THE Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) sees a large number of patients on a daily basis. Patients are either admitted or are required to visit the hospital for various reasons. Paul Changa is one such person and he was recently highlighted by the hospital.

Changa had been experiencing severe chest pain, which he didn’t take seriously until it persisted. He visited the GPHC where the doctor ran a number of tests. From this, it was revealed that he had a blockage. He was subsequently admitted and was prepped for surgery the next day.

Changa explained that the nurses, doctors, and technician ensured he was okay, and told him all he needed to know about the surgery.

“After the procedure they came back, checked you out, telling you that you know what you’re supposed to do, what you got to eat and so on. I’m not feeling a hundred per cent but ninety per cent where you could do more things. I’m feeling good that I could work, have life but the key thing is the right food, exercise, 30 minutes, 25 minutes per day and I’m thankful to be on my job back again,” the man stated briefly.

At the GPHC, surgeons deal with a number of cardiac related diagnoses. These include coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, traumatic heart injury, tumors, and heart failure.
The surgeon’s job is to restore the heart’s function with either conduit devices or transplantation.

“We see and manage all patients who require open heart surgery. So, these are patients who have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease…they have multiple blocked vessels and require bypass surgery, and patients with valvular heart disease who require valve replacement surgeries. We assess and prepare these patients for surgery,” Dr Pradeep Ramkoomar, a Cardiothoracic Surgeon at the GPHC said.

Further, he said, “Following heart surgery, these patients are transferred back to the cardiac intensive care unit for further care and management. The first 24 hours after open heart surgery is the most critical period because these are very sick patients. These patients are managed by the cardiac intensivist, by cardiac ICU nurses, by anesthesiologists, and by cardiac surgeons. Cardiac surgery is a team effort and even the families play an important role in the recovery of these patients.”

Meanwhile, Dr Avlon Jeffrey, a Cardiovascular Surgeon at the GPHC, noted that heart surgeons see firsthand how prevention saves lives. He listed simple steps such as having regular exercise, maintaining balanced nutrition, and controlling blood pressure, all of which can reduce the risk of heart disease significantly.

Dr Jeffrey stated, “Patients come for heart surgery by referrals to their health centre, through sister hospital referrals, or in-service consultation. When patients come to us, relevant studies are done and these cases are discussed by the heart team. This is important because while patients may have a surgical candidate, once the patient is selected for surgery, the relevant preparations are done and the patient is scheduled for intervention.”