Canada Surgery Reviews
Stollery Children's Center (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
What CHD does/did your child have? My son was born with Pulmonary Atresia with Intact Ventricular Septum.
What was done to correct this CHD? My son has had a BT shunt at 9 days old, a Glenn shunt at 6 months old and 2 rv patch repairs at 18 months and 3 years old. He is now one year post-op
Where was your child's surgery done? The surgeries were done at Stollery Children's Center in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This center was named as top cardiac unit in North America in 2003
Who did the surgery? A brilliant surgeon named Dr. Rebekah
When was the surgery done? Feb.22,2000, August 15,2000, July 30,2001, May 22,2003
What did you think of the hospital and staff? I LOVED all staff at the hospital...In all the times I have dealt with them, they have been very supportive, understanding, approachable and genuinely concerned not only for my son but our whole family.
What did you think of the surgeon? Dr. Rebekah has a no nonsense type of personality. He doesn't seem overly friendly but very straight forward, answers all questions thoroughly and always makes sure his patients are very strong before he allows discharge. Often having to over ride other doctors opinions. I am very thankful that he is my son's surgeon. I feel that he is the best at his craft.
Would you take your child back to this facility/surgeon? Always will....I completely trust everyone I have been in contact with there.
Any advice for others looking at this facility/surgeon? The Stollery Children's Center is the best!!!!
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British Columbia Children's Hospital (Vancouver, British Columbia)
What CHD does/did your child have? ::
ASD
Where was your child's surgery done? :: BC childrens hospital
Who did the surgery? :: Dr. Jacques Leblanc
When was the surgery done? :: Apr 13 2006
What did you think of the hospital and staff? :: Absolutely great! We had a
situation when waiting for our daughter to come back from surgery and the pager
didn't go off...but they were quick to reassure us all was well and we should be
very proud of our daughter for being a strong girl! Staff was very
compassionate, very informative and they let us do as we wanted pretty much.
What did you think of the surgeon? :: We have nothing but the utmost respect for
Dr. Leblanc, he was very professional! I was not fearful to leave her with him
and in his care.
Would you take your child back to this facility/surgeon? :: Absolutely! she
still attends clinics at the hospital on a regular basis.
Any advice for others looking at this facility/surgeon? :: Just know that all
the wonderful things you hear about BC Kids hospital are so very true. They are
the best! Don't be afraid to ask questions... see pictures... show emotions...
be yourself...and let your child be themselves
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British Columbia Children's Hospital (Vancouver, British Columbia)
What CHD does/did your
child have? PDA, COA, AV Canal, stenotic aortic valve, sub-aortic stenosis
What was done to correct this CHD? PDA ligation, subclavian flap repair, AV
Canal repair, sub-aortic stenosis resection, Konno repair, aortic valvotomy
Where was your child's surgery done? British Columbia Children's Hospital
Who did the surgery? Dr. Suvro Sett
When was the surgery done? June 1998, August 2001, February 2004
What did you think of the hospital and staff? They were fabulous but because it
is a teaching hospital it gets a bit dicey with some of the residents sometimes
What did you think of the surgeon? He is AWESOME!! I would recommend him to
anyone. He has the gift of life in his hands.
Would you take your child back to this facility/surgeon? Yes but the surgeon is
not there anymore, he has gone to Westchester Medical Centre in NY. It is a
great loss to BC to have him gone but a bonus for anyone lucky enough to have
him in NY. I would highly recommend him.
Any advice for others looking at this facility/surgeon? The facility is great!
It has lots of services but the current social worker for ICU/Cardiology is not
the greatest. Dr. Sett is gone but has a replacement Dr. Andrew Campbell who is
wonderful. If you have a wee one needing surgery I would definitely go with him
and not the other surgeon Dr. Jacques LeBlanc. He usually operates on the bigger
kids, and its for good reason. He is not as careful as I would like to see as I
think his ego gets the best of him.
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Montreal Children's Hospital - McGill University Center (Montreal, Canada)
What CHD does/did your child have? As - She is going for Cardiac Catheterization to stretch valve in two weeks, ASD - (repaired at 13 days old)
VSD - ( repaired at 13 days old), BAV - not repaired, CoA - (repaired at 13 days old), Mitral stenosis - Has a suture in it to keep it from leaking, small left heart, she was diagnosed with HPLS complex.
Where was your child's surgery done? She went into heart failure at 9 days old. We almost lost her. She was airlifted to Montreal Children's Hospital - McGill University Center.
Who did the surgery? Dr. Christo Tchervenkov oversaw the surgery and his assistant actually did the operation.
When was the surgery done? The surgery was done on January 1st, 2003.
What did you think of the hospital, staff and surgeon? The surgeon and the staff were great. I couldn't ask for more supportive people while going through his difficult time. They supplied music, allowed her favorite stuffed animal, and there was unlimited access to my child. I could see her anytime. I could call anytime. They understood what I felt like. How hard it was to see my child so sick. They looked after the baby well. Talking to her and making sure she was comfortable. One nurse (Stephanie) even turned her every two hours so she could feel more comfortable and not be laying in one spot so long. The nurses and doctors were very aware of my feelings and asked every day if I needed anything. If it wasn't so far away from my oldest daughter I would be going back there for her Cardiac Catheterization. I long to see the staff again and let them see her and how she is doing now.
Dr. Tchervenkov was excellent. He explained everything out so that I could understand it. I thank God for giving him the wisdom to fix these hearts.
Dr. Dancea was a Godsend also. He was very explanatory. He even drew pictures of a normal heart and her heart. It helped a lot to know what was going on inside her body. He really cares for his patients. There were a lot of people involved with her. Nurses - Stephanie, Denise, Lisa, Elaine, Lise, Biche, and many others. Also the receptionist was excellent. Very friendly. There were several doctors also. Dr. Tchervenkov, Dr. Dancea, Dr. Yemen, and several others.
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What CHD does/did your child have? Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA)
What was done to correct this CHD? Arterial Switch (Jatene Procedure)
Where was your child's surgery done? Children's Hospital of Eastern
Ontario (CHEO) located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Who did the surgery? Dr.
Nihal Weerasena and Dr. Gyandeeo Maharaj
When was the surgery done? May 6, 2002.
What did you think of the hospital and staff? Good
What did you think of the surgeon? They were both good.
Would you take your child back to this facility/surgeon? Yes, although I
believe that researching success rates etc. is extremely important as is
how many procedures are done/year. I didn't have time for much of that
as he was born and sick.
Any advice for others looking at this facility/surgeon? Unfortunately,
Dr. Weerasena has left Canada and is in Great Britain. I would
recommend Dr. Maharaj equally though.
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