THE Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) marked a significant medical milestone on July 10, 2024 by successfully performing a life-saving emergency repair of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), a procedure that has been completed only three times in Guyana’s history.
This achievement underscores the expertise and commitment of the GPHC’s Vascular Surgery team, led by Consultant Vascular Surgeon Dr. Carlos Martin.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) occurs when the aorta, the body’s largest artery, develops a dangerous bulge due to a weakness in the vessel wall. A rupture is a life-threatening medical emergency with a grim 65 per cent mortality rate before patients even reach the hospital. Once a patient arrives in the emergency room, the survival rate drops by one per cent per minute, and even after reaching the operating table, only 50 per cent of patients survive the surgery. These stark statistics make the recent successful surgery at GPHC particularly extraordinary.
The latest procedure was performed on a 56-year-old man who was flown to the GPHC from Guyana’s interior in critical condition, having lost five liters of blood and with a hemoglobin level of just 7g/dl. Upon arrival at GPHC’s Accident & Emergency Department, the Vascular Surgery team swiftly

stabilised the patient and prepared for the complex surgery. Over an eight-hour operation, Dr. Martin and his team repaired a large infra-renal aortic and common iliac artery aneurysm with a free rupture, ultimately saving the patient’s life.
Reflecting on the successful surgery, Dr. Martin emphasised the importance of teamwork and the hospital’s ongoing investment in specialised supplies and medical training. He also expressed gratitude to the hospital’s administration and clinical teams for their collaboration, which was critical to the patient’s survival.

Prior to 2021, such surgeries were unavailable in Guyana, and patients with ruptured AAAs would not have survived. Thanks to advancements in the country’s healthcare system and the skill of the GPHC’s medical teams, three patients have now been saved in the last three years following AAA ruptures.
This remarkable achievement is a testament to GPHC’s dedication to providing cutting-edge medical care and ensuring that the people of Guyana have access to life-saving treatments. The hospital remains committed to pushing the boundaries of healthcare excellence and improving outcomes for patients across the country.