Despite the significant risks posed by Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), history is being made at The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) as it continues to advance in specialised surgical care, with AAA surgeries now becoming a routine procedure.
An AAA is a life-threatening condition where the aorta, the main blood vessel supplying blood to the body, enlarges and weakens in the abdomen. If left untreated, it can rupture, causing severe internal bleeding and often leading to fatal outcomes.
Dr Carlos Martin
Looking back to 2020, patients diagnosed with AAA in Guyana had limited treatment options, often needing to seek medical care overseas, with only palliative measures available locally.
However, the Government took an approach by facilitating specialised vascular training for Dr Carlos Martin at McMaster University in Canada.
Upon his return, Dr Martin and his team performed the first successful elective and ruptured AAA repairs at GPHC, marking a new era in vascular surgery in Guyana.
One of these successful surgeries, which highlights the smooth flow of surgeries being done, took place on January 13th, 2025. The Vascular Department at GPHC successfully performed another AAA repair on a 72-year-old patient who presented with abdominal pain.
Upon investigation, he was found to have a large AAA.
This surgery contributed to the 12 cases that have been completed so far. Dr Carlos Martin, who spoke during a recent interview on a programme conducted by the GPHC, shared what this development means for Guyana, where he explained that patients who suffer from these catastrophes will have no need to travel abroad to receive medical support.
“At the beginning, there was a lot of work we had to do to get things together…we now have the necessary human and material resources to offer this life-saving treatment…The significance is great because now we’re offering hope to these patients. They don’t have to go overseas. And importantly…we’ve already performed four ruptured aneurysm repairs at GPHC, and usually, a ruptured aneurysm has a mortality rate of 80 per cent.” Dr Martin also emphasised the importance of teamwork in preparing patients for surgery.
“In terms of the vascular team, it’s myself, Dr Aiden Smith, who has been under my wing and can now perform everything I do, as well as a few general medical officers. At the beginning, I had assistance from another transplant surgeon as well.”
He also shared exciting news for the future of vascular surgery at GPHC.
“Dr Aiden Smith will be receiving training this year in Canada through the Government of Guyana, following in my footsteps. However, his training will focus on endovascular techniques, which will be a game-changer. Currently, we are performing open repairs where we make an incision, remove the aneurysm, and replace it with a synthetic graft. But with endovascular surgery, we would only need to make two small incisions in the groin and deploy a device, allowing patients to go home the next day. This is where we’re headed in the future.”
He added that GPHC’s reach is extending to more remote areas, saving lives across the country, most notably in the hinterland regions.
“One of the ruptured aneurysm cases I remember was a patient from Mahdia. He collapsed and became unconscious. He was rushed to the health facilities in Mahdia, where they did a great job resuscitating him. He was then transferred to us, and despite losing nearly all of his blood volume, he survived.”
He added, “We are now able to offer specialised treatment that was once out of reach for many Guyanese. This is a major milestone for our healthcare system, and we will continue working towards providing the best possible care for all our patients.”
