Heart Surgeon
 

Husband just finding out he needs 2 valves repaired or replaced.
Does anyone have a recommendation for a heart surgeon or for a particular hospital? I've found several threads regarding this, but they were several years old and hoping for more recent information.

thanking you in advance.

Gail

Leesburg Regional Heart Institute Physicians


Cardiovascular/Thoracic Surgery

R. Duane Cook, MD
Leesburg Ocala Heart Institute
700 Doctors Court
Leesburg, FL 34748
(352) 787-9838

Wistar (Tim) Moore III, MD
Leesburg Ocala Heart Institute
700 Doctors Court
Leesburg, FL 34748
(352) 787-9838

Robert J. Richardson, MD
Leesburg Ocala Heart Institute
700 Doctors Court
Leesburg, FL 34748
(352) 787-9838

Highly recommend Dr. Thomas Beaver and Shands Hospital in Gainesville. He is chief or Thorasic and Cardiovascular surgery. He did a triple bypass on my wife 4 weeks ago today in a very high risk situation with perfect results. Don't mess around locally, get the best care you can. It's only about an hour to Gainesville

Gail:
In August, 2013 I had a mitral valve repaired, along with two bypasses. Surgery was done at Leesburg Hospital. The surgeon was Dr. Wistar (Tim) Moore. Dr. Moore's specialty is mitral valves. Since we were fairly new to The Villages we knew nothing about cardiac surgeons or what hospital to use. Originally I assumed I would have this procedure done at Shands. My cardiologist told me about Leesburg Hospital's excellent cardiac surgery department and he was right. Dr. Moore is a man of few words but is an excellent surgeon. The nursing staff at Leesburg Hospital is top-notch. I wholeheartedly recommend both.
Good luck. You'll be fine.

Heart Surgeon
 

The surgical heart program at Leesburg is rated in the top 3 in all of FL. It is an excellent service and close to us.

Where might I find more in depth information on that stat?

Heart Surgeon
 

Check online via Google. I've followed the open heart programs in FL for the past 20 years.

Here is a link to US New
http://health.usnews.com/best-hospit...-heart-surgery

Some info on the program (self promotion) http://www.leesburgregional.org/serv...-leesburg.html

Here is a consumer report piece listing best docs by state noting Leesburg's chief.
http://www.leesburgregional.org/serv...-leesburg.html

The Cleveland Clinic is the number one in the USA rated outfit for heart valve replacement. I know two men who have gone there from other states. Both were happy with the results. Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute | Cleveland Clinic

You are absolutely correct about this. I know a number of patients that went there as well.

Wife had Wistar (Tim) Moore. He was great and the hospital staff, first class

He is the recommended surgeon for the Leesburg program.

I agree with going to and consulting the people who do the most heart surgeries.

Our daughter has had some very unusual and scary things done to her heart and we soon learned that her best options were to go where the expertise is and where they perform a LOT of the same or similar procedures, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly and being part of a teaching facility keeps them really up to speed..

I would go to Shands or Mayo in Jacksonville.

I talked to Dr. Moore prior to having my aorta valve replaced. He said that he would also insert a pace maker "just in case"? That raised a red flag for me. I decided to go to Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala and had Dr. Kuykendall. Dr. Kuykendall and his staff were great. My experience with the Village and Leesburg Medical Centers have not been the best. Please check out Munroe Regional Medical Center prior to making any commitment. Good luck.

Heart Surgeon
 

Did you ask him about the reason for a pacemaker? Or do any research? It is not uncommon. Here's some information from a Cleveland Clinic heart surgeon.

"Dr. Marc Gillinov – Cleveland Clinic Heart Surgeon

Doctor Gillinov shared with me, “After a Maze procedure or any sort of heart surgery, it is occasionally necessary to place a pacemaker. In the case of a Maze procedure, the pacemaker is usually required because of pre-existing sinus node dysfunction–basically, the heart’s own internal pacemaker, which is called the sinus node, does not work properly.”

Dr. Gillinov also noted, “It is also possible to develop the need for a pacemaker after heart valve surgery. When this occurs, it is usually a result of some interruption of the conduction system by sutures placed in or around the heart valve.”

I'm familiar with pacemakers being used as a safety procedure. If this was an unapproved or unsafe procedure Medicare would not approve it, and certainly not pay for it.

I sure hope you will remove your red flag. Sounds like the kind of cautious surgeon we should be pleased to receive care from.

Bump