Questions to Ask During surgery Consult`

[harleygirl528]

Good news! 10 days after being diagnosed with a 4.8 cm aortic aneurysm involving the arch....I finally have a cardiothoracic surgeon consult! It is with Dr. Teply at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle....if anyone has any experience with him...please share! I was so relieved just to know that I would be seeing someone that I actually started crying! Seems like I have been struggling with my insurance every business day last week just to get an appropriate referral....they kept trying to send me to regular cardiologist....or cardio interventionist...several inappropriate referrals later I think I may finally be on the right track. This guy seems to be highly credentialed and Swedish actually just recently affilitated with Cleveland Clinic...so my question is this:
Can you guys please forward may any and all questions that I should ask during my surgery consult? I am also looking at a probably AVR due to aortic insufficiency....fairly mild but I was told I may have a bicuspid valve and on echos they did note "calcifications".
I have done nothing the last week beside research, read all the posts on VR.com and make phone calls.....my mind is a jumble!
If there is already of list somewhere of questions to ask on this site...just point me in the right direction!

Thanks everyone!

 

[Ross]

Lorie do a search with surgeon question and see what you find. Really, you've asked me about everything that you should talk to the surgeon about. Get a notepad and start writing things that you want answers too and take it with you as well as someone else to listen also. You'd be surprised at how stupid you get in the presence of the surgeon.

 

[Ross]

http://valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17988&highlight=questions+surgeon

 

[Isis]

If the aortic valve will be replaced have you thought about or decided what type of valve you desire; tissue or mechanical? And what brand / model. I'm sure the surgeon will suggest a model/type that he/she feels is best.
But it's always good to have an idea what you believe is best for you going in; and what you will be most comfortable living with.

 

[harleygirl528]

Consult moved up to tomorrow morning!

Consult moved up to tomorrow morning!

Yikes...I just got a call from my surgeon's office and they want to see me tomorrow morning instead of next week! The nurse said that the doc looked at my studies which were sent over by my cardiologist and wants to fit me in tomorrow...I hope that isn't cause for alarm....

Anyway, I hope I remember everything I need to ask him....my sister who is a nurse was supposed to go with me but I don't think she can get off work with such short notice....

Anyone else on the site ever been treated at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle? I was just wondering what your experience was and how you feel about the hospital in general...

Thanks everyone...wish me luck! Part of me just wants to hurry up and get this over....and get on the other side of the mountain and on the way to recovery!

 

[marie]

I want to wish you lots of luck tomorrow and am looking forward to hearing all about it.
Prayers coming your way

 

[Arlyss]

You need to understand how much risk you are currently at because of the aneurysm.

- Is the aneurysm actually 4.8 cm or perhaps larger? The surgeon should have measured it himself based on the images sent to him. It is not uncommon for aneurysms to be inaccurately measured. Find out for sure how large it is. That may be a factor in why the surgeon wishes to see you so soon.
- Is your blood pressure controlled, to reduce stress on the aneurysm until it is removed?

If you are at high risk of aortic tearing/rupture, at least in this surgeon's opinion, there may not be a lot of opportunity for getting second opinions. However, you should find out as much as you can about the surgeon's experience and the technique that will be used to replace the aorta.

Practice makes perfect - how many of this exact surgery does this surgeon do in a year? What complication rate do his patients have? Have any of his patients died from this procedure?

These are difficult questions, but they are important.

Your sister really needs to go with you. She also should network in the medical community and find out as much as she can through her contacts.
If your sister absolutely cannot go with you, take someone else. This is too important and too stressful without someone else there with you. They need to listen carefully, help make sure your questions are all answered, and be sure you are both very clear about the answers.

It is a challenge to find the help you need. My heart goes out to you.


With my best wishes,
Arlyss

 

[Marguerite53]

Hello! I'm just down the I-5 in Portland metro area.

Definitely, make a list of some sort to take in to the surgeon. Check off each item as you go along and make notes.

