The Pulse by Barts Charity

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Pulse SPRING 19 / SUMMER 19

Lights, camera, scalpel! Channel 5’s BAFTA nominated Operation Live series wowed audiences in April by placing our surgical teams into the spotlight. The series highlighted every incision and decision performed in three surgical procedures, and emphasised the sheer amount of hard work, determination and team work that is involved during an operation to enable life changing treatment. Fronted by presenter Nicky Campbell, Operation Live gave viewers the rare opportunity to watch three live operations performed in real time at The Royal London Hospital. If you missed the action catch up on Channel 5 here. In the most recent series, viewers witnessed live brain surgery, a spine straightening procedure, and the incredible and selfless act of a live kidney transplant from a father to a son. The transplant was performed by our transplant surgeon Rajesh Sivaprakasam, and reminded us how organ donation can create life changing miracles for some of our sickest patients. We’re proud to support organ donation at Barts Health, and we hope that you can help us to encourage others to consider the importance of organ donation too. Overleaf you can read an interview with Mr Sivaprakasam and find out how you can support this life changing work. Back in November, the first series showcased open heart surgery, a knee replacement and the removal of a tumour

from the colon of a patient all performed at Barts Health hospitals. Having seen up to one million viewers tune in, it was nominated for a BAFTA Award in the ‘Live Event’ category. Operation Live not only shares what goes on behind the scenes at an NHS operating theatre, but gives an insight into our patients’ experience and different conditions and procedures. It takes great courage for patients to share their story and provide TV viewers with this opportunity to see live surgery in real time, so we are really grateful to all patients and staff who took part in this innovative series. It’s fantastic to see how technology and surgical innovation is evolving to treat new diseases and conditions. Over 73,401 surgeries were performed across four of our hospitals within Barts Health NHS Trust last year. When deciding to participate in Operation Live, we wanted to inspire the next generation of surgical teams to take up a career with us. Judging by the reaction on social media, Operation Live has done just that!

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Walking the

road to recovery Steve Millington is an Orthopaedic Consultant at Barts Health NHS Trust and performed a live knee operation on patient Howard in the first series of Operation Live. The operation helped Howard return to work. Steve, who has been an Orthopaedic Consultant for five years, told us all about his work and why he chose to be involved in Operation Live: What attracted you to specialise in orthopaedics? I enjoy a mechanical way of working, fixing people’s problems and witnessing how surgery has the ability to transform someone’s life. What is the most rewarding part of your job? It’s fantastic to see people getting mobile and active again, especially when they’re on the road to recovery. It’s also humbling when a patient says they’re extremely grateful for the care that they’ve received. How common are knee replacements? Very common. We performed 608 procedures across the Trust last year and there were 250,000 cases recorded nationally! How does a knee replacement make a difference to patients like Howard? It transforms lives. It’s fantastic to see that the operation can help our patients lead a pain-free lifestyle and resume their normal routine. What is the recovery time? This is dependent on the patient, but usually they would spend three days being monitored in hospital. They should be walking using their full weight the day after the operation, and then discharged with crutches to use for 4-6 weeks. After this they will be able to carry on life as normal. Are you able to tell us a little bit about how Howard is getting on post Operation Live? Howard has made great progress and was able to return to work four weeks after

his operation. Watch this video of Howard walking without crutches! What are the benefits of the public watching live surgery? It gives people an insight into what to expect during a surgical procedure, and is an excellent educational resource for people of all ages. We’ve had positive feedback from both mentors and medical students who praised the series for this educational aspect. I hope the show has inspired more people to consider careers within the NHS, and emphasised the importance of team work within surgery and our profession. How did you feel when you performed surgery to over one million viewers? I wasn’t that nervous on set, because as soon as I started the procedure I started to relax and carry on my surgical routine as normal. My wife watched the episode and said she noticed that I was humming, which is what I tend to do when I’m concentrating on chores at home. Technology is continuing to advance, so what’s next for orthopaedic surgery? Robotic surgery is continuing to evolve, and we are using the first spinal robot in the UK that can help treat conditions such as scoliosis. The robots have an implant design that helps to reduce infection after an operation.

"It was a surreal experience being awake for the operation and involved in the Operation Live series with the camera crew and team in theatre but it was all very reassuring to know that so many people were focusing their attention on me and doing their best for me. "I knew it would be a painful operation, and it was! But I was amazed how quickly I was up on my feet that the pain settled so quickly and I could get back to my normal activities."

Howard – Knee replacement patient on Operation Live Series One

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Giving the

gift of life, an interview with renal transplant surgeon Rajesh Sivaprakasam

What was your role in Operation Live? I’m a renal transplant and access surgeon, and led the kidney transplant operation. Demystifying this surgical procedure helps to improve awareness for renal transplantation, so the public can appreciate the advantages of organ donation. Why is it important to know about kidney donation? Every year around 1,400 people generously donate their organs across the UK when they die, and more than 1,000 people donate a kidney or part of their liver while they are alive. Presently, there are around 6,000 people on the transplant waiting list in UK. Sadly three people die every day waiting for an organ due to a lack of donors.

