Once you have been diagnosed with arteriovenous malformations, you will need to find a group of doctors that knows how to treat the condition properly. With so many hospitals and medical groups in New Jersey, you might have a hard time choosing a surgeon you trust.
Before you decide to get arteriovenous malformation surgery, you should learn about how to select a neurosurgeon or facility that can meet your unique needs.
The following tips will help you find a trustworthy, experienced doctor to perform your arteriovenous malformation surgery:
Find a Group with Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Specialists
Treatment options for arteriovenous malformations include embolization, microsurgical resection and stereotactic radiosurgery:
- With embolization, your doctor will inject special glue or insert a small metal coil to prevent blood from flowing to certain areas.
- Microsurgical resection involves removing a small section of your skull to treat malformations in the brain.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery is a non-surgical procedure that uses radiation to damage, and eventually destroy, problematic blood vessels.
Choosing a medical group that employs cerebrovascular and endovascular specialists can lessen the amount of anxiety that you feel before your procedure. Specialists spend years training to perform very specific operations. Over time, they learn how to respond to unexpected events that can happen during surgery.
A more general surgeon or general neurosurgeon might not know the most effective way to treat unexpected issues related to arteriovenous malformation surgery.
Cerebrovascular or endovascular specialists, however, have seen it all. They can draw on their extensive experience to keep you safe during surgery, even when a problem arises. You won’t find that level of experience from a surgeon who doesn’t specialize in AVM treatments.
Learn About the Medical Group’s History and Prestige
You can typically expect to get better results from medical groups that have been working for several decades. A new group might have some excellent surgeons, but it could lack the patient-focused policies and equipment that often takes years to accumulate.
A long history also shows that a medical group knows how to do their job well. Medicine is an extremely competitive field. If a group has stayed in business for decades, then you know they have a strong record of meeting their patients’ needs.
It also helps to review the prestige of medical groups in New Jersey. Some questions you should ask include:
- How many surgeons working at the group have received accolades from their colleagues?
- What awards has the group received in recent years?
- What role has the medical group or facility played in making New Jersey a better place for patients to receive treatments?
- Do doctors within the group perform research that has improved both patient and industry outcomes?
You want to choose a surgical group that has earned respect from other doctors, whether it be for arteriovenous malformation surgery or whichever treatment or condition you are inquiring about. Prestige comes from decades of hard work. When you choose a surgeon who has earned the respect of his or her peers, you immediately improve your chance of having a successful surgery.
Choose a Group That Uses a Patient-Focused Approach to Medicine
Having an AVM doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to undergo surgery. In some cases, doctors can correct the problem without making incisions. Choose a group that uses a patient-focused approach to medicine, as opposed to quickly opting for surgical intervention, regardless of the case. You deserve a unique treatment plan that addresses your specific needs.
Look for a medical group that includes you in every step of the AVM diagnosis, treatment and recovery. If any aspect of your treatment makes you feel uncomfortable, your doctor should make himself or herself available to talk about other options.
A patient-focused approach means that every decision gets made with your participation and informed consent. Good doctors want patients to understand what health problems they face. They provide information to help you make a decision that feels right to you.
Picking a Practice
Of course, a good doctor will also tell you the truth. If surgery is the best option for you, then your doctor should make sure that you understand the risks of avoiding the treatment. Regardless, it always comes back to putting you at the center of the experience.
Deciding where to get arteriovenous malformation surgery in New Jersey should require a little research. You don’t want to make an uninformed decision that could jeopardize your health. As long as you evaluate the skills and medical philosophies of a few New Jersey-based groups, you can find a place that makes you feel as comfortable as possible while you undergo your treatment for AVM.
