Dr. William T. Kuo

Dr Kuo saved my life. I had a filter for 12 yrs, perforating the vein with struts broken & in my lungs. Other Vascular Surgeons tried to remove the filter unsuccessfully & they told me my only option was open surgery - high risk, long recovery. I found Dr Kuo & he removed the filter & broken struts in 1.5 hours minimally invasively. Not only does he know what he’s doing, he’s an amazing Dr - even calling a few days afterwards to make sure I made it home ok & answer any questions I may have (I traveled across the country to see him). Not only do I not have the pain & stress of the filter anymore but I am hopefully able to stop the blood thinners that have been causing me issues as well. I cannot say enough wonderful things about him & thank God every day that I found him & he was willing to help me. He truly is amazing.

When other Doctors turned my case down. Dr Kuo got the job done and saved me life

Just for a little synopsis before I start my review: I’m a 26 year old woman who had 2 IVC filters stuck and perforating out of my inferior vena cava for 11 years. I had 4 unsuccessful retrieval attempts in the past. Dr. Kuo is nothing less than a master at his craft. He successfully retrieved not only one, but TWO IVC filters from my vena cava that had migrated and perforated through my small intestine and my aorta. Those filters had lived in my body for almost 11 years, guilty of causing me to suffer with undeniable anxiety for fear of the unknown and what could happen if they weren’t retrieved timely and safely. They were guilty of causing me to lose countless hours, translated into days over the years, of doctor appointments, phone calls, time spent researching, and hospitalizations. While I could go on and on about the negatives and shortcomings that having these defective devices stuck in my body brought into my life over the last 11 years, I’d rather focus my energy on the… positive and the good that has finally materialized. I live in NY and Dr. Kuo, being in California, was there for me every step of the way throughout the entire planning process leading up to the surgery. He would take time out of his day to speak to me on the phone and write extensive emails that answered all of my questions and even touched upon subjects I hadn’t thought to ask. When I left for California with my husband, mom, and sister, we were all so nervous and didn’t know what to expect or what the outcome would be. I had 4 unsuccessful retrieval attempts in the past and was told by 5 different surgeons in Manhattan and Long Island that the surgery couldn’t be done without performing it invasively (cutting my entire abdomen open). Once again, I was ridden with anxiety and fear of waking up and being told for the 5th time that the surgery was unsuccessful. I could cry just writing this when I think about my family and nurse after the surgery that it was successful. He got them out!! I couldn’t believe what I had heard and it still hasn’t even fully set in yet. I read every review written about Dr. Kuo and am in total disbelief that here I am, filter free, writing one of my own! I am truly blessed to have found Dr. Kuo who not only retrieved my IVC filters in just 3 hours and 20 minutes through a tiny puncture in my neck, but who also saved my life in so many ways other than the obvious. I have never felt so at peace with my own body and grateful for my life. I urge anyone who is struggling with the same horrible situation to reach out to Dr. Kuo no matter how far you are. He is worth a trip across the world as there is no one who can do what he can with such confidence, skill, kindness, and care. THANK YOU!!!! to Dr. Kuo and his staff at Stanford University Medical Center for everything! I am forever grateful.

After 14 years of being told that my IVC was not removable, I contacted Dr. Kuo. I found out that it was imbedded and perforated. Dr Kuo removes my filter without any issues and my life is full ??

Two months ago I had my 14 year old temporary filter successfully retrieved. After two unsuccessful retrieval attempts back in 2004 I was advised that my temporary filter would act as a permanent device. This came after my surgeon informed me that one of the filter arms had previously fractured and was embedded in my heart. I was his first documented case. Sadly, I was also one of his first unsuccessful retrievals. The news came from a prominent NYC doctor at a competitive hospital. What a shock, as I only had my filter a handful of months. For the next 14 years I would carry an undeniable anxiety about the foreign body inside me which would be written off as hypochondria and irrational fear. It wasn't till a year ago after an unrelated health issue I would learn about the FDA warnings and additional fractured arms displaced in my body. I didn't know where to turn medically at the time and ended up consulting with a vascular surgeon who lacked the education and experience concerning… complex filter retrievals. I was advised never to attempt removal of such an old device. Thankfully, I listened to my gut and plugged along with researching options anyway. This is when I learned of Dr. William Kuo at Stanford Medical Center who had the highest retrieval rate of complex filter cases and who developed cutting edge technology to remove once previously irretrievable filters. I made the life changing decision to travel a cross the country where he was successfully able to remove my embedded device. While I will always live with pieces of that filter embedded inside my heart and lungs I'm forever grateful to Dr. Kuo for inevitably extending my life by removing the perpetrator.

If ever there was a doctor who fits the description, "Miracle Worker" Dr. Kuo does. My IVC filter, which had been placed by another doctor in 2008, had clotted closed and blood clots went from about the level of my belly button through my pelvis and down my left leg. The swelling in my left thigh is reduced by 7 3/8 inches (back down to its normal size) because of Dr. Kuo's skillful procedure to remove the trouble-causing filter and re-open my veins.

Dr. Kuo has redefined the word â??permanent.â?? Seven years ago an inferior vena cava (ivc) filter was inserted into my body. It was considered a permanent filter and I was originally told it could not be taken out. After a few years, I started to feel sharp chest pains and few other unusual symptoms. I knew something was wrong. I contacted Dr. Kuo and upon further diagnostic tests it was evident that it needed to be removed. My life depended on it. Dr. Kuoâ??s demeanor and bedside manner were the best I have ever experienced and more importantly was his stellar performance and skill in successfully removing the filter near my heart. I no longer experience the painful symptoms I had prior to the procedure and the high risk factors of the permanent filter are now gone. My endless gratitude for Dr. Kuo's expertise and determination will last a lifetime. Dr. Kuo is truly a pioneer in the field of modern medicine. Thank you Dr. Kuo!

After my local doctors spent several hours and failed twice to remove my vena cava filter, I found Dr. William Kuo online at the Stanford IVC Filter Clinic. I travelled 2000 miles to California and he removed my filter in less than 1 hour. I am so grateful to Dr. Kuo! He is a true Miracle Worker!

I wanted to thank Dr. Kuo for successfully removing my IVC filter. I was told by a panel of cardiologists that it was too dangerous to remove leaving me with no option but to spend the rest of my life in constant concern that it would eventually fracture and damage my heart or lungs. That is all history now thanks to what Dr Kuo at Stanford has done for me. THANK YOU

Dr.Kuo is pure genius. No one else would evn try to remove my IVC filter since it was considered irremovable. His technique is pure genius. Alo he is w very caring, kind individual. I traveled 3000 miles and it was worth the trip.