Page 26 - Waterfall Issue 5 2021

Waterfall news

expectancy and, equally important,
they enjoy a normal quality of life.
Babies who would otherwise not
have survived their first year without
intervention can become adults who
can enjoy a fully productive life. In
other words, the money spent to save
these children should be seen as an
investment over up to 70 years.

Surgical repair is divided into
two main categories: open heart
and closed heart surgery.
• Open heart surgery requires the repair is assessed with an ultrasound to address this ethical and moral
use of a cardiopulmonary bypass and the patient is transferred to ICu, dilemma, the Maboneng Foundation
machine. The chest is opened via where they will stay for an average of was created in 2017. The Maboneng
an incision through the breastbone one week before being discharged. Institute and Foundation’s main goal is
(sternotomy), and tubes (cannulas) to offer surgical intervention for children
are used to connect the patient to • Closed heart surgery entails all surgeries with CHD who don’t have access to
the bypass machine. The venous where the heart isn’t stopped, and congenital cardiac centres. Thanks to
blood is then drained to the bypass procedures are performed on the the generous donations of corporations
machine, which acts as an artificial blood vessels inside the chest. The and individuals, doctors from the
heart and lungs, supplying oxygen to most common closed heart surgery Maboneng Institute and Foundation
and removing carbon dioxide from is the ligation or tying off of a blood have operated on many children pro
the blood. After the blood is cooled, vessel, called patent ductus arteriosus, bono and have had a 100% survival
it is pumped back to the patient’s which is life-sustaining in the foetus rate. These children are the lucky ones.
circulation through a cannula placed but should spontaneously close
in the aorta. The heart is then stopped after birth. Failure to close leads to Hidden behind the hustle and bustle
in a process called cardioplegia, excessive blood flow to the lungs and of our daily lives lies the tragedy that
using a solution which contains high needs to be surgically corrected. thousands of children suffering from
concentrations of potassium. This leads CHD die prematurely. These are children
to an ideal, bloodless, non-beating Maboneng Heart & lung who otherwise would have had healthy,
heart, enabling the surgeon to open Institute productive lives if they had access to
the heart and correct the abnormality The Maboneng Heart & Lung Institute, units such as the Maboneng Heart &
using a plethora of patches, sutures, situated at the Netcare Sunninghill Lung Institute. Taking into account
grafts, valves and conduits. After the Hospital, is the largest cardiac unit of that 12 000 babies are added each year
repair is completed, all air is removed its kind in Africa, offering all congenital to the waiting list in South Africa, the
from the heart, the heart is refilled corrective surgical procedures. 700 lucky ones who receive surgical
(reperfused) with blood and starts Over 700 children from all over repairs annually at the Maboneng
beating on its own. The patient is Africa receive surgical interventions Institute at Netcare Sunninghill Hospital
weaned off the bypass machine annually at the hospital. Outcomes represent a drop in the ocean.
and the chest incision is closed. The are on par with those of the best and
largest surgical units in the world. Most of the time, you can’t tell people
The Institute encompasses a highly- with CHD apart from other people, but
skilled, multi-disciplinary workforce beneath their shirts are battle scars - their
(many of whom call Waterfall proof of hope and survival. Most have
their home), including surgeons, faced more in their lives than any person
cardiologists, anaesthetists, intensivists, should. They have strength, courage
pulmonologists, perfusionists, allied and resilience that is unimaginable.
healthcare practitioners and arguably
the best nursing staff in South Africa. Help spread awareness and give others
like them the chance to survive.
The majority of children with CHD in
Africa, unfortunately, don’t have access The Maboneng Heart & Lung Institute
to congenital cardiac centres and die and Foundation can be followed
prematurely as a result. In an attempt on Facebook and Instagram.

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24 Waterfall Issue 5 2021