Although Dr Jayakar leaves a lot of the explaining to his nurses because he needs to move on to the next patient, if you do ask him questions, he will stop and explain what he is to do and how it will help in terms that are easily understood. He is a very rushed person because he spends so much of his time doing actual surgeries that are 4-8 hours long, and tending to post surgical needs; but if you show a need for a specific problem, he is all yours. Also, before a procedure, he asks if the patient if he knows what is about to happen to see how much the patient really understands. That is smart. So many guys nod while he's explaining as if they understand when they don't. He then elaborates to be sure there is a full understanding. We did have a problem with getting one of my husband's post-surgical meds, but it was not HIS fault. It was the fault of the Regional admit nurse who wasn't really listening to the answers to her own questions, so the pain med was called to a Gilmer Pharmacy we used three years ago instead of the Longview one we use now. Pain meds cannot be transferred so a trip to Gilmer was forced on me at a time I was needed at home. Also, Dr Jayakar does bypasses without stopping the heart, which means recovery time is shorter. He also does not crack the whole chest if he doesn't have to. Again, that means a shorter recovery time. Most of the heart surgeons in Texas remain old school and recovery is weeks longer. read more

People say he's the "best" surgeon ... He took out the upper lobe of my right lung due to cancer -- or did he?? He never talked with me, He never explained one procedure!! After FIVE days of being in the hospital he came in ONCE but had one foot in the door and one foot out the door! A horrible, horrible surgery experience!! He put in a "medicine ball" and NONE of the nurses knew what it was and never knew it was imbedded in me for over 17 hours; plus it was NEVER activated/turned on/opened in all those hours!! Days later I was TOLD I was the first one he had used it on for this type of surgery-the nurse specifically used the words "Guinea Pig!!" An Awful, Awful so called surgeon!!! read more