Government has described the recently performed coronary bypass heart surgery at Mulago hospital as a major breakthrough in Uganda’s capacity to carry out open heart surgeries.
On January 22 this year, a team of Ugandan doctors at the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) successfully executed a Triple Vessel Bypass Heart Surgery known as Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), a procedure that was previously considered complex.
The team of surgeons was led by Dr William Manyilirah and assisted by Dr Tom Mwambu and Dr Phillip Kabirigo, a trainee Surgeon.
The first patient to undergo this procedure was discharged on January 30 while the second one was operated on January 31 and is ready for discharge.
The Ministry of Health has said that by Uganda doctors successfully conducting a coronary bypass heart surgery, “UHI has achieved a great milestone in its growth, ability and capacity to handle super specialized surgeries”.
Health Minister, Dr Ruth Aceng told the press on Friday that the breakthrough in heart treatments makes Uganda Heart Institute competitive in the region as a facility for medical tourism.
“As a government and Ugandans we are extremely proud of the Uganda Heart Institute and its dedicated medical personnel,” Aceng said.
“This year, UHI made a great breakthrough by successfully carrying out a Triple Vessel Bypass Heart Surgery known as Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). This complex procedure, was the first of its kind carried out in Uganda by our own Ugandan doctors”.
The procedure involves creating an alternative route for blood to parts of the heart whose blood supply has been blocked by a clot.
Minister Aceng said the coronary bypass surgery was the missing link in the range of surgeries which commenced eleven years ago.
The Ministry of Health says that these operations will continue routinely and government is committed to ensuring that supplies are available and the medical personnel are well motivated to do this work.
Since 2007, UHI has been performing various cardiovascular interventions on both adults and children, with valve heart diseases, coronary surgery and opening blocked vessels by inserting wire loops.
At the press conference held at UHI on Friday, one of the beneficiaries from the coronary bypass surgery lauded government for training specialists and improving capacity to offer these services locally.
“The doctors told me it was difficult to do, but after the operation, I am happy because my health is good. I can talk, eat and walk. I am grateful,” he said.
According to government, UHI’s increased capacity to conduct such procedures has steadily reduced the percentage of patients treated abroad to about 20%.
As a result, the cumulative number of operations performed at the institute since its inception in 2012/13 is 2,950. These have been carried out at a cost of USD 14.7 million compared to USD 59 million if all these procedures were offered abroad, translating into a cost saving of USD 44.25 million.
Aceng revealed that UHI plans to carry out up to 650 operations this financial year alone. Of these, 400 are catheterization procedures, 100 open heart surgeries and 150 closed and other surgeries.