Canadian Hospitals That Specialize in Brain AVM

I had a catheter embolization in January 2016 and was last in touch with Dr Haw in February this year. I live on northern Vancouver Island but travelled to Vancouver to see Dr Haw after no one on the Island could/would help me. He is incredibly talented and humble. VGH is paired with University of B.C Hospital as a research facility. Everywhere the surgeon goes, a trail of residents in training from all over the world follow along learning their trade. This could work in your favour. Good luck.

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HI there,

I had my bleed/craniotomy in 2011 in Kelowna General Hospital. My neuro surgeon was Dr. Kim Lefevre. He was amazing and had a whole team of Dr’s/surgeons on board. My neurologist was Dr. Dermot Adams who was also incredible!

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Dr. Schwartz was also part of my team when I had the Gamma Knife the second time, and I was really glad to have him helping with the surgery!!

I was in Winnipeg Health Science Centre after my bleed, I live outside the city. I was under the care of Dr. Silvaggio initially and then Dr. Kaufman when the decision was gamma knife. They were fantastic, complete respect for both of them and all the staff I dealt with, compassionate, professional, open and honest. I couldn’t have been happier. The neuro surgery area is state of the art, one of I believe 7 like it in the world. They may have been first in Canada to have the gamma knife and have superb surgeons with tons of experience. Although, I do wish I never had to meet them!

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I had my rupture in 2010 and was admitted to Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, BC. Dr. Andrew Lee and Dr. Navraj Heran were absolutely incredible! I wouldn’t be here without them

Hello fellow Canadians. I had treatment in Calgary , Alberta. Everyone involved was really amazing. Feel very fortunate to have had their help.

Jenny S: My surgeon was also Dr. Charles Haw at Vancouver General Hospital. I just had two surgeries in January and February of this year for fistulas. I have 6 fistulas and he has embolized 3 of them. The first surgery he used coils and the second on the onyx glue. However, I developed a very bad radiation burn from the second surgery which I am still recovering from. Dr. Haw has been very caring and he is such a calm person. I guess that is what is needed when you are a brain surgeon! I would recommend him to anyone looking for someone in western Canada. I live on Vancouver Island as well!

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Hi Carol…a fellow Haw fan. I’m thrilled. I still remember waking after surgery and Dr Haw was at my bedside. He asked if I knew where I was and I could hear the rain pouring down so said “Bamfield” (I’ve never been there) and he replied “no, we’re close to the water but we’re at VGH”. So calm and caring…I consider myself so fortunate to have found him. I’m sorry to hear about your ongoing problems…I don’t think I fully realize how well I’ve come out of it. I couldn’t imagine going through that again. One near death experience is enough to last me a lifetime! I wish you luck with it all.

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Thanks Jenny! All the best to you as well. I was referred to Dr Haw by another neurointerventional radiologist/neurosurgeon in Victoria, Dr. Ian Fleetwood, who was also very nice.

We are gong to Calgary in June for a second opinion in treating my sons AVM.

I had treatment in Calgary. If you have any questions - let me know. Everything was excellent, if that helps.

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Canadians! Call for help from @shadow see link.

Thanks,

Richard

Hello,

I am almost 74, and was operated twice at St. Michael Hospital, Toronto.

The first time was in April 12, 2017, and they performed a transvenous coil embolization of the venous pouch at the proximal common venous outflow of the dural AV fistula. Unfortunately I had tinnitus again.

The second time I was admitted in May 4, 2017 with a Dural AV Fistula for a Bilateral Onyx Embolization to VASC malformation from occipital supply.

Drs. performing procedure: Dr. Tsecchi, and Dr. Thomas Marotta
Most Responsible Healthcare Provider: Dr. Michael Cusimano

I will be called for follow up with Dr. Marotta for a Digital Subtraction Angiography in 4 weeks time.

Very knowledgeable and kind people, always ready and available to answer my questions and needs.

On my first coiling experience, I did not feel pain at all, and a week later I returned to my swimming daily sessions of 90 minutes without complications.

Four weeks after the last embolization, I still have a tender area over the lower back left quarter of my head. I assume that is due to the nature of the second procedure, which was entering from the groins of my two legs to the back of my head, while on the first embolization they acceded from the front.

That second embolization took me over my back over thirty hours waiting for the stabilization of my groins, and I presume that could be one of the reasons of the still current inflammation on the back of my head.

Relief has been coming as time went by, by lowering the inflammation and tenderness of the the neck (upper and posterior neck, where it joins with the head). Now I can sleep better, especially over one side of my head.

Tinnitus still persists and some times is higher than before.

Big hopes for next step, which will tell us what to do next, including potential Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS).

Enrique

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Enrique

I think it is more uncomfortable when you have an embolization that is extracranial. Mine in April was a mix of intracranial and extracranial and it was the external part which was the most uncomfortable the longest.

Richard

Hello Richard,

Thank you for comforting me with you experience. This coming Tuesday I will have my post angiogram, after the second embolization, the one that is causing partial insensitivity on the left side of the back of my head, which was diminishing overtime. Unfortunately this week whike repairing the side of my trailer for more that three hours, i was exposed to the sun over my back (including my head); since then it started a burning sensation as well as increased sensitivity over the left tender area.

I will discuss this issue with the surgeons tomorrow, but will keep high my spirit to carry on any suggestion derived from Tuesday’s angiogram, including the potential Gamma Knife Surgery, if suggested.

The hissing sound in both ears persist and is permanent. Sometimes it increases the frequency to later return to habitual level. I can’t determine the triggering of that variation.

Best!

Enrique

Enrique,

I agree, I’m finding regular tinnitus a bit on the increase post first embo, too.

Do let us know how you get on. I might branch this part of the conversation into a new thread… We’ve wandered off the line of Canadian hospitals…

Best,

Richard

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DR. Leodante Da Costa at Sunnybrook is great!

Hi, Enrique!

I am not a Canadian but do know much research, diagnosis, and surgical treatment of AVMs originated in Ontario, Canada. I went to a neuro conference about 30 years ago and heard Dr. Charles Drake speak to the subjects and the outcomes of surgery back then. It was breaking edge surgery then. I would search the web in order to locate the hospital(s) he practiced at. Most likely in a university medical center. Wishing you sucess?