Re: Calling Dr. Hazem Elariny (VA) Patients

August 15, 2001

I read your inquiry about Dr. Hazem Elariny ... and the response you received

from one of his patients. I can only second that endorsement. I work at a

hospital where Dr. Elariny has privileges and saw him first in that

environment about 18 months ago. At that time, I asked Dr. Elariny if he did

WLS and he told me yes. I told him I was interested in WLS and had started

to do some research. He sat down with me right then and there and explained

the generalities of WLS ... he even drew pictures. He did not rush and

answered all of my questions.

I have had the opportunity to speak to several of his patients at the

hospital since then, and they all have only good things to say. One man had

surgery about 18 months ago by Dr. Elariny and his wife is now having the

same procedure -- also with Dr. Elariny. Again, I have seen Dr. Elariny in a

professional setting and have only the highest respect for him as a physician

.... caring, dedicated, and most important highly skilled at what he does.

Since then I have done my research, decided to pursue WLS, and have selected

Dr. Elariny as my surgeon. I have completed the paperwork, and tests

requested by the insurance company, and am waiting for approval.

For more information from Dr. Elariny's patients, see:

http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity -- click on " Find a Doc " and choose

number 2 -- " Browse the List " .

If you have any questions, or need more information, please let me know.

Pat

August 15, 2001

At 9:24 PM -0400 8/15/01, Kathie wrote:

>I know I have read posts from members who are pre- and post-op

>patients of Dr Hazem Elariny of Arlington VA. I am researching

>information for a co-worker of my husband's who lives in that area.

>I myself had DS surgery last September by Dr. Gagner in NY. I do

>not recall knowing of Dr. Elariny at the time I was researching for

>my surgeon. There were (to the best of my knowledge) no Lap DS

>surgeons in this area at that time.

Dr. Elariny is a superb lap surgeon.

>Can anyone who is one of his patients give me some background about

>him (like who he studied under, how long he has been doing DS

>surgery, etc.)?

Please see http://www.alagsa.com/prod01.htm

Advanced Laparoscopic and General Surgery Associates => (alagsa.com)

> Does he have and active support group and how often do they meet?

First Tuesday of every month at INOVA Fairfax Hospital at 78:00 PM.

>Does he work in conjunction with a group?

No. He has one partner, Dr. Omeish. But, Dr. O does not do the WLS.

>Does he have a nutritionist?

No. He is a cutter,plain and simple. But, a damned good one.

>If you care to, I would also be interested in your experience and

>some information about the hospital.

Dr. Elariny is a super surgeon. He was a general lap surgeon first

and learned the WLS later, as opposed to a baryatric surgeon who

tries to learn lap procedures.

His office is a bit understaffed and chaotic. So, the main downside

is that patients must assume responsibility for themselves as far as

checking to make sure that their insurance forms have been submitted

in a timely fashion, that they have been properly informed of all

pre-op tests that they need, etc. Ancillary services like a

psychologist and nutritionist affiliated with the office do not

exist. Again, it is up to the patient (a pre-op psych eval. is

required, though)

He will do the EGD and colonoscopy himself, if the patient requests

(I had it done by a gastroenterologist).

Also, I have my periodic lab work done through my PCP who FAXes a

copy to Dr. E. That is because, in the long run, I want my PCP (a

board-certified internist) to be managing my health along with me.

Also, given the relative chaos in ALAGSA office, I think that there

is a much better chance that My PCP will FAX my lab work results to

Dr. E than the reverse.

If I had it to do all over again, however, I would go with Dr.

Elariny without hesitation.

>

>Both the man and his wife are candidates for the surgery and I want

>to do whatever I can to help them along their journey. So many

>people helped me when I was pre-op. I am putting a small package

>together about information regarding the comparison of surgeries and

>other information. I know the doctor will give them all of this

No. He sits on the floor with a big hand-drawn poster and several

prospective pre-ops and gives a fine explanation of all the

alternatives. Then, he has a private consult with each prospective

pre-op.

>but it is always good to be prepared before you get there.

Absolutely. Cuts through a lot of dross (nice way of saying " crap " ).

