Heart centre has been a real lifesaver (From Echo)

Heart centre has been a real lifesaver

12:20pm Monday 6th July 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(1)

THERE’S no way to measure the respect you have for doctors when they hold the life of someone you love in their hands – or the gratitude you feel when they save that person.

For thousands of families and patients across south Essex, the opening of a world-class medical facility on our doorsteps, the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre, has made the difference between life and death.

The £60million centre celebrates its second birthday this week In just two years, the centre, based on the Basildon Hospital site in Nether Mayne, has officially established itself as one of the best places in Britain to have heart and lung surgery.

The success rate for operations such as coronary artery bypass grafts and valve repairs and replacements is far better than the national average.

Also, because the centre carries out a high proportion of operations using keyhole surgery, patients are suffering less pain and discomfort, and recovering more quickly after procedures.

“The standard we apply here is ‘Would you want this done to your mum or dad?’”, said Andrew Ritchie, lead surgeon and clinical director of the centre.

Since opening in July 2007, specialists at the centre have carried out 1,700 cardiac operations, 500 chest operations, 100 heart valve repairs, with nearly half by keyhole surgery and almost 4,000 interventional cardiology procedures, which can prevent the need for heart surgery.

Mr Ritchie says there are three key reasons why the centre has achieved so much in just two years. “First, outstanding team work, with all staff, from surgeons to support workers, pulling together for the good of the patient,” he said.

“This culture of team work is the basis for a method of treating patients which is unique to the centre – the collegiate system.” Mr. Ritchie explained: “When patients are referred to the centre, they are assessed by the whole surgical team, rather than individual surgeons “It is then decided whether surgery is needed, and if so, who will carry out the operation. The idea is to direct patients to the most appropriate hands so they get the best possible care.”

The second reason, he says, is the state-of-the-art facilities and technology at the centre, which is not only equipped to the highest specifications, but designed to enhance the wellbeing of patients. More than half of beds are in single rooms with en suite facilities, and there is lots of natural daylight throughout the building.

“The other reason for our truly world class results is we are at the forefront of clinical innovation, with more surgery done via keyhole routes and an increasing number of beating heart operations,” added Mr Ritchie.

“If the heart is kept beating during surgery you avoid the very invasive procedure of putting the patient on a heart and lung bypass machine, then reversing the process and restarting the heart. The patient is likely to recover more quickly if the heart is kept beating.

“Similarly, keyhole surgery speeds recovery time. The reason patients need intensive care after cardiothoracic surgery is to recover from what has to be done to them to get access to the heart and lungs.

“Opening that huge bone in your chest is one of the biggest orthopaedic operations done in hospital.

“But if the surgery is done through a little cut and two holes in the chest, you will probably go home a couple of days later.”

Mr Ritchie knows what he’s talking about: “The reason I want to send patients home as quickly as possible is that I’ve been one.

“I nearly died about four years ago when I fell off a ladder and I know what it’s like to have anaesthetics, operations, antibiotics and wires.

“We offer some of the best specialist treatment and care in the world at the centre, but when our work is done you will recover better at home, so we aim to make sure you do just that.”

The centre has more trailblazing in store.

It will soon become one of only three centres in the East of England to provide primary angioplasty for heart attack patients. Angioplasty is a procedure to unblock an artery carrying blood to the heart.

A small balloon is inserted, inflated and removed, leaving in place a tube, known as a stent, which expands the artery to allow blood to flow through again.

Currently, patients who are having a heart attack due to a blocked artery are given clot-busting drugs, known as thrombolysis, either by the ambulance team, or when they get to their local hospital. This treatment has been very successful and has led to significant reductions in deaths.

However, recent studies have shown heart attack patients have a much lower risk of death within the next 30 days if they are treated immediately with angioplasty.

Surgery has given Zoe her life back

THE first dance at any wedding is always a tearful moment, but for Zoe Wood it will be particularly emotional.

Just six weeks ago Zoe, 28, was suffering from a rare muscular disease which left her so weak she was unable even to brush her own hair.

But surgery at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre has given her back her life.

After enduring nearly a year of distressing symptoms, hospital stays and tests, last February she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, an immune disorder which attacks part of the nervous system, causing severe and sometimes fatal muscle weakness.

The first sign something was wrong came when she developed speech problems.

Zoe, who works for a waste management company, recalled: “I literally woke up one morning and couldn’t form my words properly, and my voice sounded strange.

“It was really difficult, especially when I was on the phone at work and people would take the mickey, thinking I was messing around.”

She developed further symptoms, including weakness and a sensation of pins and needles, and was admitted to Basildon Hospital under the care of consultant neurologist Dr Andreas Malaspina.

A series of tests was carried out until the diagnosis was confirmed.

By this time, Zoe was unable to speak or swallow, but with medication, speech therapy and a six-week stay in hospital she recovered sufficiently to return home to her fiance Steven Farren and his parents.

But the disease took hold again, with alarming results.

Zoe, from Grays, said: “Although I could talk and eat, my legs and arms got weaker and weaker. I couldn’t climb the stairs, shower, dress myself, or even brush my teeth and hair.

“My boyfriend and his parents were wonderful looking after me, but I was so frightened.

“I had gone from being an active person who went mountain biking to being totally dependent on other people.

“I even had to register as disabled.”

Dr Malaspina told Zoe an operation to remove her thymus gland might help her, and she was referred to consultant cardiothoracic surgeon, Samir Shah, at the cardiothoracic centre.

“He was very direct, and I liked that,” she says.

“He didn’t patronise me, but told me clearly how the operation could be done and how it could help, so I decided to go ahead.”

Zoe was admitted to the centre in May. “When you walk in there it’s like being in a private hospital,” she said.

“I was very nervous and cried on my way to theatre, but the nurses were really kind.”

Zoe’s thymus gland was discovered to have a benign tumour, which may have caused her condition. Four days after her operation she returned home and is recovering well and planning her wedding for later this month.

“I can climb stairs and walk without sticks,” she said.

“I will definitely be dancing at my wedding. In fact, I feel I could dance now, I am so glad to have my life back.”