Heart patients in intensive care

Press, 4 January 1988, Page 1

Heart patients in intensive care

By

DEBORAH McPHERSON

New Zealand’s first heart transplant patients, Phillip Robinson and Brian Lindsay, remained in intensive care at two Auckland hospitals last evening, because of setbacks after the pioneering surgeries. Christchurch’s heart patient, Phillip Robinson, aged 13, remained critically ill but stable at Auckland Hospital last evening, seven days after suffering a brain haemorrhage. A bulletin released by the transplant team’s spokesman, Dr Trevor Agnew, said Phillip’s condition remained “critical but stable,” although further details on the extent of the damage are expected to be revealed today.

Previous reports had indicated that his heart was functioning normally. The Christchurch boy became the country’s second heart transplant patient at Green Lane Hospital on Christmas Day, but was transferred to Auckland Hospital last Tuesday, where he underwent two neurological operations to relieve the pressure on his brain caused by the haemorrhage.

Phillip’s grandmother, Mrs Flo Gardiner, said the family could only "wait and pray.”

The return to Green Lane Hospital of New Zealand’s first heart transplant patient, Mr Lindsay, because of rejection problems was, however, no cause

for alarm, said Dr Agnew. Hospital staff said Mr Lindsay, of Whangarei, had had a “comfortable night” on Saturday, but remained in the intensive care unit.

About 90 per cent of all transplant patients had at least one rejection episode in the year after their; operation, said Dr Agnew. reason, Mr Lindsay was kept close to hospital after his sufgery on December 2, having weekly biopsies. Dr Agnew said it was expected Mr Lindsay’s condition would be settled by his hospital stay. A family member, Mrs Sue Howson, said, "None of us are really worried. It’s just a hiccup you have to expect.”