Name Of Second Patient

Thursday, 18 December 2008, 4:58 pm
Press Release: Waikato District Health Board

Name Of Second Patient

The 89-year-old woman who was the second patient at Waikato Hospital today to undergo an innovative heart procedure is Peg Robinson of Cambridge.

Mrs Robinson is originally from Belfast, Ireland and came to New Zealand more than 50 years ago.

Her three children, daughter Jenny Kuttel and sons Stephen and Simon were on hand when their mother came out of surgery.

The procedure enables the replacement of a valve in the aortic artery through a small incision in the chest while the heart is still beating rather than going up through an artery in the groin. Earlier today Noel Howard, 78, of Thames had the first successful operation of its type in New Zealand.

His wife Peggy Howard said she had already spoken to her husband.

Both patients will spend the night in Waikato Hospital's intensive care unit and should be transferred to a ward tomorrow.

Media note:

The families of the two patients who had the aortic procedures today are unavailable for comment. They will review this tomorrow. Further information, a picture and sound files for use by the media are at: http://www.waikatodhb.govt.nz/news/pageid/2145842528/Successful_aortic_valve_operation_at_Waikato

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Waikato District Health Board

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