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Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death, even in Thailand
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause
of death globally including Thailand. Given the diet that most Thais follow,
you might think that this disease would be less of a problem in Thailand.
You would be wrong as it is also the leading cause of death in Thailand.
Why? Because tobacco smoking is a major risk factor for the disease and
Thailand has a very high number of smokers.
 Dr Sujit Banyatpiyaphod,
Thoracic Surgeon and Medical Director of the Heart Centre at Bangkok
Hospital Pattaya, addresses the club on new findings and treatment of
Coronary Artery Disease. Now it is possible to replace the heart lung
machine used in complicated surgeries with ‘OPCAB’ or “off-pump coronary
artery bypass”. With the OPCAB procedure, the heart is not stopped; instead,
the surgical team is able to stabilise portions of the heart while the
bypass work is being done.
This was a part of what the Pattaya City Expats Club members and guests
learned at the Sunday, April 21 meeting when they listened to the talk given
by Dr. Sujit Banyatpiyaphod, Thoracic Surgeon and Medical Director of the
Heart Centre at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya.
Dr. Sujit explained that cholesterol is one of the main causes of CAD. Our
liver produces cholesterol which comes from consuming meat and dairy
products. Cholesterol produces plaque in our arteries. As the plaque builds
up, the artery walls become thicker. This can lead to blockages in the
arteries. The medical term for thickening of the artery walls is
“atherosclerosis.” There are two types of atherosclerotic plaque, Dr. Sujit
explained; stable and vulnerable. Stable plaque is lipid-poor and has a
thick fibrous cap. Vulnerable plaque is lipid-rich and has a thin fibrous
cap. Vulnerable plaque is much more dangerous than stable plaque as build-up
of vulnerable plaque can cause serious heart problems at any time.
Chair Pat Koester presents Dr
Sujit with a Certificate of Appreciation from Pattaya City Expats Club, for
his interesting and informative talk.
Dr Sujit revealed that thickening of the artery walls can
reduce the blood supply to the heart muscle. There are several medical terms
for this, including “ischemic heart disease” and “myocardial infarctions
(MI).” The symptoms of MI include discomfort in the chest (angina), arms,
back, neck or jaw; trouble breathing; feeling light-headed; breaking out in
a cold sweat; and feeling sick or discomfort in the stomach. He noted that
the risk factors for MI include smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol,
diabetes, obesity, lack of exercise and stress.
There are a number of non-invasive procedures to diagnose CAD, Dr Sujit
said. They include an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), an exercise stress
test, an echocardiogram (ultrasound), a CT scan and an MRI. Dr. Sujit
explained that the ECG is not a very reliable test by itself because a
normal reading on the test does not necessarily mean that you don’t have
CAD. He said that the exercise stress test, which is 95% accurate, is far
better. The most accurate method is through an invasive procedure called an
angiogram (a catheter is inserted through an artery where a dye is released
and extent and location of blockages can be identified).
The initial treatment for this artery blockage is an angioplasty, which
involves inserting a balloon-like device through the catheter into the
portion of the artery where the walls are too thick, Dr Sujit explained. To
prevent the artery from collapsing after the balloon is deflated, a stent is
often inserted (a wire mesh that surrounds the balloon and expands and stays
in place to hold the artery open).
PCEC was fortunate to have
the new Nai Amphur (District Chief) of Banglamung, Sakchai Tonghoh, come to
meet the club, and to present teachers cards to PCEC’s many volunteer
teachers. Past Chair Richard Smith introduces Sakchai, while current Chair
Pat Koester looks on.
If an angioplasty is not suitable to resolve the problem,
Dr Sujit noted the treatment of choice is heart bypass surgery (a vein is
taken from another part of the body and is grafted onto the artery to allow
blood flow to bypass the blockage). The “old” method of doing bypass surgery
involved stopping the heart for 1 to 2 hours; using a heart-lung machine to
pump air into the lungs and to circulate blood while the bypass operation is
performed. That method, which is about 50 years old, is used only rarely now
because a new method is available, Dr Sujit said. It is called “off-pump
coronary artery bypass” or “OPCAB.”
With the OPCAB procedure, the heart is not stopped. Instead, the surgical
team is able to stabilise portions of the heart while the bypass work is
being done. Dr Sujit explained that some of the advantages of the OPCAB
procedure, compared to the heart-lung machine, are lower mortality, faster
recovery, fewer complications, less blood transfusion needed, and lower
cost.
