What Actually Happened

Abstract

The ethics committee was in agreement that the patient should be operated on, given his emergent status. Initially, he was too medically unstable, and for three weeks was in an intensive care unit until his condition stabilized to the point that he could tolerate the surgery. He became sufficiently stable to permit surgery and both of his heart valves were replaced. He did very well after surgery. His pitting edema and jaundice reversed, and he was discharged after a week to the care of a relative. He received follow-up care in the hospital's cardiac clinic and was provided needed medications. He stated his intent to return to his home country once he recovered from the surgery.