Vanderbilt skull center

[kibh64]

Has anyone been to the Vanderbilt skull center in Nashville.  If so what was your experience and your favorite doctor. 

[sandy10]

Yes I was diagnosed in 2010 with a large AN. Had translab and left small portion cause facial nerve . Tumor continued to grow. Had 5 treatment of radiation. Follow up yearly looked little larger hoping it was swelling from rad. Just learned in July it is growing and almost as large as before approx 4.5. So surgery scheduled for Sept 24 for retrosigmoid with Haynes and Thompson. think they are both awesome. Did lose all hearing right side and very slight facial weakness. Not so sure I will be as lucky this go around .

[DeeDeeR]

I am having my surgery at Vanderbilt on October 24th.  My doctors are Dr. Bennett and Dr. Weaver.  They were my second opinion.  After meeting these two doctors, my mind was totally at ease.  I go on the 14th for pre-op appts.  If you need more information, don't hesitate to ask, I'll be glad to share info.  I hope all goes well with you.

[BBb49]

Has anyone used Dr. Thompson and Dr.Rivas at Vanderbilt for AN. If so how did your surgery turn out?

[BBb49]

I went back for my yearly check up on AN and Dr. Thompson at Vanderbilt said it had grown..Needed to do something..The tumor has doubled is 8cc..still small by some of the post I have read...He is the neurosurgeon  that would be doing the surgery..I then was sent to the ENT doctor for hearing..to see how much hearing was lost...I have gone from 100% hearing on AN side to only hearing 60% now..The problem is after the visit with Dr. Rivas EN doctor they tell me he will discuss my case with Dr. Thompson  and someone would get back with me..Well I get a call from a coordinator who calls and saids she would like to book an appointment for surgery..I told her I thought I should no the type of surgery and a little more about what they were going to do on me before hand..I am frankly confused, shouldn't they bring me in and go over what they would be doing the day of the surgery..So what I am left with is really not sure what they are going to do..Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville is a teaching hospital, so I am wondering about that aspect as well..The doctor did tell me there would be students observing...Now I don't think I need that..I was researching Johns Hopkins, the only problem for me is I am limited with people going with me for long stays not knowing how much care I would need after the surgery..Money is not a problem for me..It would be much easier for me to stay in my home town, but wish I had more input from my doctors..Should they have called me back in to discuss what they both came up with? When I ask the surgeon how many of these he did, he said about 1 a week..I then ask the percentage of good outcomes, he seemed put off by me asking and said that if he didn't have good outcome he would get out of this type of surgery..I am planning to do something around the end of January..Thanks

[Jim Scott]

BB ~

I'm surprised at the rather abrupt manner your doctor is employing with you, considering the seriousness of AN surgery. 

When I was diagnosed and consulted a highly recommended, very experienced neurosurgeon, he had a concise plan (debulking surgery, FSR) laid out for me and answered my every question during an uninterrupted 45-minute consultation.  My MRI scan (showing the AN) was kept up on his viewer and he used it to show me what he had was intending to do in the surgery (Retrosigmoid) and explained why he was taking this approach.  This doctor respected my intelligence, understood and addressed my concerns and was a total professional while also a gentleman.  I had full confidence in this mature neurosurgeon and he justified it with a splendid surgical outcome. 

The doctor you choose is, of course, a personal decision but you will have to live with the outcome of the surgery, not him, so please choose wisely.

Jim

[Islandgirl]

I'm not in the USA but unless the consultant can answer your questions properly frankly I would steer clear.  If this surgeon operates on one AN per week then he must have some results re hearing, facial nerve preservation, balance etc. and if he hasn't got the time of day to discuss that with you or to see you before making an appointment for surgery then I wouldn't give him the time of day either.