A private hospital in Fiji has made history by conducting the country’s first quadruple graft heart bypass surgery without any blood transfusions, catering to the patient’s Jehovah’s Witnesses beliefs. The groundbreaking six-hour procedure took place at the Pacific Specialist Healthcare Hospital (PSH) in Nadi, under the skilled hands of cardiology surgeon Dr. Sanjeev Khulbey, who brings 36 years of experience to the table.

This remarkable achievement came after extensive planning and discussions between the patient and the hospital’s management, ensuring that the surgery met specific religious and medical needs. Dr. Khulbey explained that the surgery involved four grafts, three of which were performed as Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG), a critical procedure for patients with blocked coronary arteries. The fourth graft included a coronary endarterectomy, necessary to address a completely blocked artery before grafting.

Hospital founder and CEO Parvish Kumar emphasized the facility’s commitment to respecting patient beliefs, stating that PSH is fully equipped to handle the medical needs of Jehovah’s Witnesses and has successfully maintained a 100% success rate in recent open-heart surgeries conducted at the hospital.

Kumar also looked ahead, sharing exciting developments for the future of PSH, including the introduction of Dr. Srikar Miryala, a highly trained Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, who will be available for emergencies at the hospital.

This pioneering surgical milestone reinforces the hospital’s potential as a leader in healthcare services in Fiji, ultimately providing local patients with much-needed access to advanced cardiac care while saving significant costs compared to overseas procedures. There is a hopeful outlook that such initiatives will continue to enhance healthcare accessibility and affordability in the Pacific region.

In summary, this historic surgery represents a step forward not only for Fiji’s medical capabilities but also serves as a beacon of hope for patients seeking critical care within their communities.