Fundación HOMS “Congenital Cardiac Surgical Mission” comes to a successful close
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- Fundación HOMS has completed its 2nd Congenital Cardiac Surgical Mission, in which 12 children from low-income families received high-cost surgery and procedures.
Santiago. With the sponsorship of Fundación HOMS, the 2nd Congenital Cardiac Surgical Mission came to a successful close at the Hospital Metropolitano de Santiago, aimed at boys and girls with congenital heart disease from low-income families.
Around 12 children benefited from this type of high-cost surgery during the mission promoted by HOMS. Nine complex surgical procedures were carried out, such as ventricular septal defect closure (VSD closure) and resection of obstructive subvalvular pulmonary and sub-aortic tissue. Three patients also benefited from the catheterisation procedure for percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus.
In the same way, a group of 12 volunteers (surgeons, intensivists, perfusionists, anaesthetists, paediatric cardiologists and intensive care nurses) arrived from different locations in the United States, donating their knowledge and their diaries to help these children.
Dr Juan Manuel Lehoux Menicucci, cardiac and congenital surgeon, led the medical group in coordination with Novick Cardiac Alliance, a foundation dedicated to bringing health solutions to children in different parts of the world, especially in vulnerable areas.
Dr Lehoux Menicucci, a graduate in medicine from PUCMM with several specialisations in the United States, currently works as chief surgeon at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida.
There he reported that “continuing with this kind of mission is a golden opportunity for Santiago and for the country, since the aim is to build a ‘Local Programme’ that can meet those needs day to day.”
Also worth highlighting is the “public-private” cooperation achieved with this type of programme, which strengthens collaboration between different institutions and health professionals. Fundación HOMS works closely with the Hospital Infantil Dr. Arturo Grullón and other public hospitals, which refer the patients who benefit.
This second mission was sponsored by Fundación HOMS and its president, Mr José Clase, as well as with the support of Dr Rafael Sánchez Español, general director of the hospital.
“Thanks to their support, new hope has been given to these children, who will now be able to enjoy a full life,” HOMS said in an official statement.