A Broughty Ferry grandad says his life has been saved thanks to ground-breaking new heart treatment at Ninewells Hospital.
Gerard McCabe is the first person in the city to have received the treatment that he says has not only saved him, but gave him a whole new lease of life.
The 72-year-old is now looking forward to returning to his former hobby of Munro-bagging – something he couldn’t have contemplated prior to his treatment.
Gerard, a retired bus driver, says he had become increasingly unwell due to an ongoing heart condition, followed by a serious heart episode early in the summer.
He was offered treatment involving an Impella pump, never before used in Scotland, which allows stents to be fitted while aiding circulation.
Two previous attempts to fit two stents had to be halted because doctors decided Gerard’s heart wasn’t strong enough to continue and the blockages in the artery were too significant.
Gerard said: “The cardiac treatment has turned my life around.
“If it wasn’t for this treatment I reckon I might be dead by now.
“The only alternative for me due to my condition was heart bypass surgery and I decided I wasn’t brave enough to go under the surgeon’s knife.
“I had made up my mind I was just going to take my chances and wait to see what happened.”
As NHS Tayside is the first health board in Scotland to offer the treatment, a doctor from Harefield Hospital in London travelled to Dundee to carry out the operation on June 29.
Gerard said was awake throughout the three-and-a half-hour procedure and says when he heard the doctors laughing he felt really optimistic that his treatment was going ahead successfully.
Gerard added: “I feel very lucky to have been given the treatment.
“Before I became unwell my favourite hobby was walking and I really enjoyed Munro-bagging.
“I’m already back walking and I am very optimistic I can return to hillwalking in the future.”
Impella pump at Ninewells offers heart bypass alternative
Money for the equipment was donated by a former patient, who wanted to remain anonymous.
Enough was given to allow five patients with complex heart disease to have the treatment.
The pump is implanted via the femoral artery at the top of the leg, floated up through the blood vessels to the heart, and helps pump blood around the body.
Christine Freel, senior nurse in cardiology services at Ninewells, said: “This kit allows patients with complex heart disease an alternative treatment as a day case, compared to a high-risk procedure or indeed cardiac bypass surgery.
“Gerard is our first patient and this has changed his life.
“He was not suitable for bypass surgery but could not have treatment to insert stents without supporting the circulation – we had tried before and had to stop the procedure.
“Gerard had a very successful procedure, performed by the Tayside team, helped by the manufacturer and by a visiting doctor from Harefield Hospital who is highly experienced in it’s use.”
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