Having survived the holiday feasting, we begin to pick up the pieces as we begin the year 2020. Our resolve is strong to make this year the one in which we meet our fitness and body goals. Yes, we survived the string of parties that involved binge-eating and drinking, and came out of it alive with a renewed determination to get in shape in January.
Traditionally, the holidays see an uptick in the case of sudden deaths. In the United States, there have been studies which indicate that people have a higher risk of dying on Christmas Day, the day after Christmas and New Year’s Day, compared to any other day of the year. With the holidays over, now is a good time as any to turn a new leaf.
We should keep in mind that sudden deaths during the season, and on ordinary days for that matter—are a reminder for us to moderate our intake of both food and drink in order for us to lead healthier lives.
Indeed, if steps can be taken to prevent the untimely demise of an individual, we should, by all means, do what we can to add quality years to one’s life.
Take for instance this advanced lifesaving treatment that is now available in the Philippines that is the result of a partnership between the Philippine Heart Center and German medical solutions provider, B. Braun. The alliance of PHC and B. Braun has led to the establishment of a new education hub for minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS). Minimally invasive techniques promise a safer, more effective treatment for Filipino patients.
“MICS is different because you can limit the access to the chest to a very small incision. So the scar is very small on the right side of the chest and this means for the patients, you do not have this 12- to 15-centimeter scar. Besides the cosmetic reasons, it is psychologically better knowing you don’t need a big heart operation,” said PD Dr. Stephan Jacobs during the recent Advanced Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery Product Training workshop at the new PHC training center.
During the three-day workshop, doctors from the Philippines and abroad were introduced to MICS, as a safe and highly effective treatment option for certain cases of heart valve disease, resulting in faster patient recovery and better cosmetic results, while also allowing doctors to provide lifesaving treatment to more patients.
Unlike traditional heart surgery, MICS involves a small 3- to 4-cm incision between the ribs, where specially designed equipment is inserted to reach the heart. These instruments differ from conventional surgical tools due to their lengths and the level of precision required for handling. Jacobs described the instruments as similar to chopsticks, but with miniaturized features of traditional tools like scalpels or hemostats at the tip.
Through MICS, doctors can reduce surgery times to three hours, allowing them to carry out more critical operations in a day. Patients will also require fewer transfusions and medications, as well as shorter hospital stays due to faster recovery.
MICS utilizes B. Braun’s newest endoscopic camera system, the Aesculap EinsteinVision 3.0, to provide very clear 3D visuals of the heart and chest cavity during surgery. The PHC sees great potential in the technology and MICS in improving patient outcomes, and reaching out to more Filipinos in need of surgical care. This contraption allows surgeons to see the inside of the chest cavity using 3D visualization technology, allowing surgeons to accurately gauge distance between the parts of the heart and performing the necessary surgical intervention.
Heart disease being the leading cause of mortality in the Philippines in 2017, accounting for 84,120 recorded deaths, and this technology has the potential to save lives and help prevent untimely deaths.
It provides some small comfort that while we may have been remiss in taking the needed steps to be healthier–such as limiting the intake of high cholesterol food during the holidays—technology is coming up with ways to help us live longer. That being said, may we all come up with a solid game plan to be fitter and healthier this 2020.