more mission pictures

http://picasaweb.google.com/sheilang00/CardiostartVietnamTrip2009

For more of the mission's pictures go to the above link

Second week of surgery

Monday: Nov 9, 2009
This is our second week of surgery. We are getting to know our routines & staffs.
2 successful surgeries were done. We continue giving education to the staffs.

Tuesday: Nov. 10, 2009
In the morning, we have a meeting with Viet Duc staffs to share our suggestions & recommendations. They seem to be very welcome & receptive to our recommendations.
Dr. Aubyn was asked to assist with one unexpected emergent surgery & due to much complications, patient did not make it. One success case was performed. We found a leak on Kien's valve and proposed redo, Kien was very brave. We will perform his surgery tomorrow. Nguyen Vu is leaving today, he is a very valuable core team in ICU. Saying goodbye is not always easy.

Wednesday: Nov. 11, 2009
Dang van Kien is doing very well, extubated soon after surgery, we worked til 9:30pm. 2 heart sugeries were performed, Kien's case (redo valve repair) is one of them. David is scheduled to leave around 4pm then 5pm then 6pm, his heart is still with our patient even he is not presently here.

Thursday: Nov. 12, 2009
Our container will finally be here today. We will perform one case today, this afternoon we will open our container with Viet Duc's staffs. We also will visit Viet Duc new hospital this afternoon then final dinner with our host given by HSCV board director.

Friday: Nov. 13, 2009
Dr Aubyn was asked to assist with one case. Some of the team will be leaving today, some will go to the orphanage. We will finish up our mission report. Most of us will be leaving tomorrow.
Some will extend their stay for sightseen.
Tien

PS: I will return to USA on Sat Nov. 14. This year mission comes to an end. I am ready to come home..& rest.

End of first week report

GROUP-ICU Rewarding to work with ICU nurses and doctors_ several bedside teaching sessions and lectures. Emphasis on infection control, standardization of care, cardiac phydiology and arrhythmia. Respiratory therapy department is not available here so our team's RT has been very helpful. Pharmacy specialist has been invaluable! Nguyen Vu (Winston) Nguyen, Intensivist

GROUP-BIOMED Finding parts for repairs is a challenge, support for engineering is really great. This is my first time in Vietnam since 1968-69... I will come back again! I hope I can be helpful... so far, this has been an awesome experience!

Jim W.

GROUP-PERFUSION Surgical work, team work, God's work from Eileen.

On Saturday most of us went to Ninh Binh to visit the largest Pagoda in Vietnam. Beside a long ride, a flat tire, ? an car accident put us in standstill mode for a while, sore bottom for a long ride in a boat, and in a car with rough road.. we thought the trip was very nice and we are very thanksful by many generosity & kindness from Viet Duc hospital

On Sunday, some of us went to Bai Dinh pottery place, some of us went to visit the orphanage, some of us went to shopping at the Old Quarter.

One of the team came back from Ha long bay and suffered from Food poisoning, we were giving IV fluids.. and hope she will feel better in the morning because it would be hard to work without one of our core team member.

Fouth day ...continued

Friday... continued

Today is an exciting day in surgery because the FIRST Allograft Valve, a donation from Cryolife valued at $10,000 USD, was used to replace the defective pulmonary valve in a 21 year old young man. "I just want to be normal and play with my friends" he told interpreters during his pre-op interview.
The condition of his heart limited his daily activities so much that he had to drop out of school when he was 10 years old.
Together, the Cardiostart team worked with the staff of the Viet Duc Hospital to perform the FIRST Human Tissue Valve replacement in Vietnam. Until a year ago, the laws of the country prohibited the harvesting of human tissue according to Viet Duc surgeons.The operating room was crowded with observers, medical students, residents, nurses and volunteers eager to learn more about this life-saving procedure.During the operation, Cardiostart team members answered questions from the Viet Duc staff and looked for areas of care to make recommendations for improvement.

The surgery ended with a successful transfer of the young man to the competant and highly skilled team from Cardiostart and Viet Duc awaiting in the CVICU.

 Mauri Barnes RN

There was a news crew from Trai Tim Cho Em came to interview us for this event. The second case is scheduled on next Wednesday.In the evening, we were invited to attend a very nice dinner with Viet Duc Staffs. We felt very warm welcome from the staffs and hope we continue this partnership to help more heart surgery education in the future when Viet Duc has its new hospital & it is expected to be open next Feb 2010.

On this weekend, Viet Duc also arranges a van to take us to sightseen Ninh Binh & Bat Tran ceremic village. Their generiosity & kindness are overwhelming us. We are very thankful & grateful for their thoughtfulness.

Tien

Fourth day of surgery

This is my first time here in Vietnam. It is a beautiful place. It is a neat experience to be able to see how echocardiograms are performed here. I am excited to share my knowledge and demonstrate skills that I have and learn a few things myself.  Rachael Nielson R.D.C.S, Pediatric Cardiac Sonographer

Dr Aubyn & our patient Sang

respiratory care instruction by Lisa Scott & Chi Yen Nguyen as a translator

Viet duc ICU's staffs with Cardiostart volunteer: Reed Franklin

Cardiostart Nursing staffs & Viet Duc's staffs

Third day of surgery

Post op report: Kien is doing well everyday, his family can visit him now and our other patient continues to make good progress.

