SIH pilots bypass operation outside Manila
"He is doing well."
This is what Dr. Leo Malunes has to say about Harvey Sevilla, a 62-year-old recipient of the first bypass surgery held outside of Metro Manila last June 16 at the Saviour International Hospital's Heart and Lung Institute.
Sevilla, a resident of Pototan, is a Medical Radiation Technologist at the Iloilo Provincial Hospital.
Eight months ago, he experienced chest pains. This month, he underwent an angiogram and the doctors saw that three heart vessels were congested. "He was diagnosed with coronary artery heart disease and congested heart failure. He was appraised for triple bypass surgery," according to Malunes.
Coronary artery bypass surgery, also coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and colloquially heart bypass or bypass surgery is a surgical procedure performed to relieve angina and reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease. Arteries or veins from elsewhere in the patient's body are grafted from the aorta to the coronary arteries to bypass atherosclerotic narrowings and improve the blood supply to the coronary circulation supplying the myocardium (heart muscle).
"He was supposed to be operated on in Manila. But because of SIH's vision of having the first heart and lung institute here, the patient chose to have it done here," he added.
The open heart procedure lasted for one hour and 30 minutes. The preparations before that took almost hour hours.
During the operation, the doctors used SIH's top-of-the-line heart and lung machine. Its purpose is to take over the functions of both lungs and heart while the patient's organs are being worked on.
After the operation, Sevilla was attached to a respirator for six hours. Later, this was removed and he can now eat solid foods.
However, he is still being monitored intensively. "Soon, he can sit down and walk," Malunes said.
Malunes said that the first 24 hours is a critical period for a bypass operation patient. Sevilla is expected to be home five to seven days after his surgery.
The operation's purposes were to save Sevilla's life and help him restore his usual activities.
Malunes is the director of SIH's Heart and Lung Institute and Sevilla's surgeon.
The surgical team was composed of Drs. Malunes, Leo Rico, Antonio Ramos, and Pacifico Dalisay. The cardiologists were Drs. Roberto Estepar, Marcelino Felizarta and Ramon Trocio. The cardiac anaesthesiologists were Drs. Anita Misajon and Nilo Libago.
Significance
"Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in the country. Lung disease is second. We are addressing these problems by putting up of the institute here," Malunes said.
Having the operation in Iloilo assures the patient of survival and lesser expenses. "The works if done in Manila, cost P500,000. The payment for the blood and personal expenses is not included," he added.
Assistance
Malunes revealed that there are nine patients awaiting surgery in SIH's Heart and Lung Institute. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, through the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has pledged an assistance of P200,000 for each patient. The rest of the money will come from Philhealth, the PCSO and other sources of the patients and families.
Prevention
Malunes said that in order for one to avoid getting a coronary disease, one should adopt a healthy lifestyle. "There should be discipline," he said.
The Institute
"SIH has emerged as the first heart and lung institute of the south," said Malou Frostrom, undersecretary and the deputy director general for Presidential Appointments. She graced the institute's opening last June 16.
"I commend Dr. Evangeline Johnson for acquiring top-of-the-line equipment that will benefit not only people from Western Visayas," she said.
Johnson is the chief executive officer and president of SIH.
"We will be the largest provider of health care in the region," Johnson said.
"Saving the life of Harvey Sevilla is worth the risks I'm taking in my life," she concluded.