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 Surgeon tops in state for cardiac casesBy Susan Abram, Staff WriterUpdated: 04/08/2009 09:53:31 PM PDT TARZANA - Patients of a local heart surgeon had the highest survival rates among those of any other cardiac specialist in California, according to a comprehensive report released this week. The report, compiled under a state mandate to increase transparency, measured patient outcome and performance for all 284 cardiac surgeons statewide. In general, it found that mortality rates had fallen from previous years, but survival rates varied widely depending on the surgeon.  Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgeon Dr. Mohammad Gharavi at Providence Tarzana Medical Center in Tarzana, CA. Dr. Gharavi scored the highest in a recently released state report on heart bypass surgery. (Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer)Dr. Mohammad A. Gharavi, chief of Cardiovascular Surgery at Providence Tarzana Medical Center, was the top performer - losing just one patient in 303 heart surgeries he performed in the 2005-06 period studied by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. By comparison, another doctor who lost one patient operated on only seven total and another who operated on 325 lost 15 in the same period, the study found. "It's not important who is better or who is good," said Gharavi, 66. "It's more important to find out who is not good. It's important to find out a little bit more about who is operating on you." The study looked at the 32,586 coronary artery bypass graft surgeries performed between 2005 and 2006, the last period for which data was available. Researchers found there were 379 fewer deaths within that time period, or 14 percent less than the 2003-04 period. The 107 page report listed outcomes for each surgeon, as well as hospitals. While the state researchers who authored the report said they adjusted the mortality rates to factor in emergency and high risk cases, Gharavi said some of his peers have complained that the study did not fully account for such variables. "We're very proud of Dr. Gharavi and his accomplishments," said Dale Surowitz, chief executive at Providence Tarzana. The medical center is home to the San Fernando Valley Heart Institute. "It's a credit to him and, of course, to the outstanding team of nurses and technicians." Five hospitals performed "significantly better" than the state average. The only Los Angeles area hospital in the top five was Kaiser Permanente's Los Angeles Medical Center, where 994 surgeries were performed in the period. "The excellent results shown by our cardiac surgeons and members of the cardiac care team at our Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center represent more than numbers - they represent lives that are saved and health renewed," said Dr. Jeffrey Weisz, executive medical director of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group. "Our Los Angeles Medical Center performs more coronary artery bypass graft surgeries than any hospital in the state." Joseph Parker, at the state's health planning office, said the more surgeries a hospital performs, the better their mortality rates. "It's the practice-makes-perfect argument," he said. But hospitals also are performing fewer surgeries than years past for various reasons, including the increase in use of stents in the treatment of coronary artery blockages. A stent is a wire metal mesh tube used to prop open an artery. The report also found that eight surgeons' overall performance was significantly worse than the state average, including one physician from Citrus Valley Medical Center in Covina. Gharavi said that since he began practicing in 1978, he has performed more than 6,000 open heart surgeries. He said the report, found at www.oshpd.ca.gov., will help patients decide where to go for medical treatment. |