, am most familiar with Arvind Agnihotri, who's number I don't have handy, but it you call the main number at Mass. General they'll get your through to him. Maybe one of these people can recommend a colleague in NY.

Best wishes.

 

[Marge]

I wondered why you have excluded Columbia-Presbyterian? At least one VR.com member, Dawnwit, had a surgeon at that hospital do her mitral valve surgery. She raved about him. His name is Dr. Mehmet Oz, and he is very well known and admired from all I've heard.

 

[Shine_on_Syd]

Before I decided on Dr. Stelzer I did consult with:
Dr. Lawrence H Cohen
Brigham and Women's Hospital
75 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115

Phone: 617-734-8183
Fax: 617-732-6559
Primary Hospital: Brigham and Women's Hospital

Brigham and Women's and Mass General are close by and are teaching hospitals for Harvard. You will get some of the best medical care in the world. I had knee surgery Brigham and Women's it is a top hospital.

Dr. Cohen came to me very highly recommended, I believe he is around 70 (not that age matters as he well experienced and solid as a rock.) The only reason I didn?t go to Cohen and went to NYC is Cohen has done only about 5O RPs and I was looking for a more specialized Ross surgeon (100 plus). I was determined to try an RP. Boston doctors don't generally practice them.
I still say Stelzer is handy there for your in NYC, he is very straight shooter and will give you a very fair 3rd opinion without pushing the Ross. He is certainly more convenient than going to Boston, Cleveland or Rochester, MN.

 

[Shine_on_Syd]

Dr. Isselbacher

Dr. Isselbacher

Eric M Isselbacher MD
Location:
NEWTON, MA 02458

Primary Specialty
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

Medical School:
HARVARD MED SCH, BOSTON MA 02115
Residency Training:
MASS GEN HOSP, INTERNAL MEDICINE



Office Phone:
617-724-1994

 

[Nancy]

Marge-

Dr. Oz is indeed mentioned in the list I provided. He is one of the most experienced surgeons in the NYC area, according to the list. There are many, many to choose from in that list. Dr. Colvin is another.

 

[Granbonny]

NY Presbyterian

NY Presbyterian

Dr. L. Girardi did multiple valve surgeries on one of our younger members..Nicole..Nic..where are you ? She lives in the queens, nY..Bonnie

 

[DANIEL]

Ny Presby

Ny Presby

I had VR last year and could have gone anywhere I felt I would get the best.
My CE Bovine operation was performed by Girardi at Columbia NY Pres. I cannot say enough regarding how great this Doctor and his staff is. An important consideration for me was the cardiac staff. A 12 on a scale of 10. Also had an aortic graft. In the hospital only 5 days. On the 4th night I walked 1/2 mile around the halls. If you see him, I suggest you read as much as possible before the meeting. He will answer every question you might have, so you do not want to waste his time regurging basic info.

 

[MelissaM]

Let the doctors be your guide, but I wanted to share a personal experience. My mother underwent heart surgery and was a Type II diabetic with many complications including eye issues, neuropathy, dialysis and heart failure. Her overall health was poor when she had a heart attack and underwent bypass surgery. The recovery was longer and more painful than I ever remember it being and severely complicated by her diabetes. She couldn't exercise very well after heart surgery due to the neuropathy in her hands and feet that made it difficult to walk. She eventually ended up on dialysis due to renal failure and passed away from end stage renal failure at age 48. I would dare say she never fully recovered from her heart surgery. Many times Mom wished she had died from her heart attack rather than endure the pain of heart surgery and the ensuing poor quality of life that she led post-surgery.

I am not saying this to discourage you or your mom from surgery. Every situation and person is totally unique. I just wanted to make the point that the other issues in your mother's life can - and will - affect her recovery. Take them seriously.

Melissa

 

[pearl]

Complications

Complications

That you for your honest response and for sharing your personal story about your mother's situation.

My mother is on Diaylsis which complicates the heart surgery (value replacement). Of course, if people have no other illnessess than the considerting a value surgery is another issue.

thank you
Glenda
(Pearl's daughter)

 

[pearl]

Columbia Pres

Columbia Pres

We have seen a Doctor at Columbia Pres. Oz is in the same office as Dr. Smith. We saw Doctor Smith. Because of my mother's complciations and multiple illnesses, he advised against surgery.