JohnRoss Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 I would welcome any comments or experiences on finding the best place for major lung surgery in France. Could go to the local hospital in Niort Dept 79 who have done most of the investigations but it has been suggested by relatives that there are better places................JR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 I have no personal knowledge, but each year the magazine LePoint publishes a survey of the 'best' hospitals.This is their list for last year for lung problemshttp://hopitaux.lepoint.fr/classement-15/pneumologie.phpGenerally I prefer CHU (University teaching hospitals) over CH, but of course there are many excellent cliniques in which specialists practice... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnRoss Posted August 25, 2013 Author Share Posted August 25, 2013 Thanks for the info and advice. This is a much bigger op than my last in 2005 where they removed part of my colon, a Crohn's problem, at the Polyclinique Inkerman in Niort and really don't know what to do for the best. Niort does not score as high as some Paris hospitals and Poitiers on a league table I came across and does not appear on the site you kindly gave. Anyway will see a surgeon at Niort tomorrow and see what he has to say! Cannot fault Niort hospital, not a teaching hospital I gather, so far as have spent more than a week in there for various biopsies and tests but don't know what their post operative care and surgery standards are like compared with others...........JR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 JR, I am not informed about this in any way but I do want to wish you all the very best for your op.How about Bordeaux in fourth place?Alas, we are no longer in our place in Charente Maritime which was only an hour from Bordeaux. I could have been more help in a practical way by offering accommodation or transport and things like that, perhaps for Mrs JR [:(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 You can get an idea of Poitier's position in the table hechrcre http://hopitaux.lepoint.fr/poitiers/centre-hospitalier-universitaire-chu-180.phpThe criteria for the survey are shown herehttp://hopitaux.lepoint.fr/methodo.phpI goes without saying that I wish you the very best for the operation and recovery afterwards.There is an increasing tendency for hospitals to encourage patients to move on as soon as possible; so it might be an idea to research a good local 'maison de repos' for aftercare... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnRoss Posted August 25, 2013 Author Share Posted August 25, 2013 Again thanks for your advice and good wishes folks. I have had so many scans and x-rays during the last couple of months I am surprised I don't glow in the dark. Had two bronchoscopies and biopsies and when they came back negative had a long needle biopsy which proved positive and also gave me a pneumothorax which ain't pleasant. Hence the stay in hospital. I may also have a second problem in the throat but have another 2 weeks to wait for the result of that biopsy. Have also to see a urologist soon as they also found a small something in a kidney but they don't seem worried about that just now. The P.E.T. scan I had at La Rochelle showed a lot more detail than the other scans I had locally. Should know more tomorrow when I see the surgeon and I guess I don't have to accept a date for the op right away so might need to make a decision then. Last time I had an op in France I asked the guy how many he had done and he got a bit shirty with me!......................JR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardengirl Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 I've no expertise or experience to offer, but just want to say you'll be in the thoughts of many of us tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catalpa Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 [quote user="sweet 17"]Alas, we are no longer in our place in Charente Maritime which was only an hour from Bordeaux. I could have been more help in a practical way by offering accommodation or transport and things like that, perhaps for Mrs JR [:(][/quote]You are a truly lovely human being, Sweets.Best wishes for the next phase in your investigations / treatments, JR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnie Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Hope all goes well with your plans JR - thinking about you. I, too, am undergoing surgery tomorrow - though not as serious as yours. Mine involves feminine problems but nonetheless I'm feeling slightly nervous! Thank you Norman for your useful link. I see that the Urology Dept at St Hilaire Clinique Agen is 13th in the Country - that gives me some comfort. Hopefully back in the land of the living soon.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Very best wishes minnie.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnRoss Posted August 27, 2013 Author Share Posted August 27, 2013 Bon courage and thinking of you too minnie.........JR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Our thoughts are, and will be, with you both.Facing an operation is always daunting wherever you are.Good luck.Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnie Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Thanks all for your kind thoughts. Just about to have a bowl of porridge before going to bed and then nothing until after my op tomorrow afternoon.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cendrillon Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 Wishing you all the very best, hope the procedures go well and that both of you are soon restored to good health. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnie Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 What progress are you making with your search for a good surgeon JR? I came out of hospital yesterday and though very sore and sitting on a rubber ring I'm not too bad and a bit mobile. I cannot give enough praise to the urology department at Clinique St Hilaire Agen (if anynone needs to choose one), One question though, normally I'm very active, taking long daily walks. Does anyone know if it is usual to have a daily anti-phlebite injection for a month after surgery? Anyway let us know your progress JR and thanks all for your good wishes. It does make a difference to know that people are thinking about you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patf Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Glad to hear your operation is over Minnie.The anti-phlebitis injections are routine here, after an operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loiseau Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 I think in the UK too. A friend of mine in London just had a new hip, and a nurse comes to her home to give her a daily injection for a month.Angela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnRoss Posted September 2, 2013 Author Share Posted September 2, 2013 Ok well have been up to Paris twice in the last few days. To cut a long story short I have had an offer of surgery to remove the lung at Montsouris Hospital in Paris. Amongst other things they specialise in this sort of operation and I was quite impressed by the senior surgeon that I consulted there today. The choice is difficult. Do I go with his suggestion at the reported number one hospital for this sort of thing with a stay of up to 15 days in the hospital and the wife staying nearby or do I go for the local hospital in Niort who are very good but don't have the reputation that Montsouris has. Will see my generalist tomorrow to see what he thinks. Montsouris were very complimentary about the way Niort had done all the right tests and as you might expect could not comment on the surgeon at Niort who locals I have talked to have said is very good. The point is that the local bloke does a range of stuff including thoracic, vascular and general surgery whereas the guy at Montsouris is dedicated to thoracic surgery. The statistics are encouraging with a 90 to 95% chance of making it through the surgery. Further tests yet to be done to check out me ticker and to make sure that the right lung is good enough to keep me going on its own. So that is the situation at the moment folks............JR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frecossais Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 Good luck with making the decision. You are doing the best thing investigating all the options and taking advice from those who know.I hope all goes well for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 JR, you're only going to have this done the once, plus you only have this one life.Go for the BEST and, if it means staying in Paris for 15 days and your OH also staying 15 days, so be it.Wish I lived nearer to you and can help with your cats but I myself have a bit of a tricky problem at the present time.All the very best... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 I saw the Montsouris clinique when you first raised the question and also saw that they specialise in less invasive surgery that might have you up and about more quickly.For what it is worth I had first tests done locally and they were done quite correctly, but when it came to the bigger operation I chose to go to the regional cancer centre in Montpellier which scores highly in the various tables.My instinct was to go for excellence and I don't regret it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 I agree with Sweet and Norman, go for the best you can get, it's not like buying something where 2nd best is ok.Good luck JohnRoss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardengirl Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 Yes, a lot of difficult weighing up to do JohnRoss, but I'm another who would opt for the specialist. Best wishes for your decision-making. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulT Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 What can also be important is the standard of investigative equipment they have.Having retired from the NHS and been involved with the allocation of capital monies it is a little concerning when Diagnostic Imaging staff talk about a piece of equipment being 10 years old and it will not show certain things that modern equipment will. They have to rely on experience and instinct to imagine what might be there. Needless to say their equipment is very expensive so with a lack of funding then replacement can be difficult. As the French health system seems to be in trouble no doubt it is the same situation.JR best of luck for the future. You need to be happy with your choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnie Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 Sweet has expressed my exact views. Your instinct is to go with Paris and you only have one chance at this. 15 days of cost will seem like nothing. If you're able to afford it at all - go for it. Thinking of you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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