Missouri Surgery Reviews

What was done to correct this CHD? Correct is not a term that should be used with all CHD’s. In the Case of Tricuspid Atreasia you cannot “correct” the CHD but rather “work around it”. My child has had a BT-Shunt and a Bi-directional Glenn. Fontan will most likely be done in 5-2006.

Where was your child's surgery done? University of Missouri Children’s Hospital in Columbia, Missouri

When was the surgery done? 1-6-2003 and 5-4-2003 (another to come around 5-2006)

What did you think of the hospital and staff? Loved them. The staff is absolutely wonderful. You receive so much personalized care. They will discharge heart kids from the PICU so that your child and only one other child will share a nurse instead of sending them to the floor where your child has to share a nurse with 10 + kids. We can go up to hospital for an appointment and run into a nurse and they will still remember our names even though we have not been in the hospital for over a year and a half now.

What did you think of the surgeon? Love him. You can call and talk to him or email him and he will actually respond (as well as call our cardiologist and be able to speak with him instead of a nurse relaying information). He will come to some cardiologist appointments just to check on your child. None of this “you only get to talk to your surgeon right before a surgery and you have to have a separate appointment to do so”. I can email many, many types of question to him about different things and surgical procedures and he will answer.

Would you take your child back to this facility/surgeon? In a heart beat. I will not go anywhere else and deal with being a patient in a “big hospital” where you are number and not a person once you leave the hospital.

Any advice for others looking at this facility/surgeon? I think a person needs to consider the experience of a surgeon as well as the hospital and staff and determine themselves if they are comfortable with sending their child to that facility. I think if they want more personalized care they need to go to a smaller facility and not be lulled by the hype of a large hospital. History speaks for itself and where a surgeon came from and what they have done, not just the fact a hospital is large.

What CHD does/did your child have? :: Truncus Arteriosus

Where was your child's surgery done? :: Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City

Who did the surgery? :: Dr. Gary Lofland

When was the surgery done? :: May 13 1997

What did you think of the hospital and staff? :: The hospital and staff were wonderful.

What did you think of the surgeon? :: I think Dr. Lofland is the best. The majority of Truncus babies have to have their second surgery within 3 years for varous reasons. We still have not had to have a second surgery and our sone is NINE! This is due to Dr. Lofland's expertise!

Would you take your child back to this facility/surgeon? :: Without a doubt!

Any advice for others looking at this facility/surgeon? :: You see the same surgeons names over and over again on thses sites. Don't always assume that they are the best. Find the doctor that is best for the defect your child is faced with.

What CHD does/did your child have? He was born with Transposition of the Great Arteries with an ASD, VSD, and an Intramural Coronary artery.

What procedure was done? He had open heart surgery to called the switch operation they repaired the ASD and the VSD, they also had to cut the Coronary Artery and switch it to the other side of the heart.

Where was the procedure done? Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St Louis MO.

What did I think of the Surgeon? He was also wonderful! He was a very busy man, but made the time to explain everything in detail. He would reach out and hold my hand when I would cry. And he laid it on the line. He told you what was going to happen and when. He let us know the risks and he told me that he would treat him like he was his own son. I feel like he did

Would I go back to that hospital? I do for every doctors visit! I thank them for there patients and for my son every day.

Any advice ? Talk to the doctors ahead of time if you can and take one day at a time with deep breaths and It is ok to cry. They understand more than we think they do at the time.

St. Louis Children's Hospital

What CHD does/did your child have? :: HLHS, TGA, Mitral Atresia, Pulmonary Atresia, ASD, Heterotaxy Syndrome

Where was your child's surgery done? :: St. Louis Children's Hospital

Who did the surgery? :: Dr. Charles Huddleston

When was the surgery done? :: Aug 17 2004

What did you think of the hospital and staff? :: I LOVE the staff and the Hospital. The nurses pay close attention to the needs of my child and also the needs of me and my husband. They became like family.

What did you think of the surgeon? :: The surgeon was exactly what I like in a surgeon. He was straight forward and let us know that he knew what he was doing. He saved my son's life 3 times and will be saving it again very soon.

Would you take your child back to this facility/surgeon? :: absolutely yes

Any advice for others looking at this facility/surgeon? :: I recommend this hospital. Visit it and talk to the doctors before choosing and make that decision first hand. They will not disappoint you.

St. Louis Children's Hospital

What CHD does/did your child have? ALCAPA, ASD

What was done to correct this CHD? re-implantation of the LCA to the aorta from the pulmonary, stitched close the ASD during

Where was your child's surgery done? St. Louis Children's Hospital

Who did the surgery? Dr. Charles Huddleston

When was the surgery done? July 2, 2003

What did you think of the hospital and staff? An excellent facility! The doctors, nurses, and social workers were extremely kind, informative, and patient. They worked with us to help us understand what was going to happen, the risks, and possible outcomes of each situation. Her surgeon worked miracles with her, and her cardiologist helped place a stent when her re-implanted artery kinked. The procedure was an uncertain one, but proved successful. In fact, after my daughter's stent was placed, another child with the same defect was flown from Tulsa to have the same procedure done. SLCH has an outstanding team of doctors who work well together and with other departments. The have pushed forward with rare procedures and innovations for our CHD children.

What did you think of the surgeon? He was a master. I could never thank him enough for never giving up on my child. He knew when to call it when, but always did everything possible. He spent 35 mins working on my daughter when she arrested following her surgery.

Would you take your child back to this facility/surgeon? Most definitely, it would be my first choice.

Any advice for others looking at this facility/surgeon? Their website is very informative, and the staff is always very eager to help.