ABOUT LHF
GALLERYIES
Heart Surgery
Over the past year, we have financially assisted 15 patients in the costs of their surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Studies (AIIMS) in Delhi. Lama Chogyal and Lama Lobzang have flown to Delhi to help with the admission of some of these patients. We continue to maintain a close relationship with the AIIMS Cardiology department, which ensures that patients are admitted immediately, without paying to stay in Delhi while on the waiting list. This is aided to a great degree by the clinics given each year by Professor Kumar (cardiovascular surgeon) and Dr. Mishra (cardiologist) from AIIMS at the government hospital in Leh, whose expenses are paid by the Ladakh Heart Foundation. Over the course of a few days, difficult diagnoses can be made, surgical need can be assessed, and surgical follow-up can be ensured- hundreds of patients are seen, removing the need of a costly journey to Delhi for many of them. Patients who do travel to Delhi pay only for supplies used in the operation, particularly the cost of the valve, while the services of the doctors and nurses and the hospital bed are free. Over the past ten years, many of the patients who have had to travel to Delhi have got to know Tsering Norboo Rafta, who has helped them with all the difficulties that Delhi can throw at a visitor. He is now working as a councillor representing the Nemo region in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, and his services over the past decade have been indispensable.
Some of the patients require blood transfusions during surgery, and this is very kindly donated by some of the Ladakhi students, monks, and other Ladakhi residents in Delhi. The Ladakh Buddhist Vihara in Delhi also often supplies accommodation in Delhi at little or no cost.
This year, for the first time, Professor Kumar also performed six closures of a congenital heart disease condition known as a Patent Ductus Arteriosus. This initiative has not only saved the patients approximately Rs600,000 ($12,000) combined, but has also allowed the training of surgeons in Leh to perform the procedure in the future. All the patients, aged between 2yr and 12yr, are recovering well. This venture has been a great success, and next year it is hoped that mitral valvotomies (a procedure that can be of enormous benefit to sufferers of rheumatic heart disease) will be performed.
