We have just learned that my sister has severe mitral stenosis and needs to have her mitral valve replaced. She has multiple negative risk factors for open-heart ...Read more
We have just learned that my sister has severe mitral stenosis and needs to have her mitral valve replaced. She has multiple negative risk factors for open-heart surgery. The cardiac surgeon we've been referred to seems reluctant to help us look into the possibility of Trans-Venous Mitral Valve Replacement. She still has more tests to be done, so of course her dr has not yet decided whether he thinks she is a Candidate for open-heart surgery or not. It seems to me that while we are waiting we can be looking into the Trans-venous sx option: where would she get it done? She lives in Santa Rosa, just north of San Francisco. Her insurance (Kaiser) only covers in-network stuff.The Cleveland Clinic would be a good option b/c we have a brother who lives nearby. Should we get in touch with them? Or just sit tight until all the tests are done?
John Cook It is always good to get second opinions.
I’d go ahead and start looking at options. It was ... Read more
John Cook It is always good to get second opinions.
I’d go ahead and start looking at options. It was more than 2 months for me to get in to see my surgeon. It was another 2 months until my surgery.
It’s likely they will want to get copies of the tests you have had done and they may want to rerun some of them. I had to redo an ECHO and a CT-A with my surgeon.
J Alexander Lassally Cleveland Clinic start things off with an insurance review - so you will have to handle that. That said, Mt Sinai and CC are authorities on options. You also might try Stanford and the LA hospitals as there are some great options there and they might take a California patients.
Keep in mind the cardiac surgeon is the authority on what is viable. Not the cardiologist. People mistake in thinking cardiologists are gods of surgery. They are not! ... Read more
J Alexander Lassally Cleveland Clinic start things off with an insurance review - so you will have to handle that. That said, Mt Sinai and CC are authorities on options. You also might try Stanford and the LA hospitals as there are some great options there and they might take a California patients.
Keep in mind the cardiac surgeon is the authority on what is viable. Not the cardiologist. People mistake in thinking cardiologists are gods of surgery. They are not!
I always advise to run games in parallel. I did 8 consults before go time.
Deena Z J Alexander’s advice is spot-on. Go for the very best surgeon. It doesn't sound as if Kaiser has ... Read more
Deena Z J Alexander’s advice is spot-on. Go for the very best surgeon. It doesn't sound as if Kaiser has the surgical expertise to give your sister the best option. CC and Sinai know how to document the need for the best surgical option. Be gracefully relentless with all.
Elaine Lucia Hi Susan, I think you were doing the right thing to expand your search to other clinics, doctors ... Read more
Elaine Lucia Hi Susan, I think you were doing the right thing to expand your search to other clinics, doctors or options for your sisters valve issues. I too had a cardiologist from KAISER in Santa Rosa who refused to consider surgery for my years long mitral regurgitation and tricuspid leak, which was complicated by lifelong atrial fibrillation, severe bi-atrial enlargement, a left bundle, branch block and etc. Out of desperation, I found the Virtual Second Opinion program at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles. Through that program, I was accepted as a patient by Dr. Joanna Chickwe and had surgery on January 20, 2026. I am still in recovery mode, but feel that I had this surgery just in the nick of time. I was told by one of the electrophysiologists at Cedars Sinai that I was lucky I had not had a stroke given the lack of urgency on the part of my Kaiser cardiologist (who also did not think that I needed anticoagulation meds, which was shocking to the doctors at Cedars Sinai). I did leave KAISER and switched to Blue Shield in order to have the surgery at Cedar Sinai. Yes it’s quite a bit more expensive per month, but I have this one heart and felt that I had this one chance to take control and advocate for myself because my cardiologist at Kaiser would not. My recovery has not been easy but I unreservedly recommend the incredible care I have received from Dr. Chickwe’s outstanding team. I am so glad I utilized the Virtual Second Opinion program. It was a lifeline!
I am from: Mt pleasant
I’d go ahead and start looking at options. It was ... Read more
I’d go ahead and start looking at options. It was more than 2 months for me to get in to see my surgeon. It was another 2 months until my surgery.
It’s likely they will want to get copies of the tests you have had done and they may want to rerun some of them. I had to redo an ECHO and a CT-A with my surgeon.
You also might try Stanford and the LA hospitals as there are some great options there and they might take a California patients.
Keep in mind the cardiac surgeon is the authority on what is viable. Not the cardiologist. People mistake in thinking cardiologists are gods of surgery. They are not!
... Read more
You also might try Stanford and the LA hospitals as there are some great options there and they might take a California patients.
Keep in mind the cardiac surgeon is the authority on what is viable. Not the cardiologist. People mistake in thinking cardiologists are gods of surgery. They are not!
I always advise to run games in parallel. I did 8 consults before go time.
I think you were doing the right thing to expand your search to other clinics, doctors ... Read more
I think you were doing the right thing to expand your search to other clinics, doctors or options for your sisters valve issues.
I too had a cardiologist from KAISER in Santa Rosa who refused to consider surgery for my years long mitral regurgitation and tricuspid leak, which was complicated by lifelong atrial fibrillation, severe bi-atrial enlargement, a left bundle, branch block and etc. Out of desperation, I found the Virtual Second Opinion program at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles. Through that program, I was accepted as a patient by Dr. Joanna Chickwe and had surgery on January 20, 2026. I am still in recovery mode, but feel that I had this surgery just in the nick of time. I was told by one of the electrophysiologists at Cedars Sinai that I was lucky I had not had a stroke given the lack of urgency on the part of my Kaiser cardiologist (who also did not think that I needed anticoagulation meds, which was shocking to the doctors at Cedars Sinai). I did leave KAISER and switched to Blue Shield in order to have the surgery at Cedar Sinai. Yes it’s quite a bit more expensive per month, but I have this one heart and felt that I had this one chance to take control and advocate for myself because my cardiologist at Kaiser would not.
My recovery has not been easy but I unreservedly recommend the incredible care I have received from Dr. Chickwe’s outstanding team. I am so glad I utilized the Virtual Second Opinion program. It was a lifeline!