post-surgical viral infection???

[Mark]

To answer this for Brens sake and for others reading on this topic, I want to clarify that The HEI is the MECCA for research world wide for anything to do with the ear and brain and AN's . They are the ones who do the research and the ones that write the text books on this stuff.

While I have a lot of respect for HEI as a world class specialist in AN surgery and I certainly appreciate someone praising a place where they got good care and a satisfactory outcome, I have to call this kind of assertion that they are the sole source of AN wisdom knowledge for the medical community unsupportable. The fact that they have published blatant misinformation on radiation as a treatment option for years ( which over 50% of AN patients select) would immediately disqualify them from being any sort of a Mecca for all AN knowledge. Having scanned AN research for a number of years now, I have seen multitudes of studies on various aspects of AN's from teaching medical centers around the country, such as Hopkins, Pitt, UVA, Stanford , UCSF, etc. The Medical knowledge of AN's is built around the combined knowledge of all these contributors today, inclusive of HEI. While there are many early studies by Dr. House and Dr. Brackmann which set the standard on understanding and treating AN's for many years, I have not seen many, if any, peer reviewed studies submitted by HEI in recent years. Most of the "studies"  quoted to patients are self reported and have not been subjected to review and critique by the medical community. Doesn't mean they are wrong or right, but it's a little difficult to claim to be the source of wisdom and light when you don't put your data into publicly available literature.

Mark

[leapyrtwins]

I would have to agree with Mark.  Mecca is a pretty strong word 

Although HEI definitely has a wonderful reputation and can be called the pioneers of AN surgery, they are not the be all and end all of AN wisdom & knowledge.  They are big contributors, along with many.

Jan

[ppearl214]

*sits back on sofa, watches the posts VERY carefully.............*

[Lilan]

Leaving House and this specific question out of it, I think the Forum should encourage each patient to seek out current best practices and ask their surgeons about them. I can't imagine anyone arguing with that.

If the surgeon says "I don't do that because of X, Y, Z," you may agree with, or you may wish to discuss it further.

The worst case is that you have a more informed patient who may be less surprised at a given outcome.

Personally, I don't trust any doctor (yes, even at House  -- or the many fine doctors I dealt with in Chicago) 100% because they are only human. I think you get a better class of treatment from any doctor -- or any car mechanic or plumber -- by asking smart questions.

[leapyrtwins]

I trust all my doctors (AN-related or not) 100%.  That's why they are MY doctors.  If I didn't trust a doctor 100% I wouldn't be his/her patient    I also would never refer anyone to a doctor I didn't trust.

I agree with Lilan that all doctors are human (although I'm not sure they all know that  ) and they can't guarantee anything 100%, but medicine is an inexact science and I totally understand that. 

Sorry for the hijack, Phyl.  Back on topic 

Jan