Questions for the Surgeons - Short List

Here's a short list of questions that I came up with to ask at the initial consultations with the surgeons.

Diagnosis & Recommended Treatment

1. What type of Craniosynostosis?
2. Would you consider it mild, moderate or severe?
3. Will you do a CT to confirm the diagnosis? Why or why not? Can we do an MRI instead?
4. What type of procedure are you recommending? (Endo, CVR, FOA, Strip) Can you describe the procedure? If Endo, what is the risk with the Endoscopic surgery of not being able to see everything? Or making a cut that would cause bleeding and need to be repaired?
5. What is the best time (or age) to perform the surgery that has been recommended? How long can the operation be safely delayed, and what problems can happen if we delay?
6. What are the possible risks/complications if we choose not to have the surgery?

Surgeon Specifics

1. What number can I call if I leave your office now and have more questions?
2. How many cranio surgeries do you do in a week/year?
3. How many metopic cases have you done? Over how many years?
4. How long have you done these types of surgery as a team? How many per week/month/year?
5. Do you track your patients? How are they doing?
6. How many have needed additional surgery?

Hospital Stay

1. Will Jesse be in intensive care?

General Surgery

1. How do you join the skull back together? Do you use plates and screws, or sutures?
2. What are the possible risks/complications of the surgery?
3. Can we donate blood for a direct transfusion?
4. Will students, interns, residents and fellows be looking after my child? Can you define their roles in my child’s care?

Pre-Surgery

1. Do you use/suggest Procrit injections to reduce the risk of needing a blood transfusion?
2. Will it be a straight line or a zig-zag?
3. What type of stitching will you use?

During surgery

1. Do you get to personally choose the anesthesiologist who will care for my child, or do you work with a group of anesthesiologists that assigns you an anesthesiologist when you operate? Is the anesthesiologist a specialist in infants?
2. Will both the NS and CFS be there during the entire surgery?

After surgery

1. What type of pain management will Jesse have? Any prescriptions?
2. Do you use drains? Why or why not?