Dr. Yatco (Surgeon) Has anyone used him?

Hi patricia: Just had dual LAP RNY and gall bladder removal with Dr. Cerabona on Aug 1. EXCELLENT surgeon and here's one of the reasons why: Turns out my gall bladder was completely full of what he described as "cement" which had backed up into my liver. He spent 1.5 hours laboriously breaking this stuff up laproscopically so that he could remove it -- he said he had never seen anything quite like it. I'm quite convinced there are other surgeons who would have just given up and switched to an open procedure. I'm quite grateful that he stuck with it. The one caveat I would have for you is that the nursing staff at the Westchester Medical Center (in Valhalla) where these surgeons operate is atrocious. Overworked is one thing, but agressive, hostile and abusive is another. This was not just my experience -- I have surveyed many people who have said the same. Met a woman yesterday who actually checked herself out of the hospital to get away from the miserable care. So, what to do? Great surgeons/crappy hospital? I would recommend having someone with you at the hospital at all times if possible. Many hospitals across the country now have a policy of letting family members stay past visiting hours -- they find this assists the nurses and assists in speedy recovery and exit from hospital. Not Westchester Medical, however. I think they are pissed and bothered when a family member asks them to administer your meds which they can be hours late distributing! In any event, they are known to harass any visitors who try to stay out-of-hours, but YOU NEED THEM THERE. I had a special need to have someone with me at all times, so I called the charge nurse 1 week ahead and got special permission for someone to be with me thru the night. (Still, on the first night, in my private room, the nurse told my partner that she could neither sit on the chair or rest on the extra empty bed. She wound up sleeping ON THE FLOOR!!) If you don't have a friend or family member who can be with you,then you might consider a private duty nurse's aid if you can afford one. They, for some reason, are allowed to be with you 24/7. (Course that might be becasue the minute the nursing staff sees them they foist off any duities they can to them -- checking vitals, fluids every hour, emptying catheters, etc.) Best of luck to you! Susan

Thanks for the input. My niece is a registered nurse and I will be having her there for the first day after surgery. She is used to dealing with "cranky" nurses so she will be able to fight them herself. I have heard mixed reports about the nurses at Valhalla but tend to believe that the negative reports outnumber the good ones.