Surgical location

Moosejaw · Jan 5, 2016

Hi everybody.I'm new to this site for obvious reasons. I'll be 58 in a couple months and have aortic regurgitation which requires valve replacement in the next few months. I live in the Boise Idaho area and am searching for a good hospital. The two we have here are rated ok but I'm not sure I want just ok surgery.Trouble is most top notch hospitals are a plane ride away.I understand you can't fly after surgery for three to six weeks afterward.So now I'm stuck in some place with out support til I can go home or opt for the local hospital and be close to home with family to help me. What did most of you folks do ? I hope this isn't a stupid question. Thanks

almost_hectic · Jan 5, 2016

Not a stupid question at all. I know others on here have had surgery then flown home shortly after from what I've read. Don't recall specifically who that was. I'm in Florida and my surgeon was only a 30 minute drive away so I couldn't help. Unless you'd be looking for a great hospital and wanted to spend a little extra time in the warm weather. Although you're certainly not going to feel much like going to the beach unfortunately.

dick0236 · Jan 5, 2016

Welcome to the site.....and "Mosejaw" is a neat name. Metropolitan cities like Boise will have fully capable surgeons that do valve replacement surgery and unless you have a very special circumstance I'd get it done where your support group is. Just the word "heart surgery" is scary but it has a long, successful track record.

Paleowoman · Jan 5, 2016

Moosejaw is the name of a Canadian town - when I was a kid my dad was offered a teaching job there. He declined the job offer, if he hadn't I might have lived in Canada !

Welcome to the forum Moosejaw ! I'm sure there are several forum members who flew to the Cleveland for their surgery, and then flew home a few days later. As long as you have good support at home then it's a possibility, otherwise if the hospitals nearer home are okay then it's better to be near home, particularly for if things don't go right later. Have you been referred to any local cardiac surgeons ?

AZ Don · Jan 6, 2016

Typically, you can't drive for 6 weeks after surgery, and you can't carry anything but the lightest luggage, but you can ride as a passenger when you leave the hospital. Many people fly home just days after leaving the hospital. I think the typical scenario is to stay nearby for a few days after surgery, have a follow-up with the surgeon and then fly home and do follow-ups at home. You have your choice.

cldlhd · Jan 6, 2016

I know somebody in this site who flew to Philadelphia from California to have her valve repaired and flew home shortly after. I had the same surgeon repair my valve. If repair isn't an option I'm sure there are surgeons in Boise who can do a replacement. If repair is an option then I'd seek out a high volume center and surgeon that's known for repair.

Moosejaw · Jan 6, 2016

Thanks everybody.Yea Moosejaw is a Nickname I picked up 20 years ago.Long dumb story. I used to threaten my daughters that if they didn't straight'n up I'd send them to an all girls school in Moosejaw Saskatchewan.Turned out there really was one ! No I haven't been referred to a surgeon yet.I expect I will be at my next echo in March.Planning on the surgery in May , and trying to decide where to do it. I believe it will be a straight valve replacement. The hospital here has a higher then average post surgery death rate. Makes me a little uncomfortable although I know a lot of different factors can come into play. Thanks for the feedback.