thos_huxley
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2018
- Messages
- 25
Hello all. . . .
Although this is my first post to this forum, I've lurked here for some time, reading and gathering information preparatory to OHS for a modified Bentall procedure. A change in my personal situation prompts me to ask for help.
My medical condition is bi-leaflet aortic valve (fused and proloapsed cusps) with a dilated aortic root (at the moment, 4.8 cm). To keep my heart strong, I swim 40-50 minutes three times a week. I get an MRA and ultrasound once a year at the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute (Northwestern Memorial Hospital) in Chicago. So far, the aortic dilation has been stable and hasn't grown for three years, although when this all began around 10 years ago, the measurement was 4.2.
While I've been very pleased with the care and attention I've received at Bluhm, my personal situation will be changing in the near future. That is, I'm moving to western Kansas, so I'll need to find a new cardiologist and thoracic surgeon. Presumably I'll go to the University of Kansas Hospital, which U.S. News & World Report ranks #24 for cardiology and heart surgery. Frankly, that choice doesn't look very good when you've been visiting a top-10 care center. There's also St. Luke's Hospital, which is ranked even lower.
Of course I realize a surgeon's experience and skill is the most important priority and consideration, so I'd like to get some advice and/or recommendations from anyone who has first-hand experience at one of these Kansas hospitals.
Thanks in advance to all who respond!
TH
Although this is my first post to this forum, I've lurked here for some time, reading and gathering information preparatory to OHS for a modified Bentall procedure. A change in my personal situation prompts me to ask for help.
My medical condition is bi-leaflet aortic valve (fused and proloapsed cusps) with a dilated aortic root (at the moment, 4.8 cm). To keep my heart strong, I swim 40-50 minutes three times a week. I get an MRA and ultrasound once a year at the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute (Northwestern Memorial Hospital) in Chicago. So far, the aortic dilation has been stable and hasn't grown for three years, although when this all began around 10 years ago, the measurement was 4.2.
While I've been very pleased with the care and attention I've received at Bluhm, my personal situation will be changing in the near future. That is, I'm moving to western Kansas, so I'll need to find a new cardiologist and thoracic surgeon. Presumably I'll go to the University of Kansas Hospital, which U.S. News & World Report ranks #24 for cardiology and heart surgery. Frankly, that choice doesn't look very good when you've been visiting a top-10 care center. There's also St. Luke's Hospital, which is ranked even lower.
Of course I realize a surgeon's experience and skill is the most important priority and consideration, so I'd like to get some advice and/or recommendations from anyone who has first-hand experience at one of these Kansas hospitals.
Thanks in advance to all who respond!
TH