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Guyanese-born surgeon leads team to complete 10 heart surgeries in 4 days
By Rehanna Ramsay
Kaieteur News – Ten heart patients are on their way to full recovery after benefiting from much needed surgery compliments of Guyanese-born heart surgeon, Dr. Gary Stephens and a medical team attached to the Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn, New York.
Resident Cardiologist at CHI, Dr. Mahendra Carpen
The surgeries conducted locally at the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI) started on Tuesday and concluded on Friday evening.
Resident Cardiologist at CHI, Dr. Mahendra Carpen, told Kaieteur News that the surgeries were conducted in record time.
He explained that “The team worked non-stop to successfully complete the various procedures which included open heart surgeries, heart bypass and valve replacement surgeries in the shortest possible time.”
According to Dr. Carpen, the 10 patients who benefited from the surgeries included nine persons from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and one person from a private hospital.
Guyanese-born heart surgeon, Dr. Gary Stephens
This publication was told too that surgeries were done free-of-cost for the patients at the GPHC, while the patient from the private hospital paid a reduced cost.
Dr. Carpen told Kaieteur News that every year CHI patients benefit from surgeries performed by Dr. Stephens and his team.
“Every year, Dr. Stephens, a Guyanese-born New York-based heart surgeon, and his team return to Guyana to perform heart surgeries. They regularly do at least four operations but this time, they were able to complete 10,” he said.
According to him, the team should be commended not just for their service to the people of Guyana but for the successful completion of 10 heart operations in such a short period.
“This team took time from their busy schedules and vacation leave to come here to assist us. It’s really commendable because the commitment and dedication allowed them to complete all 10 surgeries successfully in four days,” he stressed.
He told Kaieteur News that among the team, Dr. Stephens was lead surgeon. He was assisted by operation Room Technicians, Recovery Room Nurses, a perfusionist and other technical persons.
According to Dr. Carpen, the feat is important too since it has helped to reduce the backlog of heart procedures that were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He explained that “the pandemic had affected the pace of surgeries because most of them had to be postponed and hampered the team from coming here, because overseas travel was restricted.”
“…But since we have resumed operations, we have been working to address those situations that need our attention as soon as possible,” Dr. Carpen said.
The surgeries are made possible at a reduced cost as a result of a partnership between CHI, the GPHC and the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Carpen explained that for the past 15 years CHI has been facilitating heart surgeries for Guyanese.
The Cardiologist said that CHI offers its services at a more cost effective price than any other facility in the Caribbean.
He explained that “This is due to the fact that the Ministry of Health assists the patients with paying for the procedures that can cost at least $20,000 USD [$4million] at heart facilities in other CARICOM territories.”
“In Guyana, the surgeries are conducted at zero cost for patient of the public hospital as the Ministry of Health collaborates with CHI and pays at least US$10,000 [$2million],” Dr. Carpen revealed.
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