Pioneering op means I can live life to the full

John Young (74) underwent nine hours of pioneering surgery which involved replacing the aorta (the main artery from the heart) and the two arteries running from it.

The operation involved using donated human tissue from the US in what is the first procedure of its kind in the UK.

Mr Young has suffered from diseased arteries since 1997 and was told that without this latest operation there was a serious risk to his life.

Before the operation Mr Young had two large abscesses in his groin where the old and new arterial grafts from previous operations had become infected, as well as several abdominal wall defects from repeated infection.

Usually, surgeons use synthetic grafts to replace diseased arteries, but in Mr Young's case samples of human tissue had to be sourced as synthetic grafts would have become infected again.

The operation was performed last month by a team of surgeons led by consultant vascular surgeon Hany Hafez.

Mr Hafez said the operation required a high level of skill and he felt 'very privileged' to have been involved in such important work.

"It was all about teamwork. By our hospital working together with our team we managed to succeed in a major achievement," he said.

The team included consultant surgeon colleagues Neil Cripps, David Allen and James Campbell as well as anaesthetist Dr Mark Bentley, the theatre team led by Sister Pam Breen, the critical care team led by Sister Jo Morgan and the hospital's microbiology department.

"I think it is fantastic we were involved in this operation," said Mr Hafez. "We didn't know it was the first in the country until after the operation.

"We just thought at the time, what does he need, what must we offer him?"

Mr Hafez said he would be very happy for his team to help other hospitals who wanted to carry out similar procedures and praised Mr Young's recovery.

"Mr Young has done extremely well, and better than we expected," said Mr Hafez.

"We expected him to need some intensive care for a while but he didn't need any and recovered in two weeks, which is remarkable.

"He was ready to be discharged a week before he was meant to be."

Mr Young said he was now living life to the full and would be 'forever grateful' to St Richard's.

"I want to thank everyone who looked after me and because of their skills I have been able to hold my eighth grandson, Isaac, who was born just before my operation.

"I was pleased to be home in time to spend Christmas with my daughter and to be reunited with my dog Sally."