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Five heart procedures completedDoctors at Waikato Hospital completed the last of five transcatheter aortic valve implementations just over an hour ago.Dr Sanjeevan Pasupati, one of a few cardiologists in the world with experience in this procedure, said the three operations today and the two yesterday all went well. They are the first to be done in a New Zealand public hospital. Ramona Johnson, 79, of Tauranga was the first to undergo the procedure yesterday morning and this afternoon was up and walking the ward at Waikato Hospital's cardiac care unit. She is expected to return home on Monday. The operations are only possible thanks to the generosity of the Waikato Heart Trust and a private benefactor who gifted more than $300,000 to cover the cost of the valves for the procedures. More than 120 people a year present at Waikato Hospital with aortic stenosis, a condition where the main outflow valve from the heart thickens and does not open fully. Replacement of the valve is via the leg, and involves inserting a new valve inside the old aortic valve. The patient only requires a local anaesthetic, and the recovery time is much shorter than for open-heart surgery. With aortic stenosis, all the blood leaving the heart has to go through the main outflow valve and severe narrowing of the valve causes restricted blood flow to the rest of the body. Restricted blood flow puts a strain on the heart and eventually causes breathlessness, chest pain, blackouts and heart failure. Once patients notice symptoms, about 50 per cent of patients with aortic stenosis die within two years. In comparison 50 per cent of cancer patients will die within five years. Only about 2000 transcatheter aortic valve implementations have occurred worldwide and all in the northern hemisphere. Waikato Hospital head of medicine Dr Clyde Wade said the Waikato Heart Trust promised to provide support for the transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedure which resulted in the appointment of Dr Pasupati. The former Te Kuiti High School dux regularly fields job offers from around the world but chose to stay in the Waikato. "We face intense international competition for highly skilled health professionals," said Dr Wade. "We cannot compete internationally on salaries but knowing I have the backing of the Waikato Heart Trust, I can assure prospective employees that we will be able to provide the cutting edge equitment that they need to ply their trade." The patients include two other 79-year-olds; one from Otorohanga and the other from Tokoroa, a 60-year-old Gisborne man and a 91-year-old Hamilton woman. Dr Pasupati is available for interviews. Please register your interest with me by email. Date: 29 August 2008 Mary Anne Gill Director of Media and Communications Waikato District Health Board P.O. Box 934 Hamilton 3240 Ph: 07 834 3684 Fax: 07 834 3674 Mobile: 021 705 213 Email: gillm@waikatodhb.govt.nz |