Tag Archives: Cardiac surgery

Dr. Juan Fernando Ramon, Neurosurgery

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Spent the morning with Dr. Juan Fernando Ramon, neurosurgeon at Hospital Centro de la Policia. (He also operates at two other hospitals). Dr. Ramon is one of only a handful of neurosurgeons in Colombia who performs neuroendoscopy.

We toured the hospital – and then I watched him perform a small procedure for radiculopathy (in a patient with chronic back pain.)  The hospital has a fully-equipped $4 million dollar neuro-suite (not seen in photo below.)

The patient kindly gave permission for the use of the photos

 
 
Dr. Ramon (and patient)
Met with Dr. Camilo Osorio, Thoracic surgeon this afternoon, for patient consultations.  He was great – spent a lot of time with patients explaining procedures, and answering questions.  He also calls all of his patients a few days before and after surgery – just to see how they are doing.  I’ll see Dr. Osorio in the operating room soon.
 
Ran into Dr. Rincon (cardiac surgeon) from SaludCoop – literally.   I plan to go back over to SaludCoop and see him and Dr. Mauricio Jimenez again.
 
I’ve decided to cease my pursuit of Dr. Camilo Prieto- after several emails, phone calls (by other surgeons vouching for me) and a visit – I just have to assume he isn’t interested in participating.  I only pursued him so far because besides being heavily advertised, and well-known here, I never actually got to speak to him personally, and never got a “no” from anyone.. But now that others have contacted him on my behalf – I’ll definitely take that as a ‘no’..

In the the OR with Dr. Juan Pablo Umana & Dr. Ricardo Nasser

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Dr. Juan Pablo Umana, cardiac surgeon

Dr. Juan Pablo Umana

Cardiac Surgeon at Fundacion Cardioinfantil

Spent the morning in the operating room with Dr. Juan Pablo Umana. Dr. Umana is the Chief of Adult Cardiac Surgery at Cardioinfantil.

Ran into an old friend while I was there..

Dr. Jose Pomares, Anesthesia

Dr. Pomares was a anesthesia resident over at Medihelp in Cartagena, when I was writing hidden gem.. I recognized those emerald eyes right away.. (not sure if I would have recognized him without the mask.)

Dr. Umana had another case, but so did I – over at Santa Fe de Bogota..

Went back to see Dr. Ricardo Nasser, Chief of Bariatric Surgery. He just returned from the Bariatric Surgery conference in Cartagena, and was back at work, in the operating room.

Dr. Ricardo Nasser

Bariatric Surgeon – Fundacion Santa Fe de Bogota

Dr. Richard Nasser, Bariatric surgeon

The Umana Phenomenon

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Dr. Juan Pablo Umana, Cardioinfantil

Since starting the Bogota project, I’ve followed the reported statistics for the blog – which tells me what my readers are looking for, and what they want.. Much of this is as expected – heavily advertised plastic surgeons bring a lot of traffic to the site – and the cardiovascular topics (cardiac surgery, carotid disease) bring quite a few readers to the sister site,  cartagenasurgery, so I’ve tried to gear some of the discussions to what people have been looking for..

But then, there are findings that are not what I expected:
And the biggest surprise of all has been the continued fascination/ success / popularity of Dr. Juan Pablo Umana..

in the operating room with Dr. Juan Pablo Umana

Or perhaps, I should phrase that better: after meeting and interviewing with Dr. Umana – his professional success as Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Cardioinfantil is certainly NO surprise.. what has surprised me is his consistent ranking as the #1 search term for this/ and the cartagena surgery website..

In fact, this week; “Dr. Juan Pablo Umana”, “Juan P. Umana,” and “Umana, cardioinfantil” are the top three search terms, respectively.

I spoke to him about it (he’s just as surprised as I am; heart surgeons are not usually web celebrities, if you exclude Dr. Oz) and we are planning to meet again, so I can try and give my readers what they want.. So, if there is anything specific that you want to know – drop me a line or a comment, and I will be sure to ask him at our next meeting.  But now I’ve got to run and meet Dr. Sanabria..

Dr. Santos, Clinica Shaio

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Dr. Hernando Santos, cardiac surgeon at Shaio

Spent the morning with Dr. Hernando Santos, Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Clinica Shaio for aortic valve replacement.

Got some great intra-operative photos (with patient’s permission, of course!) but I’ll spare the squeamish.

Dr. Santos, almost Dr. Hoyos and Dr. Castro

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Full day today – met with Dr. Hernando Santos at Clinica Shaio – and I’ll be heading to the OR with him on Monday..

 Dr. Hoyos – he was in surgery when I arrived for our appointment, so I’ll try again soon..

