Fuad Rafidi, MD – San Fernando Valley Vascular Group

I was a patient of Dr. Rafidi in the summer of 2014. I was referred to him by Dr. Paul Sogol as an outstanding Vascular surgeon. On July 26, 2014 I was a patient in the ER and was suffering extreme pain in my left leg. Prior to this I went to his office in West Hills for testing by a Doppler screening test on the arterial grafts in my legs. He did not advise me of any issues with these grafts.
In the ER the attending ER Physician called Dr. Rafidi after examining me and doing a test that showed my graft was not functioning. The ER Physician was extremely concerned and contacted Dr. Rafidi who was my Doctor and the Vascular Surgeon on call and spoke to him. Dr. Rafidi spoke to my wife personally on the phone and said that I needed to go to another hospital and to go home and he would call me on Monday with a referral to a specialist, because he could not perform a procedure. I was shocked because he was a vascular surgeon. The Emergency Doctor was shocked and dismayed that Dr. Rafidi would let me leave the ER and not be admitted to the hospital. Dr. Rafidi turned me away from Tarzana Hospital in excruciating pain to go home with a possible life-​threatening and dangerous condition. He gave his word to my wife and daughter with a referral to a Vascular surgeon.
That crucial Monday arrived after a horrendous weekend of pain and we NEVER received a phone call from Dr. Rafidi. This left me abandoned with no where to turn for medical emergency help. In desperation, my wife had to find another Vascular Surgeon.
Due to his negligent attention, and loss of time those days, I had to seek care and my condition worsened. As a result, and after a surgery, I had my left leg amputated above the knee.
WHY WOULD A RECOGNIZED VASCULAR SURGEON not be capable of performing a procedure in which I relied on his expertise? When i went to his office prior to this emergency, Dr. Rafidi never stated that he would be unable to do this procedure in the event the grafts went down.
Dr. Sogol, my internist, talked to Dr. Rafidi and Sogol told Rafidi that he did not return the call to me on that monday. Rafidi apologized to Dr. Sogol, BUT NOT TO ME THE PATIENT.
ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IS TRUE. Using the medical services of Dr. Rafidi is deplorable. This has certainly changed my life for the worse and I am permanently disabled.

First and foremost, I want to thank Dr Rafidi for saving my dad’s life! My father suffered a stroke on Nov, 18^th 2014, at 79. This was a very stressful and scary time for my family and I. We are VERY blessed, that my father only has some weakness in his right hand, as a result of the stroke. It could of been much worse, he didn’t suffer any brain damage or blindness etc. I searched for a vascular surgeon, that wasn’t too young. My main goal, was to find someone with experience and knowledge. I found Dr Rafidi, he was 59 years old, and completed his residency at Henry Ford Hospital. Which I found out, when I googled it, that it’s the biggest and best hospital for anything related to vascular surgery. Right off the bat, I knew he was the one.
The hospital told me my dad had 70% and 90% blockage on each side. And that he would most likely need both sides done. I called Dr. Rafidi’s office in Encino, CA and booked an appointment for an angioplasty. Dr Rafidi, had to determine where exactly, the blockage was, and discuss our options. When I showed up with my father, the nurse, took him into the room and I stayed in the front, waiting. I really liked that Dr. Rafidi, came out to the front, and introduced himself to me and shook my hand, gave me an ETA of about 1 hour for the procedure. When finished, I was asked to come inside and speak with Dr. Rafidi. I walked into his office and he stood up, and shook my hand once again. He gave me good news and indicated a carotid endarterectomy was needed, only on the right side. I read online that it’s most beneficial to have surgery during the first 2 weeks after a stroke. My father had surgery on the 3^rd week, after his stroke.
The day of the surgery, they allowed me to be with my dad, the whole time, up until they took him into the operating room. I was there translating for my dad, as he only speaks Spanish. Dr Rafidi came by, shook my hand, and marked my dad’s collar bone, using a black marker, and wrote his initials F.R. He smiled and told me not to worry that my dad was «in good hands». I immediately felt like all this weight had been lifted off my shoulders. After about 1 hour and 25 mins, I got worried because I was told it would take about 1 hour. Nonetheless, after about 30 additional minutes, Dr Rafidi, came to look for me in the waiting area. Everything had gone great and my dad was doing excellent. He said it would be another hour until I saw my dad, as he was still groggy from the anesthesia.
To this day, I take my dad to see Dr Rafidi. He has to monitor my dad’s improvement, closely, for about 1 year. I took my dad to see him on 3÷18÷15. Dr, checked his neck for infection, blood clots and blockage. No signs of anything! My dad’s neck healed beautifully, you can’t even tell he had a Carotid Endarterectomy!!! Our next appointment will be in 6 months.
I would highly recommend Dr Rafidi to anyone that’s looking for the BEST vascular surgeon, one that’s been saving lives for at least 30+ years! Bless you and your family!