Mended Little Hearts Open Forum

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  • 1.  Upcoming OHS at All Children's Hospital St. Pete

    Posted 05-11-2018 11:48
    Hi there!
    My 12 year old son has absent pulmonary valve syndrome which was diagnosed in-utero.  He had his first open heart surgery at All Children's Hospital in St. Pete Florida when he was 3 months old.  He now needs to have the valve replaced because he has outgrown it.  A few weeks ago All Children's Hospital was on the front page of the Tampa Bay Times because a cardiac surgeon left a needle in an infant who had heart surgery.  The surgeon denied it, but after the infant's parents took their baby to another local hospital, their doctors found the needle.   All Children's has apparently been going thru a lot of growing pains over the past year, possibly due to the fact that John Hopkins took over?  I don't know...
    Anyways, my son's surgery is scheduled June 11, 2018 at All Children's Hospital.  I have requested that the surgeon who was negligent NOT be on my son's team and it sounds like that will be honored.   I am still having second thoughts however...Everything is in place and I feel like my son should have his surgery at the hospital that saved his life 12 years ago...I just wish I had 100% confidence in this hospita,l as I did before this article came out. 
    Here is a link to the story:  http://www.tampabay.com/investigations/2018/04/20/a-baby-left-all-childrens-with-a-needle-in-her-heart/

    Your thoughts, advice and opinions are welcome!
    Thanks in advance,
    Robin,
    Archie's worried Mom


  • 2.  RE: Upcoming OHS at All Children's Hospital St. Pete

    Posted 05-14-2018 10:53
    ​Hi- you're right to be worried.  Some hospitals just don't perform enough surgeries to be very successful, but it's a very profitable business to be in, so they continue.  I would definitely consider another hospital - here's the rankings for top pediatric cardiac programs.  If they aren't on the list, then they don't want the scrutiny that comes from the rigorous ranking process, so skip them. I took a quick look and didn't see them.  It's worth the extra effort to travel to a bigger center with more experience.  https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/pediatric-rankings/cardiology-and-heart-surgery

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    Jean Lynch
    Pepperell MA
    (978) 433-6847
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