GUYANA | Heart surgeons in Guyana used cow's heart tissue to reconstruct human heart

GEORGETOWN,  Guyana, July 13, 2023 - In the first-ever open-heart surgery of its kind, to be performed in Guyana, a Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI) team led by Guyanese born heart surgeon, Dr Gary Stephens, successfully conducted an open-heart surgery utilising cow's heart  tissue to reconstruct a patient’s heart.

In a statement, the CHI said the life-saving surgery which was conducted in June on 24-year-old Dexter George, challenged the conventional understanding of the heart’s resilience, illustrating that substantial portions of the heart can be removed with positive outcomes.

According to CHI, the surgery involved the complete removal of a cardiac tumour, partial removal of the right atrium, and the utilisation of bovine pericardium – a tissue derived from a cow’s heart – for the reconstruction of the damaged right atrium.

In the statement, Dr. Stephens who is the CEO “this remarkable feat could pave the way for more aggressive approaches in similar cases, pushing beyond traditional boundaries.”

George was diagnosed with a severe cardiac condition earlier this year. A small lesion in the right atrium, initially believed to be a blood clot, rapidly grew into a massive tumour over the course of nine months. The tumour compromised heart function, and severely affected his daily life.

Given the advanced stage of the tumour, the options were limited.

However, the medical team proposed utilising tissue derived from the lining of a cow’s heart to reconstruct the damaged right atrium.

CHI said despite the chances of success being less than 1%, George and his family demonstrated immense courage and consented to undergo the procedure.

The institute said since undergoing surgery on June 22, 2023, George has exhibited remarkable improvement. He thanked the surgical team for their efforts, and remains hopeful for a complete recovery.

“Physically I get a little pain but I am happy, I know I haven’t fully recovered as yet but I know I will get there soon, I am just trying to push myself with my exercises so I can be okay,” George was quoted as saying.

The Caribbean Heart Institute, located within the Georgetown Public Hospital, continues to be at the forefront of cardiovascular care and research. To date, the institute has seen and treated approximately 25,000 patients with various heart ailments