We did successfully perform 2 heart surgeries & got patients off respirator soon after surgery. We work late into the night but it all worths it..
We also spent most of our early morning giving instructions to hospital staffs how to care for their heart patients, we discussed about respirator care, nursing care, review some medications which are commonly used in USA, and giving some basic EKG interpretation. ICU nurses are asking for more educations everyday. We will leave all of our education materials for the staffs. Our 1/2 container of medical equipments & supplies are still in Hai Phong, we have to work with what equipments we brought.

I got a chance to meet Do Thuy Quynh (see picture)& her father. Do Thuy Quynh is a girl that we did screen her & sent her medical record to Dr. Aubyn Marath couple months ago to see if we can perform her surgery. Due to heart condition is too severe & surgery is no longer as an option.
I asked Quynh if she has a wish what would she wish for? She told me that she would love to continue to go to school but due to her heart condition she can not ride her bicycle anymore, if she could have a motorized (battery operated) bicycle, it would give her a chance to continue her schooling. Her father told me she is a good student, I told her father that I will somehow fullfill this wish for her. HSCV has been paying for her monthly medications & every 3 months check up.
Tomorrow we are planning to perform 2 more heart surgeries & more teaching. In the evening, we are invited to a special dinner by Viet Duc hospital at Ha Noi Garden. And for this weekend, some of us will go to Ninh Binh & some will go to Ha Long bay, & some will go to the local orphanage.
We are working hard & long day, but eveyone has no complain. I am so thankful to have such a wonderful team. I do look forward to a day of rest.
Please keep us in your thoughts & prayers,
Tien

Second day of surgery

For more pictures click on the link below

http://picasaweb.google.com/Matthew.C.Lowry/CardioStartMissionToVietnam09

Today was not a good day, we worked very hard from morning to late at night but this case was very complex to start with, Dr. Aubyn Marath was assisting Dr Le Ngoc Thanh, Head of cardiac surgery department. and we LOST..patient lose alot of blood and we could not revive him. It is sad & very upsetting for the team
Please keep us in your thought and prayers as our day tomorrow will be much harder

Tien

First day of surgery

There are about 30 team members from many states, MN, FL, Oregon, CA..
Viet duc is welcoming us and very good to work with.
Today is our first day of surgery, we were able to repair Dang van Kien's valve instead of replacement. This is very good news for Kien because he does not need to be on blood thinner forever.
Kien is doing very well and has been transferred out of ICU. See his picture & picture of his 2 brothers, it is not common for family to visit patient while he is still in Step down unit. I went to find his family and informed them about Kien, so they do not need to worry..
We were able to perform 2 heart surgeries, with this speed & without any complications, I hope we can perform about 16 patients.
Just want to let you all know, by the way today is my birthday.
Tien

October 31 in Hanoi with Tien: Cancer Mission accomplished, meeting the Cardiostart Team

Hi all,

Today I had a meeting with BS Duc Chinh in planning our next week surgery schedule.
Dang Van Kien was there, he is scheduled to have his surgery on Tuesday Nov 3. Dr. Aubyn Marath is carrying "tissue valve" to perform this heart surgery for Kien.
I am hoping we can start performing heart surgery on Tuesday. Each day we will try to perform at least one patient. Some of these patients were referring from East Meets West Foundation.
Viet Duc still has not get all of our medical equipments from Custom in Hai Phong, they told us they will get them hopefully by this week or next week. If we use our equipments & supplies, there will be no charge to patients.
Everyday we have more team members fly from many states come to Vietnam. Tonight Oct 31, I will say good bye to my colorectal team & welcome our Cardiostart mission team to Ha Noi.
Keep us in your thoughts & prayers.  Til next time,
Tien

Heading Home October 30 and 31

Tim and Pat left Hanoi on Friday night to head home to MN. Really looking forward to the marathon flights! Rick leaves on Sunday night November 1.

Good Bye Vietnam! Thank you for your warmth, welcome and generosity!

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, October 28, 29 and 30 Experiences

We had a wonderful break and took in Ha Long Bay, east of Hanoi on the Bay of Tonkin off the China Sea. This was an oasis of rest and relaxation. It was fun to travel with some new found forever friends, Reed and Ann Franklin.

Monday - Tuesday, October 26 and 27 Experiences

We started our second week a the Hanoi National Cancer Hospital. Rick and Pat went to surgery to observe a laparoscopic low anterior resection. Lots of practice differences here...we were quiet amazed at some of them. Tien and Tim taught staff about PICC placement along with Chen Chen the Bard Sales Manager for the region. We spent our last afternoon enjoying some social time with Chen Chen before we parted ways.

Sunday, October 25 Experiences

Church, Shopping and visiting an orphanage.