The surgical team at Health City Cayman Islands
|
A Caribbean man suffering from heart failure now has a new lease on
life following the successful installation of an artificial heart pump (LVAD – Left Ventricular Assist Device) by the medical team at the recently opened Health City Cayman Islands.
Believed to be the first such treatment performed in the Caribbean,
Health City Cayman Islands officials explained that at advanced stages
of heart failure, when the organ has become severely weakened and unable
to pump sufficient blood to the entire body, the most promising forms
of treatment are either heart transplant or the implantation of devices
that support the failing heart and takeover of its functions.
Mild forms of heart failure can be treated with medications and
patients can have a reasonably normal life. But, when advanced heart
failure occurs, medications won’t be effective and patients are likely
to be incapacitated, home bound and their life expectancy significantly
reduced.
“The challenge with heart transplants is the availability of a donor heart,” lamented chief cardiac surgeon Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil, who performed the lifesaving surgery on the Caymanian man alongside cardiologist Dr. Ravi Kishore, head of the heart failure clinic, and Dr. Dhruva Kumar
who heads an experienced team of anesthesiologists and critical care
specialists with deep experience handling such high-end procedures.
Affectionately referred to as Dr. Binoy, the senior cardiothoracic
and vascular surgeon who has performed more than 5,000 surgeries in his
career, noted that many times the waiting period is so long that most
patients die before getting assistance.
“In this situation you can provide LVAD as a final choice of
treatment or as a temporary measure until you get a donor heart,” he
explained, noting that of the numerous heart surgeries done each year in
the United States, only a small percentage of LVADs are performed.
To successfully operate on patients requires experienced
cardiothoracic surgical teams, cardiology support with high-end critical
care, and anesthesiology support which can each be found at Health City
Cayman Islands.
Additionally, nurses and physiotherapy services are important
adjuncts to provide around the clock care leading to enhanced recovery
and outcomes. All this works in concert with excellent laboratory and
imaging services and supporting clinical services such as pulmonology,
nephrology and psychological care.
The LVAD procedure is performed at Health City’s affiliate hospital
in Bangalore, India, but for the Cayman Islands, it marks the beginning
of a new specialty that aims to bring the latest advances in the
management of advanced heart failure to the entire Caribbean at
affordable costs.
Almost 80 percent of LVAD patients get discharged within three to
four weeks after the procedure. “After one more month they should be
able to go shopping, and two to three months after surgery, all things
being equal, they should be independent,” Dr. Binoy assured.
Envisioned by Narayana Health’s Dr. Devi Shetty, a philanthropist and
personal physician of the late Mother Teresa, Health City Cayman
Islands opened its doors in February, 2014. The state-of-the-art medical
facility in the western Caribbean is one of 27 facilities operating
under Dr. Shetty’s administration across the globe.
About Health City Cayman Islands
Health City Cayman Islands, the vision of famed heart surgeon and
humanitarian Dr. Devi Shetty, is supported by two major healthcare
organisations, Narayana Health and the U.S.-based Ascension. The
facility provides compassionate, high-quality, affordable healthcare
services for all in a world-class, comfortable, patient-centred
environment.
Offering healthcare to international, regional and local patients, Health City Cayman Islands delivers excellence in Adult and Paediatric Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery, Orthopaedics, Pulmonology and Paediatric Endocrinology.