Dr. Green’s medical team included; Dr. Uma Srivatsa – Electro physiologist, Dr. Greg Feld – Electro physiologist, Dr. G. Victor Pretorius – Cardiac Surgeon, and Dave Robberson – Electro physiologist Technician.  The team was fortunate to receive generous donations of 10 pacemakers and 3 implantable cardioverter-defibrillators – lifesaving devices from Medtronic and Biotronik.

The first day at SSSIHMS was spent in the operating rooms and the catheterization lab where doctors from both countries spent time getting to know each other.  The surgical staff at SSSIHMS had a critical need to learn from doctors who were highly trained to perform pacemaker and defibrillator implants and ablations.  Even the junior cardiologists and trainees were able to participate in all procedures and trainings. The local doctors provided the CLI team with a
“wish list” of lecture topics.  The CLI team granted the wishes by providing a full day of lectures (Continuing Medical Education credits) for the local physicians, cardiologists and nurses.

Throughout the week, the children received pacemakers, defibrillators, ablations or cardiac surgery.  The children had lived with heart defects that impaired the quality of their lives and dimmed the prospect of longevity as their condition progressed adversely. Many of the children seemed nervous but generally had a positive attitude that came shining through their eyes and smiles.  By the end of the week, the US doctors performed 35 procedures and established strong relationships with the local doctors providing the necessary groundwork for future visits.