Bypass pump fails in surgery

Natalie Akoorie

A patient could have died when a bypass machine failed just six minutes into major heart surgery, sending doctors into a scramble to replace the ageing pump.

The incident in December last year at Waikato Hospital, where the patient was unharmed thanks to the quick actions of a technician, sparked a fast-tracked request for $1.5 million to Waikato District Health Board to replace its heart lung bypass machines.

Waikato Hospital interim chief operating officer Dr Grant Howard said the incident happened on December 8 when a patient was undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

“One of the arterial pumps failed at around six minutes after bypass had begun.”

Howard said a perfusionist, a technician who manages the patient’s physiological status during surgery, used a hand crank as a manual pump while doctors grabbed a nearby pump already primed in case of emergency.

“We were able to replace the pump with one from another heart lung machine and the procedure continued.

“We are fortunate that there was no harm caused to the patient.”

The patient came through the surgery well, Howard said, and he and his family were informed and understanding of the incident.

Howard admitted the patient could have died but said it was highly unlikely because doctors were always prepared for such emergencies.

The pump was only serviced the week before and was now unable to be repaired because it is so old. It had only failed one other time during a test.

The request for the $1.5m funding, rubber-stamped by the board this week, includes replacement of all three of the DHB’s heart lung bypass machines and four arterial pumps.

The equipment is used during the 650 cardiac procedures performed at Waikato Hospital each year.