USC Verdugo Hills Hospital Hospital

My first impression was that this Doctor really knew his stuff, and he was very confident in his Surgeries. His nurse was very friendly. I felt very happy with my surgeon and his great knowledge of laps

Running late...that was the beginning of my meeting with Dr. K. He did take his time with me and answered my questions in the initial interview. The day of surgery, he did not come to meet me before surgery. No one let my husband know that I was out of surgery and in the recovery room. Dr. K did not give my husband a post op report when my surgery was over. Dr. K seemed irritated that I was in incredible pain after my surgery. Arrogant is the word that I keep thinking of. I had lots of small irritating complications after surgery and there was no comfort coming. I felt that he blamed me for my problems such as pain and horrible nightmares. When I went for my follow-up post op visit (3 weeks instead of 2 weeks because he was booked and didn't have any openings) I told him that it was unacceptable that I went 27 hours without someone getting me out of bed! I also have sleep apnea and had no monitoring for that. I was really scared in the hospital. I still haven't gotten any aftercare support group information. Surgical skills seem good...not pleased with anything else. Remember that these are my own personal impressions of my own personal experience and I am making no statements about what other people may experience.

After going to a lot of lectures in the Los Angeles Area, Dr. Katkhouda truly impressed me with his dedication to his patients and the surgery he performs and thus he was my choice, after a six month search.

Anna, his assistant has been helpful despite my many concerns.

Dr. Katkhouda uses no staples but hand sutures in three layers to avoid leaks.

Risks of surgery were addressed as well as the best method of surgery (open or lap) for me, not for everyone in general.

Surgical competence is what you want from a surgeon, care for patients you sense from surgeons but when you literally "feel it" from every staff member at a hospital such as USC University, you have a winning combination.

I first met with Dr. Katkhouda for my consult on 10/24/02. He was running over an hour late and came out to the waiting room introduced himself to me, shook my hand and apologized and asked that I be patient. When is the last time you ever had a doctor do that?? That impressed me right off.

I came ready with a list of questions and we went over each one. He is very straightforward and to the point which I like. There was not a lot of ramble and I don't get the impression that there is much of a structured aftercare program other then the require post-op visits. Regading nutrition, he will be giving me a diet to follow, the rest is up to me.

He's has only been doing the RNY proceedure for about a year, but he is a world renown leader in laparscopic surgery and is very confident about his abilities. That's ok by me!! I'll take surgical competence over bedside manner anytime.

It's hard for me to rate his office staff since I did not meet them, and have had little interaction with them thus far.

Tennacity is key!! I would still be sitting here waiting for things to happen if I had to depend on others. I had to make things happen and the only way was to be tenacious, follow up and not give up.

First impression was FANTASTIC. He is extremely informative and I feel very comfortable knowing that he'd do my surgery.

Impression continues to remain the same.

Staff is very professional, caring and confident.

Haven't found anything I don't like about my surgeon or his staff.

I'd HIGHLY recommend my doctor! Feel free to talk to me about him.

He strongly emphasizes aftercare and has a structured aftercare program.

He was very informative regarding the risks of surgery and prepared me for anything that may happen.

Overall rate him (on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the lowest), I'd rate him a 9.5

Which is better? Surgical competence; however, bedside manner is nice to have as well. My doctor had/has both!

I am due to have my first Consultation on November 7th, In a word I am SOOOOOOOOO ready for this. I attened my First Meeting on Saturday, I was really disappointed to see that not may people knew about Obesityhelp. Dr Anthone spoke fisrt, He is a young Dr, and very Knowlageable in his field. After him Dr Katkhuda spoke, I was very impressed and after the meeting I ran into him I was able to talk to him for a few minutes, Intorduced myself, WE chatted for a few minutes and I was impressed after those few minutes. I am really looking forward to the 7th and hopefully getting that Magical date.

I thought he was wonderful! Very upfront, spent plenty of time with me. Answered all my questions in a relaxed and comfortable manner. Gave me all the pros and cons good and bad! This guy is a pioneer of Laproscopic surgery from France. I felt very comfortable with him doing my surgery, and of a successful outcome. Couldn't ask for a better surgeon!

What a wonderful man! I met with Dr. Katkhouda 10/17/02 and I must admit that before he walked in the exam room I was terrified, after was a different story entirely. Initially there seemed to be a lot of waiting, I was in the exam room for about 35 minutes and that always makes me crazy. After he walked in he put me completely at ease. Dr.Katkhouda answered all my questions, no matter how ridiculous they may have seemed. He was professional yet warm and soothing. To me the most important thing was that he was honest, and straight forward. He showed me with the help of his purple stomach pillow how the procedure would be done on my stomach and explained the risks and complications fully. His office is extremly busy, (a good sign) and I noticed something that strangely put me at ease, his office was full of a broad spectrum of people, not exclusively WLS patients (less of a cookie cutter feel. There is a aftercare program and he almost demands that you participate though it is in your best interest. When I was about to leave the office I stopped and asked did i need to do anything, or bring anything to my pcp, I heard the best thing ever "No, we take care of all that for you.!"
Hooray!!! Though I missed the famous Anna, she was ill, I left there with a smile on my face and the relization that the rest of my life is waiting for me and I can live it in the body I was supposed to live it in thanks to Dr. Katkhouda!

My first impression of Dr. Katkhouda was that he was a very knowledgable and kind man. My first impression of him was correct and has grown to a feeling of gratitude for his skills, thankfulness for being in such good hands and for having this surgery and most of all...respect for him wanting to help people...he truly cares about his patients. His sincerity and kindness are very endearing. I totally trust him and he has helped me postoperatively with his support in getting this weight off.
When I had my surgery, I believe I was one of the first of his bariatric patients and Anna, his secretary was very helpful and kind as well. Of course I was nervous about having the surgery, but knew that he was a very skilled laparoscopic surgeon and was reknowned for his work.
I am now almost 11 mos. PostOp and have to rate my experience with Dr. Katkhouda as the best ones I have had (in terms of having a medical procedure done). He truly cares about his patients. I have talked to many of his PostOp patients and they all have voiced to me that they just love him.
I am happy to see that since he has started doing this particular surgery, the word has gotten out about him...his skills and his caring nature...and his office has been flooded with calls. I hope everyone's experience with Dr. Katkhouda's skill and his kindness, will be as good as mine has been. Yes, I adore my surgeon!!

7/5/02 I was very nervous when I went in for my first office visit. I had already spoken to Anna about 5 times trying to make my first appt. We had to reschedule twice, because the doctor had some other things booked for those dates. She was very helpful. She sent me all the New patient forms to my house the first time we rescheduled. My little brother spilled water on them, so I had to call her and ask her to resend them, but she never did send them. She's a very busy woman as I soon found out. When we got there that was the first thing she told me. I finally got to meet the doctor he couldn't have been nicer! He did inform me of all the risks and didn't mind at all that I had taken my boyfriend and my mom with me. He told them that they would have to help me, that it would become difficult at times and they had to be there to help me out. He explained all the risks and the ups and downs of the surgery. He explained to us how he was going to perform the surgery and told me that I had to be prepared to make food my enemy and not my first love. He emphasized the fact that I would have to take the vitamins no if ands or butts. After everything was said and done he told me that he was going to get somebody else besides Anna to help her out with wls patients. He told me that she was very busy with other types of patients and until Heather started working I would have to make sure I stayed on top of things with Anna. Over all I think my office visit was a 10.