Surgeon/Hospital for bicuspid aortic valve surgery. Live in Winchester VA.

[Anonymous]

My husband was born with a bicuspid aortic valve. We pay for an executive physical every year in Texas. The latest measurement of his aortic root is 4.7. It’s been unchanged for over 10 years. His Texas doctor says it’s time to be ready in case he ever needs surgery (he might never need it fingers crossed).

Choices are UVA or NOVA? His Texas doctor says he will get my husband a referral to whoever we pick. I wish his doctor would do some legwork and give us names. TX doc says he’s not familiar with docs/hospitals in our area. We are willing to drive for great care.

I’ve been reading DCUM for years (living out here in the sticks of Winchester VA). I’ve always been impressed with the knowledge provided on this board. I would really appreciate any doctors or hospitals that you recommend. We’re not really crazy about our local hospital or doctors at Winchester Medical Center. If an emergency happened we would need to go to WMC, of course.
If things started progressing we might need it done before it was an emergency. I wish we had more choices in health care in our area like you all have. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Dr. John Kern at UVA is a well-regarded cardiothoracic surgeon.

[Anonymous]

OP, if you are willing to travel, I would ask your TX doctor for a referral at the Cleveland Clinic. If he is having heart surgery, that's where you want to be. It's the number one heart center in the country, and the doctors and procedures they are doing are better even than what we have in DC.

[Anonymous]

I'd pick the main UVA Hospital in Charlottesville. Its a teaching/research hospital and will have highly qualified folks on staff. The hospital itself also is a trauma center that can handle virtually any medical problem well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you are willing to travel, I would ask your TX doctor for a referral at the Cleveland Clinic. If he is having heart surgery, that's where you want to be. It's the number one heart center in the country, and the doctors and procedures they are doing are better even than what we have in DC.

+1

For surgery like this I would go where it is routine for them. I have a relative who may need heart valve surgery for a different problem and this is where they plan to go.

[Anonymous]

They can do the surgery for some people minimally invasive now. Honestly, while any heart surgery is scary, this is pretty routine for a cardiac surgeon. I would think UVA or NOVA would have excellent choices. Meet with a couple and see who you feel the most comfortable with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband was born with a bicuspid aortic valve. We pay for an executive physical every year in Texas. The latest measurement of his aortic root is 4.7. It’s been unchanged for over 10 years. His Texas doctor says it’s time to be ready in case he ever needs surgery (he might never need it fingers crossed).

Choices are UVA or NOVA? His Texas doctor says he will get my husband a referral to whoever we pick. I wish his doctor would do some legwork and give us names. TX doc says he’s not familiar with docs/hospitals in our area. We are willing to drive for great care.

I’ve been reading DCUM for years (living out here in the sticks of Winchester VA). I’ve always been impressed with the knowledge provided on this board. I would really appreciate any doctors or hospitals that you recommend. We’re not really crazy about our local hospital or doctors at Winchester Medical Center. If an emergency happened we would need to go to WMC, of course.
If things started progressing we might need it done before it was an emergency. I wish we had more choices in health care in our area like you all have. Thanks.

I don't understand the urgency if the measurement has been unchanged for 10 years. But you're right, probably better to get established now just in case. One of my kids has BAV. We have always gone to Johns Hopkins.