Where is B&W and MGH? These acronyms have a sharp learning curve around here
See my Previous Paragraph (copied below):
Some of the Best Surgeons in the Country are at Brigham and Womens and Mass. General Hospital, both in Boston.
The Best High Risk Surgeons are found at Top Rated Heart Hospitals such as B&W and MGH.
B&W = Brigham and Womens
MGH = Massachusetts General Hospital
JoJo -
Your Dad needs to understand that there is a Wide Range of Skills among Heart Surgeons. MANY surgeons do a fine job on (relatively simple) ByPass Surgery and even First Time Valve Replacement.
For High Risk Surgeries, it is best to find a Surgeon with LOTS of experience performing the procedure your dad needs and experience dealing with his co-morbidities.
Bottom Line: Not All Surgeons are created EQUAL.
I recall 2 of our members who went to 'good local surgeons' that either Botched their surgeries or discovered their patients were 'way over their heads' and they didn't have the skills needed to fix them, refering them to a Major Heart Center where more experienced surgeons fixed them (after surgeon #1 performed a useless opening of the chest).
Bottom Line 2: Patients either need to learn more about their disease and what they need in a surgeon or Really Trust their Cardiologist to refer them to an appropriate surgeon who has the right experience and skills.
Bottom Line 3: IMHO, Surgeons have a better background for judging WHEN to perform surgery and what needs to be done than Cardiologists whose primary function is to Diagnose the Problem. All that Cardiologists can do for Valve Patients is offer them medication which can SLOW the progression of their Valve Disease but NEVER CURE IT.
When you have a plumbing problem, you call a plumber.
CardioThoracic Surgeons are the plumbers for the human plumbing system.
As you have stated several times, you Dad really trusts his Cardiologist (and apparently doesn't want to be involved in the decision making). I hope this cardiologist is worthy of that trust.
