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Thirty-five years of cardiac surgery in Jamaica
M D Scarlett1, C D McGaw, P S Ramphal
1Department of Surgery, Radiology, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, The University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica. mdscarl@yahoo.com
Insights
Cardiac surgery in Jamaica saw 2202 patients undergo procedures between 1968 and 2003. Valve surgery and congenital heart defect repair were most common, highlighting a need for improved facilities and staff.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Public Health
Background:
- Cardiac surgery services in Jamaica have a long history, serving a significant patient population.
- The University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) and Bustamante Hospital for Children (BHC) are key institutions providing these services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review cardiac surgery (CS) patient data in Jamaica from April 1968 to June 2003.
- To analyze the types of cardiac surgical procedures performed and assess mortality rates.
- To identify areas for improvement in cardiac surgical services.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of patient files from UHWI and BHC.
- Data collection included patient demographics, New York Heart Association (NYHA) risk scores, surgical procedure types, and dates.
- Analysis of mortality rates for surgeries performed between January 1994 and June 2003.
Main Results:
- A total of 2202 patients underwent cardiac surgery over 35 years and 2 months.
- Common procedures included valve surgery (37.65%), patent ductus arteriosus correction (25.2%), and congenital heart disease repair (24.2%).
- Coronary arterial bypass grafting (CABG) constituted only 4.1% of operations.
Conclusions:
- Significant cardiac surgical activity exists in Jamaica, with a substantial patient load.
- Enhancing facilities and intensive care nursing staff are crucial for future service development.
- The construction of a Cardiothoracic-Neurosurgical Unit is a vital step forward.
Abstract:
A retrospective review of the files of all patients who underwent cardiac surgery at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) and the Bustamante Hospital for Children (BHC), during the period April 1968 to June 2003 was undertaken. Data collected included age, gender New York Heart Association risk score, type and date of cardiac surgery. The mortality rate of patients who underwent surgery during the period January 1994 to June 2003 was also analyzed A total of 2202 patients had undergone cardiac surgery (CS) in Jamaica during the study period of 35 years and two months. The common surgical procedures were valve surgery--replacement and repair (37.65), correction of patent ductus arteriosus (25.2%) and repair of congenital heart disease (24.2%). Coronary arterial bypass grafting procedures constituted a small percentage (4.1%) of the cardiac surgical operations. A considerable number of patients have undergone CS in Jamaica, but much more needs to be done as the patient load exists. The future of the cardiac surgical service therefore depends on improvement in the facilities at both institutions and the cadre of the intensive care nursing staff The building of the Cardiothoracic-Neurosurgical Unit (commenced in March, 2003) is an essential step towards this.
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