Great info for surgery prep from Dr. Clavell, new video

[Jage64]

I can personally highly recommend him, but good info for anybody, especially if it results in questions for the surgeon of your choice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmtYtSjdZBs

[LastHope]

Great info! This level of thoroughness is exactly what patients need. Much needed, in the age where some docs wrap up as if their pants are on the line if they don’t get out the door before their patients complete a sentence and still manage to bill $450 to the insurance company for that office visit.

[Implant2025]

I can personally highly recommend him, but good info for anybody, especially if it results in questions for the surgeon of your choice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmtYtSjdZBs

Dr Clavell did my surgery on 1/29/25. He is the same guy in person as he is on YouTube: straightforward, outgoing, great bedside manner.

During this new video he talks about why some patients need pre-clearance from a Cardiologist. Since I was over 65 (age 72) he recommended I get cleared by a cardiologist and submit an EKG prior to surgery. Well, I didn't have a cardiologist since I wasn't aware of any cardiac issues. I almost asked I could skip it since I'm pretty fit and healthy, but decided one more test won't kill me.

Since I was flying to Houston for my surgery, Clavell arranged for me to be video conferenced with a local cardiologist he knows in Houston. I went and had an EKG at my regular Dr's office in DC beforehand and sent it to him.

It turned out I have a previously undiagnosed cardiac issue, called a Right Bundle Branch Block (RBBB). It's a minor electrical conduction problem that often occurs with age among other reasons. I discussed the RBBB with the cardiologist and was cleared for surgery. Had I skipped the EKG and cardiologist clearance, I could have had my surgery cancelled by the anesthetist while under anesthesia.

So moral of the story: don't try to take any shortcuts. Do everything your surgeon recommends both pre and post op to minimize problems.