I traveled to Tucson for my robotic rib resection. My wife and I drove 17 hours each way. You can't fly following the robotic surgery because of the fresh incisions in the chest cavity. It was a miserable drive home but I survived. You want to make sure that you have exhausted all other options before entertaining rib resection surgery. There are a number of risks involved and once done there is no going back. Hopefully your angiogram can help confirm where the source of compression is. If you do proceed, I would highly recommend a Kodiak ice machine from Bregg. You fill it with ice and water which it pumps through the wrap. You will also want comfortable clothes that are easy to slip on with minimal arm movement. I wasn't able to lie down in my hotel bed so I just propped myself up with a mound of pillows.