Page 13 - Adventist Healthcare Annual Report 2020

2019 – 2020 HIGHLIGHTS ANNUAL REPORT 2020
Mitral Valve procedures build on long heart history
In a first for Sydney Adventist Hospital
in October 2019, San cardiac specialists performed minimally invasive heart surgery on patients who otherwise would have limited options to treat life-threatening cardiac disease.
The second most common disease of the heart valves, Mitral Valve Regurgitation occurs when the valve doesn’t close properly and allows blood to flow backwards in a reverse direction, forcing the heart to pump harder to distribute oxygenated blood around the body. It is often associated with ageing, a heart attack or heart failure with symptoms including chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, inability to exercise, fluid build-up and in more severe cases, loss of consciousness.
Traditional treatment methods include medications and open heart surgery which is often considered too risky for frail elderly patients.
In late 2019, Interventional Cardiologists Dr Jason Sharp and Dr Dennis Wang with Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Brian Plunkett and anaesthetist
Dr Boong Joon Huh, performed the first Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair (TAVR) procedure. Accessing the heart through
a vein in the groin, x-ray is used to guide and position a small device called a MitraClip into place. This clips together a small area of the mitral valve, still allowing it to open and close while reducing any potential blood flow in the wrong direction.
A complement to the existing wide
range of procedures offered at the
San for structural heart disease, the procedure was initially not funded under Medicare or private health insurance however was funded by Sydney Adventist
Hospital during a trial period, building on the San’s history of being the first private hospital in Australia to offer a fully integrated heart program for more than 40 years now. Ten procedures have now been performed at SAH.
Refurbished Cardiothoracic Theatre
Our newly refurbished Cardiothoracic operating theatre was officially reopened
in April and celebrated in new COVID-safe style.
Funded by a $1M donation from the Charles Warman Foundation to San Foundation, the San now has a truly state-of-the-art theatre in which to continue our world-class surgical cardiovascular work.
A small group gathered in the new theatre, joined by the donor family and San Foundation Board members via Zoom as cardiothoracic surgeon
Dr Emily Granger demonstrated the new theatre features. These included 4K overhead cameras which allow the operating team to see clear and amplified detail during surgery and anticipate needs much faster; expanded capacity to integrate robotic procedures, enhanced vision through new video screens; and significantly greater bypass surgery capabilities. A representative from the Charles Warman Foundation officially declared the theatre open by switching on the new triple surgical lights.
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