First open-heart surgery at VSMMC successful

CEBU, Philippines - A team of heart surgeons at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center has successfully performed its first open-heart surgery on a 13-year-old female patient suffering from Atrial Septal Defect, an abnormality of the atria or the upper chambers of the heart wherein the wall between the right and left atria does not close completely.

The success of the operation was considered as a milestone for the hospital being the only government tertiary hospital in Central Visayas to perform such an operation.

"It went on perfectly. We have no problem and basically its okay," said Dr. Monico Perez, head of the cardiac team who performed the operation, after the almost three-hour procedure.

The other members of the team are Dr. Arnold Tan, Dr. Peter Mancao, Dr. Jonathan Alo, Dr. Samuel Yadao, and Dr. Rodolfo Abalos Jr.

The operation started at 8:00 am and ended before 11:00 am.

Perez said the procedure was time consuming because they have to attach the heart-lung machine to the patient to pump the heart during the operation.

Perez said they will keep tight watch on the patient within the next two to three days. The patient is now at the intensive care unit recovering.

VSMMC Medical Chief Gerardo Aquino said the patient, whose identity has been kept confidential by the hospital, waited for a year before she can be operated on free of charge.

She was also among the 12 patients lined-up for the critical procedure.

Aquino said the first operation was conducted for free but the remaining patients who are already scheduled for operation still has nothing to worry of the expenses because the procedure at the VSMMC will be a lot cheaper compared in the private hospitals who perform the same procedure in Cebu.

Aside from VSMMC the other hospitals in Cebu which has the capability to perform open-heart surgery include the Perpetual Succour Hospital, Cebu Doctors Hospital and the Chong Hua Hospital.

Aquino said the procedure at the VSMMC will cost the patient about P100,000 but in the private hospital it would cost between P500,000 to P700,000.

Aquino said the hospital takes pride in being chosen as one of the medical centers mandated by the Department of Health to implement the project for the Development of Subspecialty Capabilities for Heart-Lung –Kidney among the regional hospitals in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

     Aside from VSMMC other hospital beneficiaries are the Philippine Heart Center in Metro Manila, Davao Medical Center, Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro City, and the Bicol Regional Training and Health Center.

Aside from cardiac surgery, VSMMC also offers renal transplant, organ transplant, orthopaedic procedures and neurosurgery services, among others. – Garry B. Lao/FPL (THE FREEMAN)