Surgeons: At the Edge of Life

Taal: nld
Categorie: Documentaire

The third series of this groundbreaking series concludes with operations at neighbouring Addenbrooke's and Royal Papworth hospitals in Cambridge, where the surgeons have to balance the considerable risks of the procedure against the risks of not treating their patients' conditions at all. For cardiothoracic surgeon Ravi De Silva, there is a fine balance when it comes to his 75-year-old patient Maureen. She feels relatively well even though she has an enlarged aorta, the main vessel for carrying oxygenated blood to the body - but it is in danger of bursting. If it does burst, it could be fatal, but the operation to fix it is also extremely high risk. In Ravi's mind there is a clear choice - the one-off risk of the operation is worth it compared to living with a condition that could be fatal at any time. At Addenbrooke's Hospital, consultant surgeon Emmanuel Huguet and his patient, 72-year-old Chris, also face a difficult choice.