Guyanese Heart Surgeons Use Cow Tissue

GUYANA – A team of doctors from The Caribbean Heart Institute in Guyana was able to save a man’s life by using cow tissue to reconstruct his heart.

The lifesaving surgery, which was a first of its kind, was completed on June 22 by a team led by Chi’s CEO and Guyanese-born Heart Surgeon Dr. Gary Stephens.

The surgery, which was conducted on 24-year-old Dexter George, saw doctors completely remove a cardiac tumour, partially remove his right atrium and utilise tissue from a cow’s heart, to reconstruct his damaged right atrium.

George had been battling his severe illness for over nine months.

With few options for treatment, doctors recommended the innovative surgery, which has a less than 1% chance of success.