Name Of Second Patient
The 89-year-old woman who was the second patient at Waikato Hospital today to undergo an innovative heart procedure is
Peg Robinson of Cambridge.
Mrs Robinson is originally from Belfast, Ireland and came to New Zealand more than 50 years ago.
Her three children, daughter Jenny Kuttel and sons Stephen and Simon were on hand when their mother came out of surgery.
The procedure enables the replacement of a valve in the aortic artery through a small incision in the chest while the
heart is still beating rather than going up through an artery in the groin. Earlier today Noel Howard, 78, of Thames had
the first successful operation of its type in New Zealand.
His wife Peggy Howard said she had already spoken to her husband.
Both patients will spend the night in Waikato Hospital's intensive care unit and should be transferred to a ward
tomorrow.
Media note:
The families of the two patients who had the aortic procedures today are unavailable for comment. They will review this
tomorrow. Further information, a picture and sound files for use by the media are at:
http://www.waikatodhb.govt.nz/news/pageid/2145842528/Successful_aortic_valve_operation_at_Waikato
ENDS