We’re proud to announce that the Sussex Heart Charity has awarded close to £100,000 to University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust to fund vital equipment that will transform the experience of heart surgery for hundreds of patients every year.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we have funded the purchase of a Stryker 1788 4K Endoscopic Camera Stack System, a state-of-the-art piece of theatre equipment that allows for minimally invasive vein harvesting in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
A Smaller Incision and a Big Improvement in Recovery
CABG remains one of the most common and lifesaving heart operations, often requiring a healthy vein to be removed from the leg and used to bypass narrowed or blocked coronary arteries.
Traditionally, this meant making a long incision down the leg, sometimes stretching from groin to ankle, which frequently resulted in pain, wound infections and slow recovery.
The new system enables the team to perform Endoscopic Vein Harvesting (EVH), a technique which requires a much smaller incision of just 2–4cm. The cut is made by the knee and an endoscope, a long, thin rigid scope connected to a camera head, is inserted. An image is projected onto a screen, allowing the team to locate and remove the vein endoscopically.
This approach is far less traumatic and leads to:
- Faster recovery and mobilisation
- Reduced risk of infection, bleeding and wound complications
- Less pain, swelling and numbness
- Smaller wounds, resulting in less scarring and improved cosmetic outcomes
- Fewer postoperative complications and shorter hospital stays
- Earlier start to cardiac rehabilitation and a quicker return to normal activities
Bringing Sussex in Line with the World’s Best
Endoscopic Vein Harvesting is now considered best practice internationally. It is used in over 90% of CABG procedures in the USA and is rapidly becoming the standard of care in leading UK cardiac centres, including Harefield, Royal Brompton and Oxford.
The addition of this advanced system means cardiac patients in Sussex will now benefit from this specialist service and receive the same modern standards of care.
The introduction of Endoscopic Vein Harvesting at Brighton has already demonstrated clear benefits, including faster patient mobilisation and significantly reduced infection rates. The Sussex Cardiac Centre team recently presented their data at the British and Irish Society of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery, where it received national recognition and won a prize for this development.
“We are deeply grateful to the Sussex Heart Charity for their generous support. Their funding has equipped the Sussex Cardiac Centre with the tools to deliver minimally invasive, state-of-the-art cardiac surgery — transforming patient care across our region.” – Mr Ishtiaq Ahmed, Consultant Cardiac Surgeon
Why Charity Funding Was Needed
Although this equipment is recognised as a clinical priority, hospital budgets remain under pressure, and the Trust was unable to meet the upfront capital cost. That’s where Sussex Heart Charity stepped in.
This funding means the surgical team can begin delivering the improved service immediately, without delay and without compromising patient care.
“I’m really pleased with the new system and extremely grateful to the charity for providing us with it. It is an essential piece of kit that has already proved to be of huge benefit to our patients in both their recovery and wound cosmesis. I’d like to extend my gratitude to the supporters and donors of Sussex Heart Charity who have made this possible.” – Anna Martin, Surgical Care Practitioner
Powered by Public Support
This award was made possible entirely thanks to donations from the public. Every pound raised by our supporters has helped bridge a critical gap in care and ensure Sussex patients receive the best treatment available.
We are proud to work alongside the incredible NHS staff who deliver world-class care every day. When resources are tight, Sussex Heart Charity exists to support them, and our supporters make that difference.
“This funding has been made possible entirely by the generosity of our supporters and we are incredibly grateful for their continued trust and commitment. It means that patients in Sussex can now benefit from modern, minimally invasive techniques used in cardiac surgery that improve recovery, reduce complications and support a quicker return to normal activities.” – Matt Denison, Chief Executive, Sussex Heart Charity
