Hundreds of thousands die every year in Germany from diseases of the heart and its vessels – many could be saved. Through their own doing.
Even if you are convinced that you have seen everything at work, every day can bring a surprise. For US cardiac surgeon Stephen Lahey, an apple-green heart is one of the most memorable. An almost absurd sight, unlike anything “normal” even for OP veterans. Lahey had expected routine work, constricted coronary arteries, a poor blood supply to the heart muscle. After all, his patient’s resilience had recently decreased significantly. The doctor wanted to direct the blood flow around the narrowed sections of the arteries with bypasses. The 77-year-old on the operating table would soon be fine, despite diabetes and high blood pressure, thought Lahey.