Close Gallery
Stephanie Moreno with two unidentified medical professionals. Photo from elcaribe.com.do.
Zoom Picture

Santo Domingo.- Dominican Republic’s first patient to undergo a heart transplant was discharged Tuesday after a stay of more than three months in the Plaza de la Salud General Hospital (HGPS).

Stephanie Moreno received a heart transplant 18 July by a team of the medical center’s specialists and left for home in the sector La Agustina, near the hospital.

Her residence was rented temporarily by the Office of the First Lady until the formalities to donate it conclude.

All the furnishings in the house were donated by the Ladies Hospital Corp of Volunteers, including the appliances, furniture, linens, kitchen equipment, and even the decor.

For his part, HGPS Board chairman Julio Amado Castaño expressed the satisfaction felt by the hospital staff, for having Stephanie back home.

“This first heart transplant case opens a life expectancy for thousands of Dominican patients,” he said.

Share / Recommend this article: FacebookFacebook Digg thisDigg this del.icio.usdel.icio.us TechnoratiTechnorati YahooYahoo Facebook
COMMENTS
7 comment(s)
Written by: Ricardolito, 30 Oct 2012 5:14 PM
From: Dominican Republic, calle A.Portes
a very good news story and I agree that now that the surgeons have one success under their belt , then they will have great confidence for other operatiopns...The next thing is for people to agree to donate their organs when they die ,,,and as so many die young here , there should be no shortage of suitable hearts , kidneys and other organs ,.. In many countries consent is sought and given on the annual renewal of car registrations or with licence renewals .. It is a very good system and far better than the goulish practices in India where young people are kidnapped and murdered for their organs
Written by: guillermone, 30 Oct 2012 5:49 PM
From: United States
Ricky keep it quiet. Don't let the tigueres know there is a market for black market organs. Dominicans are notorious copy catters and will eventually catch on in our little republic.
Written by: antonio1, 30 Oct 2012 7:32 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Av Santa Rosa, La Romana
Well done by our physicians...hope this small step help us leap into a public health powerhouse in the Caribbean.
Written by: RoyStone, 30 Oct 2012 8:11 PM
From: Australia
"As an average you can expect to be about two to five days in the intensive care unit and about two to three weeks in the hospital after a heart transplant."

3 months?
Written by: antonio1, 30 Oct 2012 8:35 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Av Santa Rosa, La Romana
Horses and Bayonets??
Written by: guillermone, 30 Oct 2012 9:48 PM
From: United States
@Roystone-3 months?

Yes, three months, you can never be too careful. It was one of our first major medical feats for our tiny little banana republic.

Nevetheless, as you know it is more laid back in the DR. It takes a little more time to get things done there. We are not so hyperactive. Besides the main motivator behind a quicker turn around time for patients in the more advanced countries boils down to economics. The insurance companies want you in and out of the hospital as soon as possible to enable them to cut costs. Plain and simple. One thing I do notice in the DR medicine has more of a personal touch. It is little more humane as long as you have the resources to afford it. Otherwise, you will have to wait your turn in line together with the Haitians to get service, assuming you are not too severely sick to make it to the emergency room and get there alive.
Written by: RoyStone, 31 Oct 2012 6:43 AM
From: Australia
Point taken, guillermone,

In my personal experience, I have found that despite appalling facilities, lack of equipment and dreadfully low pay, the standard of medical treatment I have had in the Dominican Republic is second to none. Still I can't help wondering how many more lives could have been saved for the cost of this high-profile case, which Virgin Mother Margareta seems to have a penchant for.

While on the subject, I have not seen an update on the Boca Chica Siamese twins. If they have since died, my guess is, we will not be told.
Post Your Comment | Not a member? Create your account | Lost your password?
Write your opinion here. Please keep your comment relevant to this article. Please note that any comments which contain offensive language or discriminatory expressions may be edited/removed.
You must log in to post a comment:
Username Password