atrial myxoma - where to have surger

Yesterday, my 74-year-old dad, who is in quite good health otherwise, was told by a heart surgeon that he should have his tennis ball-sized atrial myxoma removed within two weeks.

My question:  How important is it to go to a top-notch facility for the surgery?

For convenience sake, my dad is inclined to have the surgery done by a surgeon near his home in the far west Chicago suburbs. This particular surgeon is about 48, trained at University of Illinois, and works now for a chain of cardiac associates. The doctor does surgery at a small, not particularly outstanding regional hospital in the far west Chicago suburbs.

My instinct is for my dad to have the surgery at a prominent cardiac facility, such as University of Chicago hospital or Northwestern (Univ.) Memorial Hospital -- both ranked in the top 20 last year by U.S. News & World Report.

However, neither of us can figure out how routine or complex the surgery is -- and thus, does it warrant the hassle of having it done at the more prominent hospitals in Chicago? Or is that just overkill, and can any reasonably well-trained surgeon handle this type of surgery?

One other detail:  To the best of my knowledge, the surgeon in the suburbs would be doing a minimally invasive surgery.

Many thanks in advance for your insights.

[Cleveland Clinic]

If this was my father I would definitely go to a tertiary care facility such as the Cleveland Clinic for this surgery. It is true that he is not a highest risk for the surgery, but he is also not at low risk given his age for a stroke or TIA event. Most local non teaching hospitals do not offer sub specialty coverage during nights and weekends, and as such if he were to encounter problems during these periods, at b est he would be treated directly most likely by someone without sub specialty training.