>

>Thanks for your help,

>

>Kathie from MD

>Lap DS, Dr. Gagner, NY on 9/12/00

>

ure.

Steve

--

Steve Goldstein, age 61

Lap BPD/DS on May 2, 2001

Dr. Elariny, INOVA Fairfax Hospital, Virginia

Starting (05/02/01) BMI = 51

BMI on 08/07 = 42

August 15, 2001

> I know I have read posts from members who are pre- and

> post-op patients of Dr Hazem Elariny of Arlington VA. I am

> researching information for a co-worker of my husband's who

> lives in that area. I myself had DS surgery last September

> by Dr. Gagner in NY. I do not recall knowing of Dr. Elariny

> at the time I was researching for my surgeon. There were

> (to the best of my knowledge) no Lap DS surgeons in this

> area at that time. Can anyone who is one of his patients

> give me some background about him (like who he studied

> under, how long he has been doing DS surgery, etc.)? Does

Along with the web page in the previous reply, try:

http://www.alagsa.com/Documents/Elariny%20CV-10-22-99.doc

and

http://www.mydoctor.com/elariny/

> he have and active support group and how often do they meet?

> Does he work in conjunction with a group? Does he have a

> nutritionist? If you care to, I would also be interested in

> your experience and some information about the hospital.

Dr. Elqariny's office has improved considerably lately. Another full

time staffmember was added, Mohammed, who is great. He works with the

insurance attentively, and with the patient to get all requisite

preliminaries taken care of. He is a nice guy and very pleasant to

deal with. Dr. Elariny's wife Oksana helps out too. In my case, she

worked agressively with my insurance company to get timely closure and

commitments. I owe her a lot! Dr. Elariny also makes himself available

after hours, and will frequently answer the phone himself between 6:00

and 7:00 PM. (I used this kindness sparingly!)

As Steve said in a previous post, Dr. Elariny started as a Laparoscopy

specialist, subsequently moving into Bariatric surgery bringing his

laparoscopic skills along. He is a passionate believer in the vast

therapeutic advantages to laparoscopy, for instance, massively reduced

surgical complication risks, surgical trauma, and long-term risks such

as herniation. I am hardly in a position to competently evaluate his

surgical skills, except to say that I had my gall bladder out lap, and

this far more difficult operation was far less uncomfortable

afterwards. The surgical wounds were hardly a concern in recovery,

compared to the other operation, where I was quite sore for weeks. He

strikes me as a gifted young hot shot, motivated by a passion for

medicine, highly intelligent, with a great deal of technical prowess

and a large helping of raw talent. I am not a surgeon, but that is

definitely my impression. The hospital staff also told me that he is

one of the busiest surgeons at the hospital.

Dr. Elariny has offices at Arlington Hospital, but operates primarily

at Inova Fairfax. Inova Fairfax has vast, superbly equipped operating

suites, and is especially well equipped with the very latest state of

the art laparoscopic instrumentation. Recent technical developments in

the instruments are important! Laparoscopy is a young technology, and

technical advancements are currently being made, and will continue for

some time. Only a few well-funded hospitals are going to have the

latest advances, such as electrosurgical solutions for preventing

unintentional capacitive tissue burns using Active Electrode

Monitoring (AEM), for instance.

On the other hand, Inova Fairfax is a bit of a cattle car. A busy,

busy place, I was not impressed by some of the nursing care provided,

some nurses having a very surly attitude. (Though others were

excellent.) My whole floor seemed a bit disorganized, and

uncomfortably warm.

All in all, I am 100% satisfied with Dr. Elariny, and recommend him

highly.

> Both the man and his wife are candidates for the surgery and

> I want to do whatever I can to help them along their

> journey. So many people helped me when I was pre-op. I am

> putting a small package together about information regarding

> the comparison of surgeries and other information. I know

> the doctor will give them all of this but it is always good

> to be prepared before you get there.

>

> Thanks for your help,

>

> Kathie from MD

> Lap DS, Dr. Gagner, NY on 9/12/00

Regards,

, 43, 3 weeks post-op with a Lap BPD/DS by Dr. Elariny.

August 15, 2001