Vanderbilt Heart Nashville

I had my first Open Heart Surgery Dec 4, 2017. My 2nd OHS which was an Aortic Valve Revision, was August 26th, 2024. Dr. Tarek Absi was my Adult Cardiothoracic Surgeon, and Dr. Nhue Lap Do, was my Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon. I had to have two surgeons. This was due to me being a 34 year old adult, who is 4'8" tall, and having a child's size heart. Dr Absi saved my life! I had a lot of symptoms for needing another surgery. Dr Absi and Dr. Do were worried because they couldn't figure out what was going on, and the reason for it. They did 3 Cardiac Catheterizations, and the last one was done while I was working out, and my blood pressure would crash and heart rate would rise. Dr. Absi and Dr. Do asked me to think about the surgery and if I wanted it done. I knew something wasn't right, so I went through with it. Dr. Absi and Dr. Do got inside and saw my heart and what was going on. My Aortic Mechanical Valve had white scar tissue growing through it like tree roots. After surgery, the next day Dr. Absi came into my room and said "It was a good thing you pushed for the surgery, otherwise we couldn't have saw what was actually going on, because the testing we did, we could not see the scar tissue on X-Ray, MRI, or CT." I am so thankful to still be here. Dr. Absi and Dr. Do saved my life! Although I'm still in Congestive Heart Failure I'm slowly feeling better. Just because you have surgery does not mean CHF gets better. I still have symptoms and I still struggle. I will say that my 2nd Open Heart Surgery was much harder than my 1st OHS. I was in so much pain. I am thankful I had the surgery or else I may not still be here.

In late 2021 I had to have a double bypass, because angioplasty wasn't an option in my case. My surgeon was Dr. Absi, I'm not sure how to spell his last name, but he is a Middle Easterner and his last name is Dr. Absi. Beyond the doubt, in my personal experience and opinion he is one of the few awesome heart surgeon's I've ever met. His confidence, and medical knowledge and ethics are stellar. I consider myself very fortunate and blessed to have had a marvellous heart surgeon's like Dr. Absi. Next, I was treated like a KING by all the staff. Everyone was highly trained and a professional. Shame on your doctors and hospitals in Colorado, and California, because when I needed treatment in Colorado and California by and large they were an absolute disgrace and a disaster. You all can learn a thing or two from Vanderbilt Heart in Nashville, Tennessee. I really shouldn't be surprised, because "blue" states by and large have always been and are immoral, Godless, and unethical in my experience.

I don't leave bad reviews often as I admire healthcare workers. I can't keep staying silent about this type of treatment though, it's unacceptable, yet I have to accept it in my situation. My doctor ordered a heart monitor and the nurse said she would mail it. I called back days later after not receiving it and the same nurse said she hadn't entered it in to be mailed and was asking why I hadn't scheduled an appointment to come in to get it. She suddenly remembered our conversation asking to mail it previously and apologized. They then mailed my heart monitor to the Lebanon office (?!?!) instead of my home and cancelled the monitor without notifying me. Three weeks later I call to ask why I haven't received it and I was told that. (Meanwhile having incidents that the monitor should have caught if I received it properly) They mailed it out to me again. Apologizing again. I received it, wore it, called after hours service to inform them of afib alert on my Apple Watch around 9-10 pm and was told the on call provider would call me back within 30 min...the on call physician never called. I called again 3 days later, they apologized and said they didn't have notes about my after hours call and would have the nurse or my doctor call me back that day. Still have not received a call from them and another day has passed. Very neglectful experience and had to leave a voicemail with patient relations to file a complaint. I may have to wait until my follow up appointment to hope I can receive care at that appointment. I've already been wearing this monitor for a while and their lack of professionalism and care have greatly increased delays in any treatment that may or may not be needed, so transferring to another provider now would only delay treatment or answers for my symptoms and I would still be responsible financially for this experience. I can only hope they put the care back in healthcare before my follow up and I receive proper professional communication instead of apology after apology for not being cared for...I really had high hopes for Vanderbilt heart in Nashville and have really been let down.

I have an unusual hereditary condition and they have been wonderful. I've been going for 15 + years after see several other doctors at other hospitals who just dismissed my symptoms. Vanderbilt took time to find out exactly what was going on and found the correct treatment plan that works great for me!

Today I would like to talk about a specific physician. Dr. Melissa Levak who is a cardiac surgeon. She is a wonderful kind lady and a great surgeon. The best of the best. She saved my husband's life William Burgess who is employed at vanderbilt. We will always be grateful. She is the reason I am rating Vanderbilt a 5 today. Vanderbilt better always try to keep her.