Dr. Lucas Ribe Bernal

I would strongly caution anyone considering vascular treatment for themselves or a loved one to get multiple opinions before choosing Dr. Lucas Ribe Bernal. My mother underwent a bladder lift at Memorial Hermann and subsequently developed a blood clot in her leg. What was particularly concerning to our family was that she was experiencing significant pain, yet for approximately 24 hours, her symptoms were repeatedly attributed to the effects of anesthesia rather than the underlying vascular problem being promptly addressed. Once the blood clot was identified, Dr. Bernal performed a procedure involving stent placement. Unfortunately, this did not resolve the problem. Within less than 24 hours, my mother had to return to the operating room for another vascular intervention. This involved accessing the blood vessel through the groin and using a balloon catheter to address the blockage. She spent approximately five hours in surgery. The aftermath has been devastating. My mother was left… with an extremely large and deep surgical wound. Three and a half months later, she is still dealing with it. She has required ongoing wound care and repeated debridements because of the depth and severity of the wound. What should have been a straightforward recovery has turned into months of pain, procedures, appointments, and uncertainty. Our family has since spoken with other vascular surgeons, and we have been told that the size and severity of the wound were not what they would have expected. We were also left questioning whether the initial intervention adequately addressed the underlying problem, given that she required another major procedure almost immediately afterward. I cannot speak for anyone else’s experience, but I can speak honestly about what happened to my mother. The experience has been extremely traumatic for her and for our entire family. If you or a family member needs vascular care, please do your research, ask questions, and get a second or even third opinion before proceeding. Based on our family’s experience, I would not choose Dr. Bernal to perform vascular surgery on myself or someone I love. Three and a half months later, my mother is still fighting to heal from the consequences of what happened. That is something our family will never forget.