Dr. Zachary Leshen, MD

My 73 year old father had open heart/double bypass surgery 4 wks ago. Dr. Leshen was his primary cardiologist. He sent him to a cardiac thoracic surgeon in his office bc my dad was not a candidate for stints. My dad was released from the hospital 4 days later. 2 days later he was readmitted for dehydration/not urinating. He was released the next day but ended up back in the ER 3 more times, taken once by ambulance because he passed out. Finally a hospitalist admitted him. By this point my dad was very weak, had lost 16 lbs and not able to stand without his blood pressure dropping. Dr. Leshen came in to see him and looked at him and said "Eat, drink and get off your butt or you're going to a nursing home. There's nothing wrong with your heart." It was incredibly uncompassionate and cruel. My dad never received the aftercare promised. No home nurses, therapists, nothing. The hospital and doctors failed him. Dr. Leshen should be ashamed.

I was dx with congestive heart failure over 20 years ago, have a pacemaker, and a metal mitral valve. At age 89, my biggest problem is fatigue/exhaustion, but Dr. Leshen informed me when I saw him for the first time in October 2019 that "exhaustion is not a symptom of heart failure" and that I am "depressed because I "have no motivation, and that is caused by my depression"; so it is "time to see my primary" (whom I saw 2 weeks ago and told me to talk to HIM about my exhaustion). I am on such strong latex that I cannot even go to church, but still do my own cooking, cleaning, etc. Dr. Leshen suggested that he increase my latex because my primary said my severe leg pain is due to swelling in my ankles. Dr Leshen also said "your heart condition has not changed in 3 years" although NO tests other than lab work and EKGs have been done in that time, none recently. He referred to my pacemaker as a defibrillator, and when I objected he said "well most of my clients have defibrillators".

A very good experience for us. Dr. Leshen is calm, but quick to explain and to act. He went beyond expectation by contacting other out-of-town docs to get details on the patient's prior surgeries so he could plan the best access route before taking him to cath lab. Highly recommend. (We met Dr. Leshen at the hospital, after entering through the emergency room, so have no comment about the office staff, etc. )

He took wonderful care of me during my hospital stay. Very well bed side manered. Explained my health issue well and in understandable language.