Granada - Which hospital

[fyfin]

Does anyone know which hospital in Granada specialises in heart surgery as my friend is going to have a triple bypass operation and will be sent to public hospital in Granada but we don't know which one. My wife is going to fly over to be with his wife as she is a bit distraught as she speaks no Spanish and is not looking forward to being there on her own.

[Enrique]

Hi fyfin,
Could be this one......................

http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/servicio ... salud/hsc/

[fyfin]

Many thanks. When I looked around I thought it might be this one. My friend is in pretty bad shape so I think they will operate quickly and my wife wants to find somewhere to stay close by to be with his wife , so I am looking at hoiliday rentals. We have an apartment in Turre but it's too far to travel every day. If they were sending him to Huercal Overa it would have been ideal.

I think I am right in saying that a wife can stay overnight at the hospital to look after her husband. They are both pensioners and unfortunately can speak no Spanish. My wife can speak some so it would be a help.

[bunty]

Those operations are carried out in the hospital .. Hospital Universitario Virgen de Las Nieves...
I think you will find that you will be taken to that hospital.
I know many people who have had this operation there and all have been very succesful, including one last year on a sister-in- law.
Family members are expected to stay with patient 24 hours...
There are usually 4 beds in each of the rooms.
I live in Granada capital and if I can be of any help please send me a private message.
Bunty

[fyfin]

Bunty, that information is really helpful and encouraging. Unfortunately things seem to have taken a turn for the worse and they have now moved him to Intensive Care in Almeria main hospital. He was in Hospital de Poniente near Ejido as they were staying at Roquetas.

It doesn't look like they are going to send him to Granada now but we're not even sure about that and his wife is saying that they are not going to do a triple bypass but they will try to unblock it instead but I would have thought if he needs a triple bypass urgently then that is what should be done.

I really appreciate your help and if things change I will pm you for sure.

[El Cid]

It doesn't look like they are going to send him to Granada now but we're not even sure about that and his wife is saying that they are not going to do a triple bypass but they will try to unblock it instead but I would have thought if he needs a triple bypass urgently then that is what should be done.

It sounds like they want to fit a "stent" to open up the blocked artery. This is a relatively simple op that only involves a small cut into an artery in the leg and a one night stay in hospital and it may cure the problem easily.

A bypass operation is a major surgical intervention which involves big saws to open up the chest cavity and also means that the heart has to go onto an external heart pump during the op which increases the risk.

The risks (like it may kill you) are quite high so it is an op to be avoided unless it is a last resort.
The risk is about 1 in 25 will not survive.

I would go for the simple option of a stent.

Sid

[fyfin]

Thanks Sid, you seem to be a Guru on all subjects. I did wonder if they were going to do a stent but our friend is confused and upset and as I said has no Spanish so I don't think she knows what is happening.

I just get the feeling it is very urgent and I really hope it is just a stent but I think they better do it quick! There must be more than one blockage though so I suspect a triple bypass will follow either there or in UK.

[Enrique]

Hi fyfin,
Sounds like Sid's post is a good description of the procedure.............

Certainly less invasive than bypass.

I had two sessions to have three stents fitted so if you're in a reasonable state this is the best way to go.
Intensive care doesn't sound so good though prior to the above procedure

[El Cid]

I just get the feeling it is very urgent and I really hope it is just a stent but I think they better do it quick! There must be more than one blockage though so I suspect a triple bypass will follow either there or in UK.

Just clearing one artery with a stent will give adequate flow to the heart. If all else fails a bypass op is the only resort and if three arteries are blocked then they will bypass all three - hence the "triple" description - it would be silly to do only one when they have your chest cavity opened and your heart on a pump!

You can survive a single stent with diminished blood flow to the heart with drugs - they can be very effective as they slow down the heart rate which reduces the load on the heart. Nitroglycerine patches and a nitroglycerine spray also help.

Sid

[fyfin]

They will make their mind up soon, I hope. It now looks like they have stabalised him at Almeria hospital with a view to a triple or quadruple bypass in Granada but all we can do is wait and see.

I managed to get through to EHIC in the UK on 0191 218 1999 (on hold for 15 mins) and they will fax a certificate to the Almeria hospital to prove he is entitled to free treatment so at least one thing is resolved. They could only promise it would be done in 48 hours (today would have been better )

[fyfin]

Meant to post earlier. My friend has now been discharged from Granada hospital (Virgen del las Nieves) after a successful double bypass. The surgeon and staff were superb and he was treated very well. My wife was able to help with her limited Spanish as there were few English speakers (and why should there be). The hospital is spotlessly clean unlike ours in UK and I think he will realise in time that he was lucky it happened in Spain.
He is now with friends in Roquetas and will recuperate in the sun for a few weeks before flying home.
My wife will come home Tuesday, so Monday night hoovering dusting etc for me !