The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) announced yesterday that it had performed a life-saving aortic procedure.
In a release, the GPHC stated that on July 10, its vascular surgery team successfully performed an emergency repair of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).
It noted that this marks only the third time in Guyana’s history that such a surgery has been successfully completed, a testament to the expertise and dedication of the hospital’s medical team.
The release explained that an aneurysm is a localised enlargement or bulging of a blood vessel, most commonly an artery, due to a weakness in the vessel wall. When this occurs in the aorta—the largest artery in the body—it poses a significant threat to life, as the aorta carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. A ruptured AAA is a critical medical emergency with a mortality rate of 65 per cent before patients even arrive at the hospital. It added that for those fortunate enough to reach the emergency room, the survival rate decreases by one per cent per minute, and even after reaching the operating theatre, only 50 per cent of patients survive.
According to the release, these “daunting statistics” make the recent achievement at the hospital even more extraordinary. It disclosed that under the leadership of consultant vascular surgeon, Dr Carlos Martin, the vascular surgery team has successfully saved the lives of three patients with ruptured AAAs in the past three years. Prior to 2021, such interventions were unavailable in Guyana, and all patients suffering from ruptured aortic aneurysms would not have survived. The GPHC posited that this progress reflects the “remarkable” surgical skills of our team and the efficiency and readiness of the hospital’s emergency response system.
Getting into specifics, the release disclosed that the most recent procedure was performed on a 56-year-old man who was transported from the interior region to Accident & Emergency Department. The patient was in critical condition with a hemoglobin level of 7g/dln [grams per deciliter] and a blood loss of five litres. The swift action of the team saw the patient being stabilized and emergency surgery was organized. During the eight-hour surgery, Dr Martin and his team encountered a large infra-renal aortic and common iliac artery aneurysm with a free rupture, which was successfully repaired.
Commenting on the operation, Dr Martin emphasised the importance of teamwork in this success, expressing his gratitude to the hospital’s administration and the clinical teams who played a crucial role in the management of the patient. He also highlighted the hospital’s investment in special supplies that were crucial for performing these types of complex procedures.
The GPHC asserted that this milestone achievement reflects its ongoing commitment to advancing healthcare in Guyana and providing life-saving treatments to its patients, while assuring that the facilty remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of medical excellence.
