Heart surgery saves motorcycle-accident victim
John Miller III
(CNS): A young Caymanian who suffered life-threatening injuries as the result of a motorcycle accident is recovering after heart surgery at Health City Cayman Islands. John Miller III, 25, arrived at the hospital in critical condition with a traumatic aortic injury. Typically, only 10 percent of people with such an injury make it to a hospital alive; of those who do, 50 percent will die within 24 hours unless they receive appropriate treatment.
Dr Binoy Chattuparambil, chief cardiac surgeon at Health City, who was preparing for bed when the call came, immediately assembled a team of specialists, including a transfusionist, an anesthesiologist, and operating room and intensive care nurses.
“He was really critical at that time. His aorta was damaged. He was not responding really well even though he was awake,” said Dr Binoy, as he is commonly addressed.
The Health City surgeon lauded the skill and speed of the teams at Cayman Islands Hospital, who were the first to treat the accident survivor. “Because diagnosing this type of injury is not easy, it can go wrong. So they spotted it, and at the right time they informed us and shifted very fast and even organised blood to be sent here,” he said.
Health City heart surgeon Dr Sumit Modi said the skill of the doctors and nurses at both facilities was reflected in the volume of blood used: “During the entire procedure we didn’t transfuse a single unit of blood – that was a major thing. All this was possible because of our team effort between the (Health Services Authority) emergency team and our hospital.”
The patient’s father, John Miller Jr, said he appreciated the attention shown to him during his son’s experience at the hospital. “When I first arrived, the doctors immediately informed me of everything. I was given it straight up. It was direct. ‘This is the situation. This is what is going to happen’. I was prepared for everything at the same time,” he said.
“It’s strictly professional, how it should be. At the same time you could still feel the warmth of the professionals, which I do appreciate.”
The younger Miller thanked the doctors and added, “They gave me a second chance in life. I just appreciate everything. They took care of me in (the Intensive Care Unit). They took care of me in the ward. They’re still taking care of me even though I’m out, recovering, healthy.”
Category: Medical and Health