Kidney donation is absolutely safe. Despite the urgency for someone’s need for a renal transplant; we never compromise on the safety of our donors. Removal of a kidney is performed using a key-hole technique, which allows the donor to experience less discomfort. On average, they stay in the hospital for just 2-3 days and recover to near normal health within 6-8 weeks!

What are you hoping audiences watching Operation Live will get out of the programme? This programme is timely in supporting our efforts to improve public awareness, and help to promote the benefits of organ donation and live kidney donation. It highlights the life of a patient with end-stage renal disease, and a father’s efforts What do you feel are the main issues surrounding kidney donation? Are there particular issues within our in saving and transforming his son’s life. All of our donors are heroes, and I admire the enthusiasm of our patients for community here in East London? Around a third of people have registered a decision to donate, sharing their surgical experience. As a member of an amazing surgical team, I’m thankful for this opportunity to transform and less than half share this decision with a loved one. their life. When faced with the unfortunate situation of losing their loved one, family members are more likely to agree to donation going ahead, if their relative had recorded their decision to donate on the NHS Organ Donor Register, or previously discussed their decision with them. There are a shortage of donors from black, Asian and ethnic minority communities, so we’re keen to make sure people from these groups have better information on why it’s so important. Our renal transplant team, along with our patient association, is willing to support any local initiative. We along with previous patients (who either donated a kidney or had a transplant), deliver educational events to help raise awareness in local communities. What are some myths about kidney organ donation that you’d like to dispel? Being a live donor is safe. Donors are given a comprehensive assessment with their long-term health in mind to confirm their suitability to donate an organ. We provide them with plenty of information and support before the transplant takes place and post operation. THE PULSE

To find out more about organ donation visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk

Donating a

difference A radiographer at Barts Health NHS Trust in London, who donated a kidney to one of his student placement trainers whom he hadn’t seen for more than five years, is campaigning for more living donors to come forward. Ali Golian, wants to raise awareness about organ donation and kidney donation in particular.

“I want to dispel misconceptions about donation and for more people to see donors as living examples - just like me. I can do everything I did before the transplant and live my life to the full.” While studying at London South Bank University, Ali went on placement to King’s College Hospital, where he met Sonia Leonardo. Although he had been connected with her on social media for some time since then, they had not been in regular contact.

Donar Ali and student Sonia

“Sonia is now dialysis free and it’s such a huge change in her lifestyle from having dialysis five times a day. We’re in touch everyday now and it feels like I’ve gained the sister I always wanted,” Ali says. Article originally published by Synergy News and The Society of Radiographers

Last year, he saw a Facebook notification about her kidney disease and immediately got in touch with an offer to be tested. After proving to be a match, he donated his kidney to Sonia in a life-saving operation. Sonia was born with polycystic kidney disease – a genetic disorder in which abnormal cysts develop and grow in the kidneys. The condition, which is also suffered by her twin sister Susana, gradually got worse until her function reduced to just six per cent.

“There are 5500 people on the transplant list at the moment,” Ali said. “I wanted to raise awareness and disprove the misbelief about leading a normal life if you donate. “I love campaigning for donation now, and at King’s I am involved with events designed to raise more awareness. I am also part of the peer group, which means I can be contacted by any potential donors who have questions and I offer support.

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Who are Barts Charity? Barts Charity is the dedicated charity for Barts Health NHS Trust. We fund projects that are over and above what the NHS can provide, ensuring that more patients receive the best possible care. Over the last financial year, we gave £30 million to fund medical research, equipment and staff and patient welfare projects.

Funding in the Barts Health hospitals:

Robotic surgery – Bartholomew’s The Royal London Hospital and Hospital St Robotic arms are helping surgery be more precise and invasive. Patients less feel less pain, have quicker recoverie fewer complicatio s and have ns.

The Rainbow Centre – Newham Hospital Children’s services were transformed into a bright and colourful environment, with improved medical facilities and state-of-the-art equipment.

Navigational bronchoscopy – St Bartholomew’s Hospital In a world first, the navigational bro nchoscopy technique allowed surgeons to ope rate on patients who previously had no treatment available to them.

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Dementia-friendly wards – Wh ipps Cross Hospital Hospitals can be frightening for pat ients with dementia, with unfamiliar surroundings and confusing environments. Five wards were renovated to suppor t patients with dementia and make the wards mo re navigable.

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News on the horizon For further hospital news and updates please visit the Barts Health NHS Trust website. You can also find key information about us and our performance on our website

www.bartshealth.nhs.uk

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