Don't worry if you don't ask everything. Usually these surgeons are very gentle, lovely people who are trained to save your life. It's all good!!! They will be a wealth of info. Usually they have a Physician's assistant who you can call and get reallly good answers for all the questions you think up later.

Your primary, numero uno, decision is which kind of valve. We don't know your age. I don't know how much you've read about the several different kinds of valves, here. Try to familiarize yourself if you can, so that the surgeon's words have meaning for you. They generally have their own favorites and you might definitely want them to use the ones they are most familiar with. The big decision is tissue versus mechanical. We have a head-swimmingly million conversations/threads here on VR.com about the choice. Use your consult to help narrow down your feelings about this.

Good luck. Take a deep breath and go for it! You will be fine.

They probably just don't want you to wait for this surgery too long. That's a GOOD thing.

Swedish has a phenomenal reputation. I would think you would be in the most excellent care there.

Best wishes!!

Marguerite

 

[Karlynn]

If someone can't go with you, take along a recorder of some type and just tell the doctor that you'd like to record everything because you don't want to forget what he/she says. You can get digital records fairly inexpensively, or some cell phones will record - but not for very long.

Wishing you luck with your appointment. Breathe deeply!

And be sure to fill us in on what you learned.

 

[harleygirl528]

Thanks everyone for the replies and suggestions and most of all the words of encouragement!

Karlynn: I will definitely be taking a hand-held recorder...I have a digital one and what a great idea~My last two visits I was so stressed out that I just checked out and the doctor sounded like the adults talking on the old Charlie Brown tv shows...your mouth is moving but you're not making sense!

Marguerite: Greeting to a fellow west coaster! I was born and raised in Oregon...and my family still lives there...the Eugene area! I definitely have my list of questions and I have already started debating the mechanical versus tissue...I will weight heavily the doctor's advice but am leaning toward mechanical because I absolutely dread the thought of being operated on every 10 years...I am only 41 years old and have 3 children still living at home with the youngest being 9! Thanks also for the vote of confidence for Swedish Medical Center...I checked their stats and they have a very low mortality rate..even better than U.W.

Arlyss: I was originally told the aneurysm was 5 cm and then it was altered to 4.8 cm after having an angiogram CT. The surgeon reviewed everything that my cardio sent to him and bumped up my visit so maybe there is some concern there. Yes, my cardio put me on bp medicine right away...Lisinopril...I realize due to the nature of this I may not have time for a second opinion and if not, it is in God's hands now....I just feel that everything is going to be okay...otherwise I wouldn't have found out about it at all....I was having no symptoms and it was found while doing an MRI or my spine for an unrelated issue. Thanks for your advice on questions....

As always, my friends here at VR.com have served to encourage me and enlighten me and ease this heavy burden so much....I will let you guys know how the consult goes tomorrow evening.

Thanks again!!

 

[WayneGM]

Best wishes and good luck with your appointment tomorrow.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

When it comes to mechanical valves, I have focused on 2 providers.

On-X because of the technical improvements outlined on their website www.onxvalves.com and www.heartvalvechoice.com These valves have been in use in the World Market since 1996 and in the USA since 2001.

St. Jude because of it's proven record of reliability for 30 years. See www.sjm.com

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Turkey Hunter]

Ask every question; even the tough ones......

Ask every question; even the tough ones......

When I had my consult I had a typed list of questions, and some of them would be uncomfortable to ask.
When the surgeon saw my hesitation to ask; he stepped up beside me and read aloud the questions and then answered or got the answers for me.

The presumption that a tissue valve will only last 10 years and you will be having OHS every decade is not a fair statement. I am not saying you would never have a chance of another surgery with a tissue valve; but there are no guarantees with a mechanical. Manufacturers have recalled their valves in the past. I am not saying this to scare you, just the facts. There are no guarantees no matter which option you choose. Multiple oppinions and educating yourself is the best thing you can do.

God Bless & keep us posted.

Ben