2014 Mission to São Luís, Brazil

August 31-September 14, 2014

Hospital Universitário da Universidade Federal do Maranhão

(Hospital Materno Infantile and Hospital Presidente Dutra)

 

On August 31, 2014 a team of 22 CardioStart volunteers including 2 outreach personnel began a partnership with the Federal Hospital of Sao Luiz, Brazil, which provides free care to impoverished patients in the region of Maranhao State and the Pediatric Hospital.

Through daily lectures, hands-on demonstrations and protocol provisions the CardioStart team was able to begin the changes necessary to improve care to benchmark standards. A total of 319 students and professionals received formal education.

As part of the education program a total of 14 adult patients and 10 pediatric patients aged 10 days to 78 years, received surgical care during the two-week mission with CardioStart consultant support. Cases varied from congenital repairs to coronary artery bypass and valve replacements.

The CardioStart outreach team traveled to the city of Pinheiro, an impoverished catchment of over 78,000 citizens with limited medical professional care. The team saw more than 120 patients with primarily cardiac conditions. Screening and patient education and treatment took place for HTN, diabetes and rheumatic heart disease.