Doctors at Macquarie University Hospital have performed a life-changing heart operation on a Solomon Islands teenager flown to Australia for surgery.
The hospital and Rotarians provided flights, accommodation and the surgery for 16-year-old Lolita Tekopo, who suffered from a congenital heart defect.
Lolita has been to hospital many times since birth due to the condition, called patent ductus arteriosus.
This refers to a blood vessel, the ductus arteriosus. It connects two major arteries of the heart — the aorta and the pulmonary, and is important to foetal blood circulation.
The ductus arteriosus is meant to close a few days after birth. In Lolita’s case, it remained open, and mixed oxygen-rich blood with oxygen-poor blood.
Cardiologist Dr Jason Kaplan said: “It would have caused her to restrict her exercise and not keep up with her classmates”.
The heart could become enlarged and lead to heart failure, Dr Kaplan said.
Lolita has at times found breathing difficult and her sight has been impaired.
Doctors in the Solomon Islands did not have the resources to address her condition.
The Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) group learned of Lolita and helped her travel to Sydney with her mother.
In a two hour operation, Dr Kaplan and a team of doctors inserted an umbrella-like device in Lolita’s heart to plug the hole.
This will ensure she lives a normal life.
Lolita was grateful for the doctors and Rotarians..
“I feel good. My sight is a lot better. I’m happy to be fixed.
“They are very good people and they are a blessing to me.”
Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children has helped more than 400 children receive treatment since 1988.
This is the first time Macquarie University Hospital has participated.
ROMAC incoming chairman Rob Wilkinson said Lolita was older than most children in the program, who required a hospital with paedaetric care.
Source: Daily Telegraph
