Medivac Helos>>Neurosurgeon in Santa Domingo???

jrjrth

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Mar 24, 2011
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~I know first and foremost that the Health Care system in RD is far from that of the US, however I need some advise to pass along to my mother who is traveling for vacation to Punta Cana knowing she has a brain aneurism...it has been monitored and currently she is electing to do just that in lieu of the surgical option....my mom has always lived her life to the fullest and is a world traveler ten times over...but we need to have an alternative to local medico in the PUJ area....

~ I know there is a Medivac Helo in the PUJ area, however I do not know of a good hospital in Santa Domingo that would offer a reputable neurosurgeon in the event that mom has a problem.

~Any imput would be greatly appreciated....and if Santiago has options I would take recommendations on that location as well...

Thanks in Advance...
 

belmont

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Oct 9, 2009
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From personal family experience, I think your mother is playing with fire. Granted her aneurism may remain stable for years or decades, if she would experience a rupture time is of the essence (minutes, not hours). I my family member's case, he was followed for years. Whie in the US one day he developed a bit of unsteadiness and sensitivity to light. Luckily he went to closest ER and with his history and they helo'd him to a University Medical Center and was in the OR within an hour. Luckily the operation went well and he survived. Unless you are willing to travel with all of your mother's medical records including scans and she is willing to get on that helo with the first symptom, she is playing with fire. I am not sying she shouldn't travel and enjoy life. Just don't depend on the medical system here to be prepared to save her.
 
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jrjrth

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Mar 24, 2011
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From personal family experience, I think your mother is playing with fire. Granted her aneurism may remain stable for years or decades, if she would experience a rupture time is of the essence (minutes, not hours). I my family member's case, he was followed for years. One day he developed a bit of unsteadiness and sensitivity to light. Luckily he went to closest ER and with his history and they helo'd him to a University Medical Center and was in the OR within an hour. Luckily the operation went well and he survived. Unless you are willing to travel with all of your mother's medical records including scans and she is willing to get on that helo with the first symptom, she is playing with fire. I am not sying she shouldn't travel and enjoy life. Just don't depend on the medical system here to be prepared to save her.

~Belmont

I appreciate your personal experiences with this matter, however my mother is clearly familiar with the risks of what she has festering inside of her head ticking away....and yes we know how quickly devasting a rupture can be. Her medical records are all scanned to a memory stick that she travels with so this is taken care of already through a central medical record keeping bank...and yes she is prepared to get on Helo at first symtom....

~However...can you recommend a hospital that she should be flown to????
 

belmont

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Oct 9, 2009
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~Belmont

I appreciate your personal experiences with this matter, however my mother is clearly familiar with the risks of what she has festering inside of her head ticking away....and yes we know how quickly devasting a rupture can be. Her medical records are all scanned to a memory stick that she travels with so this is taken care of already through a central medical record keeping bank...and yes she is prepared to get on Helo at first symtom....

~However...can you recommend a hospital that she should be flown to????

Here is an interesting news release. This neurosurgeon claims to be the only US trained and Board Cerified neurosurgeon in the DR. Dominican Neurosurgeon Santiago Figuereo Expands Miami-based Practice To Santo Domingo
 

jrjrth

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Mar 24, 2011
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~Thank you Belmont....I will advise my mother accordingly, at least we have a name to associate in the event that she has a problem....and god willing she will not...
 

dv8

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Sep 27, 2006
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i do not know if that would be of any help but i have been frequently told the best brain specialist in DR is doctor spitale who is actually in sosua, up north. maybe it is worth reaching out to him and checking his recommendations?
 

belmont

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Oct 9, 2009
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i do not know if that would be of any help but i have been frequently told the best brain specialist in DR is doctor spitale who is actually in sosua, up north. maybe it is worth reaching out to him and checking his recommendations?
I know Dr. Spitale. He trained in the US at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. I would say he is competant for straight forward neurological surgery, but doubt he has the facilities and staffing to support major intracranial surgery. Anesthesia for neurosurgery is a specialty unto itself. The place you want to go and people you want to see do procedures on a daily basis. I doubt the north coast clinics have the volume of procedures to maintain proficiency.
 

Hillbilly

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Jan 1, 2002
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There is one world famous neuro-surgeon in Santo Domingo: Jos? Joaquin Puello. Trained at Oxford, Board Certified and far and away the best, perhaps the best south of New York City...I do not know. But he is good. You want his phone number, PM me.

There in PUJ you have some medical assistance geared to tourism. There is a medical group whose name escapes me....Cedimed? Something likethat.

Anyway you want Puello.

Let me know.

HB
 

jrjrth

Bronze
Mar 24, 2011
782
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There is one world famous neuro-surgeon in Santo Domingo: Jos? Joaquin Puello. Trained at Oxford, Board Certified and far and away the best, perhaps the best south of New York City...I do not know. But he is good. You want his phone number, PM me.

There in PUJ you have some medical assistance geared to tourism. There is a medical group whose name escapes me....Cedimed? Something likethat.

Anyway you want Puello.

Let me know.

HB

HB...check your PM
 

Crytonb99

Member
Jan 25, 2010
92
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There is one world famous neuro-surgeon in Santo Domingo: Jos? Joaquin Puello. Trained at Oxford, Board Certified and far and away the best, perhaps the best south of New York City...I do not know. But he is good. You want his phone number, PM me.

There in PUJ you have some medical assistance geared to tourism. There is a medical group whose name escapes me....Cedimed? Something likethat.

Anyway you want Puello.

Let me know.

HB

I second you with that HillBilly. I live all the way in the British Virgin Islands and Dr. Jose Puello's name is often mentioned as THE BEST.
 

Syork

New member
Sep 5, 2004
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Hospiten

The brother of a friend of mine was here 5-6 years ago in Punta Cana and had a brain aneuyrism that started leaking during a dive trip. He was taken to Hospiten in Punta Cana in bad shape. When we got there a few hours later, he was still very disoriented. They stabilized him there and transferred him to the Hospiten in Santo Domingo a couple of days later. He received great care and the surgeons there went in via a leg vein and filled the aneuyrism with a fine platinum wire. He left for the US a few days later and is still doing fine, as far as I know. Don?t know the name of the doctors-sorry. Great care in both places and excellent facilities.