I don't know if the Mayo Clinic in Jax would come close to the 4-500 procedures per year, but they would certainly be worth checking out as they have a stellar reputation in general. Good luck to you Z.

Z,
Sounds like too much to do from a stent/angioplasty standpoint. That's why the surgery is being suggested. At (essentially) 90 there's a fair amount of risk in terms of stroke etc.

PM me. I'll do the same.

I hope your Dad gets better. Hang in there.

Thank you all - once more.

Flying down to Florida tomorrow.

Will be calling/checking out the following hospitals so far, to get a 2nd opinion:
Florida Medical Center / Tenet South Floriday - Ft. Lauderdale (top-rated hospital for cardiac surgery and care)
Florida Hospital - Orlando - another highly rated hospital for cardiac care
Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville (as mentioned before)
A hostpital in Sarasota (as mentioned before)

Mrs. Z-man will be coming down with me to support our family. God, I love this woman...

-Zoltan.

Z,
The Sarasota Hospital is Sarasota Memorial. Plenty of guys there from Texas Heart, surgeons and cardiologists.

From what I remember, Lakeland actually has a big regional hospital, like 800 beds, so it shouldn't be a slouch, although I don't know too much personally. Closest "big" hospital is probably Florida Hospital, Orlando, which is like 1200 beds. Tons of heart work there.

Z,
Good luck to your dad, you & the rest of the family. 88 is pretty good - I think a lot of us hope we make it to that.

Thoughts and prayers are sent.

Hoping for the best, it's good that you are able to be there for him.

Tell him that you love him.


KT

Z-Man,

As to second opinions, the Cleveland Clinic is rated as the best in the world for heart care (as how I know). they have a facility in Weston, FL. Look at their website at www.ccf.org and select the CCF/Florida link.

I know my cardiologist from the main Clevaland Campus sees patients 1 week in 6 in Florida (along with a lot of other Cleveland based specialists), preforms procedures in Florida and if there is something they can'd do there they can move the patient to the Clevand campus.

They saved my life after a full arrest heart attack at age 39 (13 years ago). Bad gene pool as my dad died of his 3rd heart attack in 1968 at age 37 (first was at age 30). Dr looked at his file and said there was nothing that couldn't be fixed today. I am part of a long term study that hopefully will help the overall knowlege base.

People come to Cleveland from all over the world for Heart care at the Clinic, it is not unusual to see some middle eastern bigwigs private 747 parked at the airport while here for hospital care.

Thought and prayers for you Dad, Z.

how's he doing?

my 85 year old grandfather had a similar experience in August and came through in flying colors. I'm sure that you are there for him will be of great comfort. never underestimate the human condition when family is there for you.

prayers are with you. be strong for him.

Thank you all again for your prayers, concerns, and input.

Right now, the hospital wants to do another analysis as to whether or not a stent procedure would be appropriate. We (my dad and my family) are convinced that we need a second opinion, and thus, we are not sure if we want the hospital to do this procedure. I want to know the details of why they think they should do this, after stating that the stent work wouldn't be appropriate.

We are making phone calls to other hospitals and doctors in the area - hoping to have a clear path shortly.

Flights books for this afternoon.

I am very grateful for PPOT - it is my sounding board now...

-Zoltan.

Morristown has a good heart staff...so does Newton fwiw

Z this could easily be:

Cardiologist: Needs complete revascularization, stents have failed - send him to surgery.

Surgeon: He's too high a complication rate. I don't want to operate. You take him.

Cardiologist: Well we have to do something. Don't want to send him home in this state - maybe try to stent a few of these vessels.

Latest update:
My dad is planning on holding off on any more procedures until we find a second opinion.

I have started the process to transfer him to Sarasota Memorial. The two doctors I am hoping to get to look at my dad have 1000 heart surgeries per year, between the two of them.

My dad feels this is the best thing to do now -- he feels it is necessary to look at this option, even if the prognosis is the same.

I'm off to Florida.
-Zoltan.

Fly safely. Keep us updated. Hope all works well.

Also, good job on getting the second opinion. Very smart call I think.

Good luck Zoltan...sounds as if you've got some very good care lined up for your dad...more prayers sent!

Good Luck and I think we all know that God is hearing all of our prayers and wishes, including mine.

Z-Man,
Something you should be aware of is a technique called Transmyocardial Revascularization (TMR).
Basically, this is a procedure we sometimes use on patients who maybe have been through the stenting option, are not good candidates to be put on Cardiopulmonary Bypass (Heart-Lung Bypass Machine), and are higher risk.
This technique involves using a laser to make tiny holes in the heart muscle in the areas that do not have a good blood supply. Blood can pass through these channels and increase the oxygen delivery to the muscle. It is thought that these tiny holes also promote angiogenesis (formation of small collateral blood vessels), which would also increase blood supply to those areas.
Some patients feel the difference immediately, and in others it can take several months, also it may not work at all.
It would still mean cracking the chest, either through the sternum (Sternotomy), or through the side of the chest wall (Thoracotomy), we have done it both ways.
Its an option that I would assume will be offered to you.
The father-law of one of my wifes friends had this done at my hospital last October, he had previous bypass surgery. We did a thoracotomy approach, did the TMR. I saw him about 2 months ago and he is doing really well, no chest pain and was physically active.
Hope this information helps.