Earlier this year, the Sussex Heart Charity was proud to fund the purchase of an Endoscopic Vein Harvesting (EVH) stack for the Sussex Cardiac Centre at the Royal Sussex County Hospital (RSCH).
This support is already transforming patient care, enabling the delivery of advanced minimally invasive surgical techniques to local heart patients and helping them recover faster with fewer complications and improved outcomes.
Alongside funding the EVH equipment, we were also delighted to support Consultant Cardiac Surgeon Mr Ishitaq Ahmed and Dr Jessica Zhu Zhang through our Educational Bursaries project. This funding helped them attend the prestigious International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery (ISMICS) Annual Scientific Meeting in Miami, USA, where they showcased RSCH’s innovative EVH service and shared Sussex’s award-winning work with cardiac specialists from around the world.
Why SHC Funding Matters
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we were able to award almost £100,000 to University Hospitals Sussex (UHS) to fund the state-of-the-art Stryker 1788 4K Endoscopic Camera Stack System.
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 the Sussex Heart Charity stepped in.
SHC funding meant the surgical team could deliver an improved service, without delay and without compromising patient care.
How EVH Improves Patient Care
The EVH technique enables minimally invasive vein harvesting for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
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 EVH technique requires a much smaller incision of just 2–4cm.
Compared with traditional vein harvesting, EVH is far less invasive and offers many benefits for patients:
- 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
The Impact of EVH on Patient Outcomes
Since its introduction at RSCH, the team have performed more than 300 EVH procedures. EVH has made a meaningful difference to patient care and recovery and has delivered measurable improvements:
- Follow-up data shows a sixfold reduction in wound infections.
- No in-hospital wound infections have been recorded in patients undergoing EVH.
- Outpatient wound infection rate is below 2%
- The programme has received national recognition, winning a development prize at the British and Irish Society of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery.
Showcasing Sussex Innovation on the International Stage
The ISMICS Annual Meeting brings together leading cardiac specialists from around the world to share advances in surgical techniques, technology and patient care.
The event provided an international platform for Mr Ahmed and Dr Zhu Zhang to showcase Sussex’s award-winning Endoscopic Vein Harvesting (EVH) programme and highlight the positive impact of the RSCH’s surgical team’s adoption of EVH alongside a digital monitoring surveillance tool on patient care and clinical outcomes.
“We want to showcase how adopting endoscopic vein harvesting really helped our centre in improving surgical site infection rates and the costs associated with it, such as lowered readmission, early treatment, and early discharge” – Dr Zhu Zhang
“We presented our work on endoscopic vein harvesting at ISMICS in Miami and the incredible advantages it affords patients – particularly around pain and mobilisation and reduction in infection” – Mr Ahmed
We were delighted to learn that their EVH presentation at ISMICS received outstanding recognition, winning a prize and being selected for a final presentation. Getting to the finals of the poster presentation competition allowed Dr Zhu Zhang to present to the audience.
How SHC Educational Bursaries Support NHS Cardiac Staff
The costs of attending the ISMICS conference were not covered by NHS budgets. We were therefore delighted to support both Mr Ahmed and Dr Zhu Zhang through our Educational Bursaries project.
SHC Educational Bursaries provide NHS cardiac staff working across Sussex hospitals with an individual bursary of £500 per year towards conferences, courses and educational opportunities not funded by the NHS. This funding can be used to cover registration fees, as well as the travel and accommodation expenses associated with attending an event.
We recognise that ongoing education and development are essential to both professional growth and the delivery of outstanding patient care. By supporting staff development, we are proud to help NHS cardiac teams continue to enhance their skills, share knowledge and provide the best possible care for patients across Sussex.
Supporting Staff, Improving Patient Care
As cardiac surgery and services continue to evolve, attending events such as ISMICS allows clinicians to stay at the forefront of innovation and bring the latest evidence-based techniques and advances back to Sussex.
The key benefits include:
- Learning the latest techniques, technologies and innovations
- Exchanging ideas and best practice with internationally recognised specialists
- Refining and strengthening skills
- Exploring developments that could be introduced within Sussex cardiac teams
- Bringing back new knowledge and approaches to further improve patient care
The ISMICS Annual Meeting provided an invaluable opportunity to learn from international experts and explore the latest developments in minimally invasive cardiac surgery.
The educational value of the visit extended beyond the conference itself. While in Miami, Mr Ahmed visited internationally recognised minimally invasive cardiac surgeon Dr Lamelas to observe his team’s approach to surgery and gain first-hand insight into emerging technologies and techniques. The visit provided an opportunity to learn from a leading expert in minimal access surgery, including the latest advances in robotic surgery and the potential impact of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of cardiac care.
The benefits of attending ISMICS and the additional learning opportunities in Miami will reach far beyond the individuals involved. Dr Zhu Zhang and Mr Ahmed will share their experiences with colleagues across the wider cardiac team, helping to introduce new ideas and best practice that will continue to enhance cardiac care for patients across Sussex.
Together, Advancing Cardiac Care Across Sussex
Through educational bursaries, investment in specialist equipment and support for service development, the SHC continues to champion education, innovation and excellence in cardiac care across Sussex.
“Sussex Heart Charity support helps clinicians introduce new techniques, develop services, and improve outcomes for patients and families. The charity makes a real difference, not only to individual patients and families, but also to the wider cardiac team by supporting education, innovation, and service improvement” – Mr Ahmed
“The SHC is a bridge between the Trust and patient care. The SHC not only advocates for continuous improvements in the care but also believes in promoting innovation across the NHS. By having SHC support, projects such as EVH were made possible” – Dr Zhu Zhang
We are proud to support NHS hospitals and cardiac staff across Sussex.
Every project we fund is made possible by the generosity of our donors and supporters.
Together, we are helping to improve patient outcomes, advance cardiac care and ensure Sussex remains at the forefront of clinical excellence.
Thank you to everyone who supports Sussex Heart Charity.
Your generosity is making a lasting and real difference to heart patients across Sussex.
