Johannesburg – The first open heart surgery at a provincial referral hospital in the North West Province has been successfully carried out through collaboration between the North West and Gauteng Provincial Department of Health.
Announcing the achievement on Monday, the North West and Gauteng departments of health said in a joint statement: “Klerksdorp-Tshepong Hospital supported by the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) achieved the historical milestone on Friday the 24th of May 2024”.
The patient is a 38-year-old woman, who has been known to the Gauteng Cardiac Services since 2006.
“She suffered from mitral regurgitation (a leaking valve) with a sub-mitral aneurysm (abnormal swelling of the heart),” the statement said.
“Surgery was recommended as far back as 2006, but she declined surgery back then as she was not emotionally ready.
“A decade later the patient agreed to have the surgery.”
The discussions to start cardiac services at the Klerksdorp-Tshepong Hospital complex date back to 2010, with structural planning beginning a decade later.
Heart operations, by their very nature, require enormous capital investments, manpower, and infrastructure.
As such, this feat could only be achieved by careful planning and execution. Klerksdorp-Tshepong Hospital dedicated itself to achieving all the necessary requirements by renovating its theatres during the Covid-19 pandemic and acquiring the necessary equipment.
At the same time, various plenary meetings were held between the two hospitals to prepare for the now-successful surgery.
The hospital management, cardiothoracic surgeons, anesthetists, perfusionists, and theatre-trained nurses supported by physicians, cardiologists, and the clinical engineering team supported these efforts equally on both sides which led to the culmination of this historic achievement.
“The patient has already been extubated. She is doing well in the intensive care unit and is in high spirits,” the statement said.
“This demonstrates that the intensive care unit at Klerksdorp-Tshepong Hospital is equally suited to managing complex cases.”
Expressing her gratitude, the 38-year-old female patient Martha Vanstawel said “I am grateful for the care and treatment I received so far”.
Vanstawel added: “I am also thankful that the operation was done here at home, where my family can easily come to see me.
“Thank you, all the doctors and nurses, and everyone who made this operation a success”.
This was a clear demonstration that with the right mindset and resources, any government hospital could perform the surgeries that have often been viewed as surgeries performed only in tertiary university hospitals.
The North West MEC for Health Madoda Sambatha attributed this success to a vision that led to a progressive collaboration and commitment of a team of managers, specialists, doctors, and nurses between Klerksdorp-Tshepong Hospital and the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH).
He also said that it is a result of the investment that his department has made in preparation for the National Health Insurance (NHI) over the years.
“This breakthrough no doubt demonstrates our ability to implement NHI. The surgery was state-funded and done in a township which is exactly what NHI stands for,” said MEC Sambatha.
Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, said the collaboration has paved the way for enhanced healthcare delivery, ensuring that specialised services are accessible to all citizens in need of critical care regardless of their province of origin.
“This initiative exemplifies the transformation of health services in South Africa, focusing on access and equity to healthcare,” said MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko.
“By bringing such advanced medical care to the North-West, we ensure that patients receive the necessary treatment without the added burden of traveling long distances, thereby reducing both financial and emotional strain on them and their families.”
The CMJAH team was led by Dr. Tumi Taunyane, Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery, who originally hails from Klerksdorp, and Dr Palesa Motshabi Chakane, Head of Anaesthesia.
The Klerksdorp – Tshepong Hospital team was led by Dr Akin Ogunrombi (Thoracic Surgeon) and Dr. Aunell Mallier (Anaesthetist).
Previously, cardiac surgical patients needing heart operations at Klerksdorp-Tshepong Hospital were referred to other centers in Bloemfontein and CMJAH Hospital.
“However, this initiative is bound to alleviate the pressure on the waiting times for surgery at central hospitals,” the statement said.
North West Health MEC Madoda Sambatha and Gauteng counterpart Nomantu Nkomo Ralehoko expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the Cardiac Surgical Team from the two hospitals, their CEOs, hospital management, nurses and clinicians, and everyone involved to ensure that this initiative is a success.
“The collaboration between Kerksdorp-Tshepong Hospital and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital is not just a momentous occasion; it is a significant step towards the implementation of the National Health Insurance and achieving Universal Health Coverage,” the statement said.
“By working together to develop a fully-fledged cardiac unit in the North West, government is ensuring that training, infrastructure improvements, and resource allocations are aligned to provide sustainable, high-quality healthcare.
“Sharing treatment guidelines and clinical protocols will guarantee that we deliver cost-effective services with excellent health outcomes.”
