Guyana is to record its first two open-heart surgeries today at the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI) which had promised to pioneer the major medical intervention this year.
Local patients, Manmohan Singh and Richard Evans will have by-pass surgeries. Prior to their admission to the institute which is located in the Georgetown Public Hospital both men along with their families were counseled.
The medical breakthrough is a collaborative effort of cardiovascular surgeons; anesthesiologists; surgical nurses and experts from the US, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Guyana. Dr. Gary Stephens, of the Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn is the lead cardiovascular surgeon.
Local practitioners trained in the area of coronary care will be actively involved in the operating theatre along with the visiting team. Surgery is expected to begin at 7 am today and will last a maximum of some eight hours.
Dr. Stephens told Stabroek News last evening that after a long journey CHI’s coronary care programme has reached the level they had envisioned. He said the patients chosen are not “high risk” but pointed out that the surgeries are. He said the patients have been briefed and counseled extensively on the nature, complications and the risks involved. But according to him, the team is highly competent.
The operating theatre at CHI is ready for the surgeries, the pump oxygenator (heart – lung machine), which is used in the surgery, is in place and the perfusionist, who operates the machine is here. Dr. Stephens noted that for sometime now they have been ready but since preparation and the expertise is critical they waited until now.
The two patients are expected to be in hospital for a week following the surgeries for the critical post-operative care. Dr. Stephens said CHI has a waiting list of some 32 patients who are all candidates for open-heart surgery but no other operations are scheduled yet. He said they are likely to have other surgeries done in about two to three months time.
In terms of what the surgery means for Guyana and CHI, he said, it was envisioned and through collaborative work the institute has reached that point where its comprehensive programme now includes open-heart surgery.
“We do get a sense of satisfaction knowing that we are at this stage and it’s happening. The goal is to have two successful surgeries and to provide the best post-op care then move on from there”, he stated.
The CHI-led surgical team includes Dr. Stephens; Dr. Richard Roopchand from Trinidad; Guyanese Dr. Alexandra Harvey; perfusionist Stephanie Brian and Intensive Care Unit nurses, Irma Ramroop from Trinidad; Rosamond King and Rookmin Rampersaud of the US and locals Olive Sinclair; Caroline Hicks; Julia Fraser; Samantha Crandon; Wayne Sealey; Allison Parks; Yonnette Ross; Nicole Younge and Coreen Nanton.
From his hospital bed last evening, patient Manmohan Singh who is from Better Hope, East Coast Demerara said he is putting his trust in God and is hoping for a successful surgery. He said the intense pain his condition has caused over the past year since being diagnosed has crippled him in every way possible. The surgery is his “last hope for another chance at living”.
Patient Richard Evans related that he has full confidence in Dr. Stephens and his team. After years of working as a Supreme Court Marshal, Evans said heart disease has left him reeling from continuous pain. He is optimistic that his life is about to change with the surgery.
Neither man seemed too interested in the fact they will go down in history as the first two local patients to have the surgery.
CHI opened its doors to the public in October 2006 and had promised a comprehensive heart care programme. Stenting which involves the insertion of a wire mesh tube during angioplasty to prop open an artery and angioplasty were among services phased in by the institute and currently being offered.
