Page 31 - ANZCP Gazette MAY 2014

Open
HEART
INTERNATIONAL by Molly Oldeen, CCP
Upon arrival in Siem Reap, Cambodia after nearly 24 hours of travel, we were feeling only slightly uncomfortable from both the exhaustion and 35 degrees of heat and humidity. We managed to transport over 25 boxes of equipment and supplies from all over Australia that would enable us to perform 14 open heart surgeries over the next six days at the Angkor Hospital for Children.
More than 40 patients were screened as potential candidates, and a lucky 14 children were selected for surgery. The difficulty of turning away those who were unfit was felt by the entire team.
Our team consisted of extremely talented individuals including a surgeon, intensivist, cardiologist, anaesthetist, perfusionist, physiotherapist, and numerous theatre, ICU, and ward nurses, in addition to wonderful volunteers. Together, we assisted and guided our local counterparts to successfully perform these complex cardiac surgeries.
Being my first cardiac mission trip, I was in absolute awe of the desire and motivation to learn displayed by the local team members. Not only did it make our jobs easier, but we felt that we were instilling the education in order to provide them with the resources, techniques, and confidence to become an independent surgical team in the near future. I was impressed not only by the local team, but ours as well. I have never worked with such an exceptional group of individuals that had the same drive to give and make a difference. This was especially evident after the multiple twelve (or even 17) hour days in theatre.
Our caseload consisted of relatively more complex procedures than previous trips. We were challenged with a 17 year old TOF, a 20 year old mitral valve repair, numerous AVSDs, VSDs, an ASD and PA Band. Despite the tough ones, our team persisted.
Due to the close proximities of the ward, ICU, and theatre, it was convenient to follow patients from pre-op to discharge. It resulted in an experience in which I was able to become quite familiar with each individual patient and their families. I was amazed at the kindness and appreciation they demonstrated, despite the existence of a language barrier. No words needed to be exchanged in order to understand the positive effect we had on this select group of people. With the help of a translator, we were able to learn the unique stories of each of the patients as well. I was touched by the distance some families had to travel and the sacrifices they made to be there for our team’s presence that week.
Above all, I was impressed by the little patients themselves. Their recovery from surgery was motivational. Knowing that just 24 hours ago, their chest was open and heart was operated on, to see them walk around and smile was moving. The children fought through the pain and fatigue to recover as quickly as possible.
I sincerely look forward to future trips to Cambodia and other countries visited by Open Heart International in order to relive this life changing experience as many times as possible.
MAY 2014 | www.anzcp.org
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