Enjoy Open Hearts: Stories Of The Surgery That Changes Childrens Lives Curated By Kate Bull Print
wonderful written book an essential read for parents whos children are having surgery, Load about AVSD, VSD, TGA, HLHS, Such a good in depth read Some
long train journeys and a couple of nights in hotels for work gave me the opportunity to read this book withinhours.
I am grateful I got the opportunity because it is a corker of a book, Having been born with a heart condition and had open heart surgery at Great Ormond Street when the author was working there, I bought a copy on spec, expecting it to be a memoir of her time in paediatric cardiology.
But it isn't it is so much, It is a book about the patients rather than the staff, There is a detailed introduction into the early days and development of open heart surgery, and although I would say I am fairly knowledgeable about my condition, I have learned so much about the context and rationale for the treatment I received, as well as an understanding of the other major types of heart condition that are referenced on various support groups.
There is a detailed step by step explanation of how an operation is carried out possibly the Open Hearts's weakest chapter, although still fascinating if you can keep up with what is going on.
And then the remainder of the book looks at the various issues around modern treatments and the generation who are growing old having had corrective surgery.
Topics include pregnancy, further complications and how the internet is proving invaluable as a support mechanism, The book doesn't avoid the difficult stuff, with reference to the Bristol heart scandal, when things go wrong, death and ethical issues including when is treatment not the best option.
All of it told from the patients perspective, with only fleeting references to the surgeons and medics involved.
If there is a criticism of the book it is a selfish one the book concentrates on the first patients and contrasts with how they would be treated today, withgiven as a divide, so as someone born in 'and my big op in 'there is little about that period.
But overall it is a must read for anyone who has had open heart surgery, Thank you Kate Bull, you have written a fantastic book which has been equally nostalgic and informative, and helps me appreciate just how lucky I have been.
As a relative I read with interest and was filled with admiration for the lives that these early CHD pioneers have led and continue to lead.
This is a remarkable book by a very skilled writer who has an extraordinary story to tell, Or rather many extraordinary stories, because she puts individual patients so frequently hardly present in stories of medical triumphs central to her concerns and thus turns what would have been an interesting but largely unemotional medical history into a series of deeply moving life stories.
I am not surprised that several of the reviewers here report themselves deeply moved but you do not need to have had a heart problem yourself or even to have a special interest in heart issues to find this book rewarding.
I have a laymans interest in medical matters and did read two outstanding medical books last year: Atul Gawandes Being Mortal and Henry Marshs Do no Harm.
Kate Bulls book belongs in this distinguished company, One of the important contributions made by her book is the insistence on the central role of patients she refers to pioneering patients as much as pioneering surgeons, technologists, anaesthetists and specialist nurses, who are crucial in the process by which babies, born with complex cardiac anomalies can now be helped to live normal or near normal lives.
In many cases these childrens life expectancy, without intervention, was measured in only days, weeks or months, The skills on display are astonishing: imagine operating inside a newborns heart that is no bigger than a strawberry! One chapter of the book gives a blow by blow commentary on exactly what it happening during open heart surgery a team effort, but one that requires courage, confidence and steady and very nimble surgeons hands: one tiny error and death results.
Other strengths of this book: it is highly readable even the technical bits, honest, humble, informed by a delightful sense of humour and a healthy scepticism about the medical profession and some of its ways.
Disclosure: I do know the author but do not feel that this has in any way affected my response to the book.
It is an excellent read which I can recommend without reservation, Fascinating descriptiuon of the development of cardiac surgery with patient stories backed by science, Should be read by all specialists in the fierld and would be of interest to anyone undergoing heart surgery.
Nearly all of us will at some point know someone who was born with a heart defect But as the surgical scars so often remain hidden we just might not realise itPowerfully telling of the patients and their experiences Open Hearts is a remarkable medical story we are often so focused on 'extraordinary' people and their achievements we forget just how incredible the 'ordinary' achievements of living can beUntil thes 'blue babies' were a striking sight in our streets Suffering from congenital heart disease offered a bleak outlook to young patients and a heartbreaking experience for parents Very few would make it to adulthood now in the West at least most have a much higher chance of survivalIn Open Hearts Kate Bull formerly a cardiologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital tells not just of the development of heart surgery in children but of the patients past and present whose lives have been transformed Besides the technology the sociology of medicine has changed substantially since thes think of the atmosphere of children's wards Other things have barely changed consider the dread of kissing your child goodbye at the door of an operating theatre in any eraChildren's heart surgery is often seen as a medical triumph but for all the successful operations completed thousands of pioneering patients have gone before perhaps facing their own uncertain futures Today we place great hope in the power of science Many lives have been saved but sometimes we ask medicine to dothan it canBy turns frightening heart wrenching and inspiring Open Hearts is a powerful story of medical progress hope and survival
Nearly all of us will, at some point, know someone who was born with a heart defect.
But, as the surgical scars so often remain hidden, we just might not realise it,
Powerfully telling of the patients and their experiences, Open Hearts is a remarkable medical story: we are often so focused on 'extraordinary' people and their achievements, we forget just how incredible the 'ordinary' achievements of living can be.
Until thes 'blue babies' were a striking sight in our streets, Suffering from congenital heart disease offered a bleak outlook to young patients and a heartbreaking experience for parents.
Very few would make it to adulthood now, in the West at least, most have a much higher chance of survival.
In Open Hearts Kate Bull, formerly a cardiologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital, tells not just of the development of heart surgery in children, but of the patients, past and present, whose lives have been transformed.
Besides the technology, the sociology of medicine has changed substantially since thes think of the atmosphere of children's wards.
Other things have barely changed consider the dread of kissing your child goodbye at the door of an operating theatre in any era.
Children's heart surgery is often seen as a medical triumph but, for all the successful operations completed, thousands of pioneering patients have gone before, perhaps facing their own uncertain futures.
Today, we place great hope in the power of science, Many lives have been saved but, sometimes, we ask medicine to do more than it can,
By turns frightening, heartwrenching and inspiring, Open Hearts is a powerful story of medical progress, hope and survival.
Nearly all of us will, at some point, know someone who was born with a heart defect.
But, as the surgical scars so often remain hidden, we just might not realise it,
Powerfully telling of the patients and their experiences, Open Hearts is a remarkable medical story: we are often so focused on 'extraordinary' people and their achievements, we forget just how incredible the 'ordinary' achievements of living can be.
Until thes 'blue babies' were a striking sight in our streets, Suffering from congenital heart disease offered a bleak outlook to young patients and a heartbreaking experience for parents.
Very few would make it to adulthood now, in the West at least, most have a much higher chance of survival.
In Open Hearts Kate Bull, formerly a cardiologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital, tells not just of the development of heart surgery in children, but of the patients, past and present, whose lives have been transformed.
Besides the technology, the sociology of medicine has changed substantially since thes think of the atmosphere of children's wards.
Other things have barely changed consider the dread of kissing your child goodbye at the door of an operating theatre in any era.
Children's heart surgery is often seen as a medical triumph but, for all the successful operations completed, thousands of pioneering patients have gone before, perhaps facing their own uncertain futures.
Today, we place great hope in the power of science, Many lives have been saved but, sometimes, we ask medicine to do more than it can,
By turns frightening, heartwrenching and inspiring, Open Hearts is a powerful story of medical progress, hope and survival.
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