Spent the evening with Dr. (Jose) Felix Castro, a very nice general surgeon, on staff at Clinica del Country.. Followed him to the OR for a case –

Chasing Thoracics: the greying of America’s thoracic surgeons

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Note: post updated 26 March 2011
In the middle of all my interviews with bariatric surgeons, plastic surgeons and the other specialities – I am in the midst of chasing down some elusive thoracic surgeons.. (Thoracic surgery is surgery of the chest, and structures of the chest – esophagus, lungs, mediastium). 

Why the obsession with Thoracic surgeons, you ask?  Well, the answer is two-fold..

 For one – it is part of my home specialty, so it’s where I feel the most comfortable – after all, I can read a CT scan of the chest any where in the world, and immediately develop rapport and understanding with whatever surgeon I happen to be speaking to.. It’s not so easy with plastics, ortho or neurosurgery.

But secondly, and most importantly – thoracic surgery in the United States currently has the oldest average practicing surgeons (and is not maintaining adequate volumes for replacement – thoracic surgery programs are facing vacancy rates that would have been unheard of 10 or 15 years ago..)  So – in just a few short years – thoracic surgery (and other specialties) may be difficult to find in the United States, so it’s important to establish and maintain international networks..

 Thoracic surgery is too specialized and too important to be delegated to general surgeons without the necessary additional training – yet, in the USA, that’s exactly what’s happening in small towns across the country.  It is better, AND safer to travel to a board-certified, specialty trained thoracic surgeon than to have an unqualified surgeon..

Average age of US thoracic surgeons: 55 – Report from 2010

This phenomenon of aging surgeons hasn’t gone unnoticed (and it isn’t new) – Report from 2008, AORN

Cardiothoracic Surgeon shortage looms in USA

Also trying to catch up with some busy, busy, busy plastic surgeons; Dr. Alan Gonzales,  Dr. Camilo Prieto and Dr. Ivan Santos..(update: see interview with Dr. Ivan Santos).

Bogota notes

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Re-post from sister site.

January 27th, 2011 – Surgical Tourism in Bogota, Colombia

Fundacion Cardioinfantil

Currently working on my latest project – here in Bogota, Colombia.  So far everyone I’ve contacted has been wonderfully gracious – even with very little notice! 

Chief of (adult) Cardiac Surgery, Dr. Juan Pablo Umana and Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Dr. Nestor Sandoval; Fundacion Cardioinfantil
January 31, 2011
Spending some more time over at Cardioinfantil this afternoon. I have been contacting surgeons all over the city, and my schedule is quickly filling up. 
Talked with Dr. Renato Bresciano, a very nice (talented) pediatric cardiovascular surgeon, and visited one of his patients in the NICU this afternoon – a little baby girl just out of the operating room.  Spoke with the nursing staff – it’s great how nurses from everywhere  – we all connect, and all care and worry about the same things.
 
I’ll be over at the Shaio Clinic later this week.
10 February 2011 –
It’s been a busy week – at Clinica Shaio, Cardioinfantil, Clinica del Country (San Sebastian) and tomorrow SaludCoop.. In between all of that – I’ve been hitting the pavement to check out some private clinics..
12 February 2011
Not enough hours in the day – racing around Bogota, all day, everyday, meeting new people, taking notes, photos..  talking to patients in hospitals, shaking hands – trying to get a glimpse inside at the everyday workings..  Then back to the apartment at night, typing, typing, typing.. Researching, emailing, requesting more interviews..
My main expense these days is the cab fare..  Already booked up with meetings for the next two weeks, but I’ll try to squeeze as many as possible in – without crowding.. Still going to the ORs – since that’s the real reality for our patients.. Spending as much time as I can at each site, going back for second, third, fourth, even fifth visits  – until I almost feel like staff sometimes..
Next week – Bariatric week..
with Dr. Urazon, Plastic Surgeon

 

15 February 2011 – wow – what a different an hour makes..
when you are in the company of Dr. Chaux, Bariatric surgeon.. I spent much of the day with Dr. Chaux and his group – in the operating room, observing.. All procedures in under an hour.. (Roux N Y gastric bypass, sleeve ect..) Don’t worry – he certainly wasn’t rushed about it – just efficient, meticulous..

24 February 2011
Been too busy meeting physicians, spending time in the OR and writing to keep up.. Spent time with a talented young Thoracic surgeon today, Dr. Juan Carlos Garzon. Sorry, no pictures this time – too busy to stop and take any! (which frequently happens).

Met quite a few terrific surgeons, spending a lot of time on my feet, peeking over their shoulders so I can tell my readers everything they need to know. A couple more surgeries tomorrow and a full weekend too..