Daniel G. Swistel, MD

My uncle recently had open heart surgery. We met with the doctor for the 1st time the night before the procedure for about 10 minutes where he explained what he planned to do which was a little different than what was told to us earlier. He replied no one would be able to accurately tell us what he was going to do as no one else does what he does. It was well over one hour after he returned to his room that we heard "rumors" that the surgery went well or as expected. I am a practicing physician of > 30 years. I have no doubt my colleague was the best suited to do this surgery under the current circumstance but a little more effort to communicate with the family after a very difficult procedure would have been appreciated. As I am writing this it has been 2 1/2 hours since my uncle returned from surgery and still no update or communication to say the surgeon is tied up in another case.

Dr. Swistel saved my life - twice - in 2001 and 2009. Both times my odds of surving the surgery were about 50/50. As far as I'm concerned, he "walks on water". I'm still going strong fifteen years later. Being guided to him was a Blessing.

I had HCM surgery with Dr Swistel in 2010. I feel he saved my life. there were complications of a perforation of my septum, and I was in an induced coma for a week. His team would not let me die. He patched my septum and I am alive today because of him. I am still not happy that I have HCM, with the restrictions of exercise that go with it, but life goes on. 5 years after my surgery, I now need a pacemaker. and still I live. Heart disease is complicated, it progresses and evolves, and I appreciate all of my providers, none of them perfect, but for what Dr Swistel did for me, keeping me alive for my family, for my grand children, and I am grateful to him. I saw on video the same surgery he did on me, on another person. I just cannot believe how anyone can have the confidence to cut open someone's chest, stop someone's heart, operate on it, sew it up, start it back up, and close up that chest, and actually pull it off. Its mind boggling to me that this doctor can actually do this! and… make it work. His team as described to me by my wife, were superb.

Here i am now 8 years out from my VSR surgery - exercising, riding my bike, playing golf, traveling to Europe, playing with my 3 grand children 0- all thanks to Dr. Swiatel and his team. Every doctor who takes my medical history stops in his/her tracks and looks at me and says - you are a very lucky man - you have that happen and you are here today to talk about it? I was very lucky - to have the surgical team I had at St. Luke's Roosevelt led by Dr.Swistel, who named me the Miracle Man, that 17th day of August, 2006. You can put your heart into his God gifted hands.

After suffering a heart attack in 2006, developed rupture in Ventricular Septum.Went into cardiogenic shock. Dr. Swistel performed emergency VSD repair - "like sewing two pats of butter together". In coma for 3 days, out of hospital a week later and here I am - 5 years later and doing well. THANK YOU Dr. Swistel for your God given skills and talents!!