In the Question and Answer session, Dr Sujit said that there is a new,
robotic method available for bypass surgery, but that (a) it is extremely
costly, and (b) it has some limitations. He mentioned that he was the first
Surgeon in Thailand to perform this robotic surgery. His fields of interests
include coronary bypass surgery; minimally invasive coronary artery bypass
graft; minimally invasive mitral valve surgery; OPCAB; endoscopic radial
artery; and saphenous vein harvest.
After the presentation, Master of Ceremonies Richard Silverberg updated
everyone on upcoming events and called on Judith Edmonds to conduct the Open
Forum, where questions are asked and answered about Expat living in
Thailand.
For more information about the many activities of the Pattaya City Expats
Club, visit their website at
www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
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Area hospitals see 150%
increase at blood drive
Nurse Kotchakorn Auamsamang
(right), chief of the blood donation unit at Sriracha’s Ratchathewi Hospital,
Sriracha, attends to a donor.
Vittaya Yoondorn
More than 100 people helped the Thai Red Cross refill the National Blood
Bank at the second New Blood Power drive of the year.
The April 25 event at cosponsored by Bangkok Hospital Pattaya and Sriracha’s
Ratchathewi Hospital collected 37,800 cc of blood, more than 150 percent above
the average amount collected at pervious blood drives.
Kotchakorn Auamsamang, chief of the blood-donation unit at Ratchathewi Hospital,
said that, despite the bounty collected, more blood was needed.
Additional New Blood Power drives are scheduled Aug. 8 and Nov. 28 at Bangkok
Hospital Pattaya.
Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya officially opens Pizzeria
Phasakorn Channgam
The Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya officially launched their poolside pizzeria, adding
deluxe items to a basic menu available since last year.
 Pizza
Frutti Di Mare.
More than 100 guests enjoyed a four-course dinner April 25 for the Pizzeria’s
grand opening. The restaurant’s lead chef Joseph Gee said that while the pizzas
have always been tasty, “we can now offer something a bit more stylish.”
Among the offerings are stuffed chicken with porcini mushrooms served with a
marsala wine sauce, polenta and glazed vegetables; pappardelle, pan-seared
snowfish fillet, grilled black Angus rib eye steak, and cappuccino of porcini
mushroom soup.
The first 500 guests received a 500 baht voucher to spend on their next visit.
The Pizzeria is open from noon to 10 p.m. For reservations, call 038-425-755-9,
ext. 8329.
Invited guests and management enjoy the great
opening day spread.
Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya Director of Food & Beverage
Andrew Hastie gives his thumbs up to the new pizzeria.
Stuffed chicken with porcini mushrooms.
Hard working staff brings out the goods.
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Matrix Developments CEO celebrates 50th birthday
All smiles as Liora, Hadar, Dor, Tyler and Sheena
help Miki celebrate his 50th.
More than 200 family members, staff, colleagues and business associates dressed
up to the theme of “handsome boys and pretty girls” to celebrate the 50th
birthday of Matrix Development Group CEO Miki Haim.
The well-known property developer has hosted numerous parties over the years,
normally to promote one of his company’s many real estate ventures. This time
the focus was on him alone.
Many old friends attended, including Kobi Elbaz from Tulip Group, Rony Fineman
from Nova Group and Nigel Cornick from Kingdom Property.
Nick prompts all the guests to say cheers to Miki on
his big 50th birthday.
The buffet at the Amari Orchid Resort & Tower was preceded by drinks and
followed by a stage show emceed by Matrix marketing chief May Watson. Staffers
put on a dance performance to the theme “Survivor.”
They were followed by performances of “Hawanagila” by the Matrix construction
team, “Trendy & Crazy Dance” by the administration department, “Copy Show” from
the Thappraya office staff and solo performances from Sheena and the guest of
honor’s children.
Matrix marketing chief May Watson said Haim wanted his 50th birthday bash to be
a big one. The Amari was chosen as the venue due to previous good experiences.
“Pattaya is now his home and he must do it here,” she said of the party. “All
the staff is now like his family and the team has put their full heart into
organizing this special event and wish to make it different and not too boring.
All different departments met together and came up with a master plan for the
party.”
Zany performances by the staff of Matrix
Developments Group.
In his birthday speech, Haim thanked everyone for attending and said he still
felt 25, not 50.
“I decided to organize this special birthday party in Pattaya because this is my
home. My friends are here and I’ve asked my family to come over to Pattaya to
celebrate together with me here,” he said. “I wish everyone all the success,
good health and continue to make good business especially here in Pattaya.”
Brendan Daly, general manager of Amari Orchid
Pattaya congratulates Miki on his 50th.
Dor, Miki and Sheena enjoy performances from the
staff.
Pattaya Mail Media Group Deputy MD Tony Malhotra
presents a birthday gift to Miki.
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