Dr. Sunita Devi Srivastava, MD

I had a traumatic experience with this surgeon. She acted as an “access surgeon” to clear the way from my abdomen to my spine to allow a spine surgeon to operate on me from the front. I had a rare condition where blood flow through my leg was restricted through the main vein, and so many collateral blood vessels had formed over many years to compensate. Dr. S cut all of these vessels, leaving a trickle of blood flow from my leg through the narrowed vein. Postoperatively, I developed a massive blood clot along with pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening condition. I was put on an IV blood thinner, which is very high-risk after back surgery: bleeding in the back can result in paralysis. I required a vein stenting procedure to restore blood flow. Additionally, Dr. S closed my large vertical abdominal incision with staples, leaving me with three rows of scars rather than one. She said “I will leave you ugly on the outside but beautiful on the inside.” As a same-aged woman, and as a… professional courtesy (as I was a doctor at the same hospital,) to take the time to have a resident sew closed a single, minimized incision would have been so much more kind. When I followed up in clinic afterward, Dr. S took no responsibility for the series of bad events, saying I was just unlucky to get a blood clot, and that the stenting procedure was done to alleviate the blood clot itself (rather than open a congenital malformation). She felt that the stenting would have been very high-risk, pushing blood clots into my lungs. I am a physician with hematology training and I *know* that her version of events was medically impossible — but it’s the only version of the story in which she had no personal culpability. I felt completely gaslighted and disrespected by this doctor. In fact, in every interaction we had, she referred to me as “Ms. M” rather than “Dr. M.” I have never had such a negative experience with a physician before or since.

It was nec. for my husband to see Dr. S. following his surgery by Dr. Watkins who is on leave. 1. Dr. S. did not know anything about my husband nor recognize us, after seeing all of us FOUR times within SEVEN WEEKS! 2. She had no concern for my husband and only concern for the young girl accompanying her "to see if a 14 yr. old might be interested in making THIS her life". 3. She barely looked at my husband's amputated 1/2 foot and did not even glance at the large wound on the side of the same foot! 4. She did not Debreive the wound as dictated, and merely rewrapped the foot and left!! 5. She was rude, uncaring and had absolutely no bedside manner whatsoever. 6. I found out today...she came with Dr. Eagleton from Cleveland a short while ago. 7. In my estimation, she belongs in Cleveland...NOT in Boston!

My Wife and I love everything about Dr. Srivastava :)She is the best! We are BLESSED to have had her guide us through a very very difficult time.

Every vascular surgeon we spoke with wanted to take the easy route and cut off my mother's leg below the knee. Dr. Srivastava suggested only taking off part of her foot, and determined a 50% chance of the leg requiring more surgery. It's 18 months later and my mom is doing great. We highly recommend her.