RADHICA DE SILVA
Senior Multimedia Reporter
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Nicole Romeo lived with heart valve disease for thirty years. However, thanks to prominent Indian cardiothoracic surgeon, Professor Dr Prashant Vaijyanath, she now has a new lease on life.
The 39-year-old mother of four, who was born in Tobago, made an astonishing recovery following open heart surgery on March 31, in which Professor Vaijyanath used a state-of-the-art Cor Knot device to perform her valve replacement procedure at the Southern Medical Clinic in San Fernando.
In an exclusive interview with Guardian Media, Romeo shared details of her struggles and her astonishing post-surgery recovery.
She said her employers at Pan American Life Insurance assisted in paying for part of the surgery while her family provided support.
Her heart valve problems first emerged when she was just nine years old, shortly after a beach visit and for years after, Romeo said she struggled to do basic tasks.
“When I got sick, I was taken to Mount Hope (Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex) and the doctors told me I had a valve that was burst,” she recalled.
Romeo said she was also told that she could not have children but 13 years ago, she defied the odds and had her first daughter, Zahriah. Then six years later, she had Javanic and Jaheim White followed by her last child Javiyah White, two years ago.
“After I made my last daughter, I couldn’t even walk far, or talk, because I couldn’t get air. I used to be breathless, I couldn’t walk up stairs. I had to sleep on four or five pillows, but now I sleep on a flat pillow,” she said.
Always mindful of her condition, however, she said she would always eat what agreed with her body.
“I used to eat everything, but now I have to watch how I’m eating. I cannot eat Vitamin K foods; I need my blood to be thin. I don’t eat greasy foods. I minimise my portions,” she revealed.
Romeo expressed her gratitude to the Professor and his team who gave her a new chance at life. She also acknowledged the unwavering support of her husband Samuel White, and her mother Verdix Balfour.
Thanks to the new technology, Romeo said, her post-surgery recovery time was six weeks.
“I had to learn how to drive again. How to twist, how to turn my body. Getting up from the bed was difficult. I couldn’t lie down flat,” she recalled.
Meanwhile, Professor Vaijyanath said Romeo’s surgery was a historic one, as it was the first time the state-of-the-art Cor Knot device was used at the Southern Medical Clinic.
“This is an automated knotting device, manufactured in the United States and used extensively in Europe,” he said.
He noted that the device eliminates the need for manually tying knots during the procedure, which traditionally required around 25 sutures to secure the valve in the heart.
“With the Cor Knot device, the process takes just one or two seconds. In addition to significantly reducing the time required for valve replacement, the device also facilitates minimally invasive surgeries,” the Professor said.
He noted that the device, made with titanium pellets, offered a fast, secure and safe alternative to hand-tied knots and reduced cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time, and the risk of paravalvular leak, resulting in shorter operating times.
“This has been used with thousands of patients and there have never been any instances where the Cor Knot has slipped,” he said.
Looking at the scars left following the procedure, Professor Vaijyanath expressed happiness to see how well Romeo had recovered.
Professor Vaijyanath noted that the Cor Knot device had been available for over ten years and was considered one of the best technologies in the field. He advocated for its use in all hospitals, despite the associated costs. Professor Vaijyanath said Romeo’s surgery utilised one of the Cor Knot samples he received and showcased the device’s potential and the positive impact it could have on patients’ lives.
