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New heart procedure at Mater a 'major advancement'

The Mater Hospital in Dublin has described as a "major advancement in cardiac care" a new procedure it can now carry out for patients who are considered too high-risk for conventional open-heart surgery.

rte.ie ·

New heart procedure at Mater a 'major advancement'

Derek Toomey, a 62-year-old man from Finglas in Dublin, experienced a transformative improvement following a new heart procedure at the Mater Hospital in Dublin. Diagnosis in 2023 revealed a severely narrowed, calcified mitral valve, leaving him breathless and fatigued, unable to perform basic daily tasks. Conventional open-heart surgery was deemed too risky due to underlying lung disease.

In June, the Mater offered Derek this innovative procedure, which he underwent successfully. Within three days, he was observed walking around the hospital without rest. Describing his transformation as "black and white," Derek credits the procedure with restoring his energy levels, enabling him to return to work. The percutaneous mitral valve replacement, a less invasive technique, involves inserting a new valve through a catheter tube via a groin vein, reducing recovery time compared to traditional open-heart surgery.

Since May, the Mater has performed five similar procedures, offering hope to patients with mitral valve disease who previously had limited treatment options. Professor Ivan Casserly, leading the multidisciplinary team, emphasized that this procedure marks a significant advancement in cardiac care, providing faster recovery and enabling patients to resume their normal lives within days rather than months.

Written by urgent.news from RTE News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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“Seeing Father Lee Tae-seok in the photo gives me strength.” The first neurologist from South Sudan was born. On the 15th, a graduation ceremony was held at the Catholic University of Sudan in Juba, South Sudan, for 29 medical students, including Dr. Achuil Lual Deng, the first neurologist in South Sudan. Dr. Lual, who was born in 1986 in Malakal, South Sudan, said in an interview, “I was inspired by Father Lee Tae-seok, who devoted himself to the poor in Uganda and South Sudan.” He continued, “I was in high school when I first met Father Lee, who was working as a doctor in Torit, Eastern Equatoria, South Sudan. At that time, I was struggling with the idea of becoming a doctor, but seeing his devotion to the poor, I decided to become a doctor.” Dr. Lual, who graduated from the Catholic University of Sudan with a degree in medicine in 2011, worked at the Juba Teaching Hospital and then moved to Australia to pursue his dream of becoming a neurologist. He studied at the University of Adelaide in Australia and returned to South Sudan in 2022 after completing his studies. Dr. Lual said, “I am very happy to be able to help my people. I am grateful to the Catholic Church and Catholic University of Sudan for giving me this opportunity.” Bishop Thomas Mangold of the Catholic Diocese of Juba also expressed his gratitude, saying, “I am very grateful to Dr. Lual for his dedication to the people of South Sudan.” The Catholic Diocese of Juba has been actively involved in the medical field in South Sudan, and in 2019, it established the Saint Theresa Hospital in Juba, with the support of the German Catholic Church. The hospital provides medical services to local residents, and it also offers training and education for medical students. Dr. Lual’s achievement is expected to have a significant impact on the medical field in South Sudan, where there is a severe shortage of medical professionals. The country has a population of about 14 million people, but it only has about 100 doctors. In particular, there are only two neurologists in the entire country, and Dr. Lual is the first neurologist from South Sudan. Dr. Lual’s dream is to establish a rehabilitation center in Juba and to provide medical services to patients with neurological disorders. He said, “I want to help my people recover from illness and return to their daily lives.”

·hani.co.kr

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